Elyse ClarkExplorer

From Egilsstaðir, take the Ring Road (Highway 1) towards Fellabær.  Turn left onto Road 931 directly after the bridge crossing of Lake Lagarfljot.  Drive 35 km until you see the parking area on the right side of the road after an intersection on your left.  At the parking area is a bathroom, and the trail starts at the fence in the back of the lot.  The trail is steep and ascends some stairs.  ...

Park at the gravel lot across from the Brimberg Fish Factory (the parking lot is marked with a sign for Tvísöngur).  Walk up the gravel road in the back of the parking lot, which has a few switchbacks and after 10-15 minutes you will arrive at Tvísöngur.  Tvísöngur is a sound sculpture that was built in 2012. It has five individual chambers constructed of concrete that are supposed to mimic the...

From the parking area which is adjacent to where the Ferry Baldur loading area is, walk up the hill and shortly after you'll see the brightly-colored lighthouse.  It gets very windy here and there are birds everywhere.  From the lighthouse you can look out over some islands between the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords, as well as look back over the town. Once finished, take a stroll ar...

You can park your car at the small gravel lot where VA-42 and Rt. 629 intersect. Starting from the Appalachian Trail crossing at VA-42,  head north on the AT, which winds through some grass meadows. After about 0.8 miles into the hike you will cross Rt. 630 (Northside Road) on a bridge over Sinking Creek. The trail continues to the right side of the creek.  From here it is a short 0.5 miles to ...

Right off interstate I-77, Camp Creek State Park has two waterfalls that you can easily access: Mash Fork Falls and Campbell Falls. These falls can both have very low flows in late summer, so try to plan your visit for times of higher flows (early spring or after a rain). Mash Fork Falls is in the southwest part of the park and there is a parking lot with a viewing platform next to the falls. A...

Just outside of Washington DC is a great hike and rock scramble you don't want to miss. Great Falls lies in both Virginia and Maryland and has beautiful views of the Potomac River. Start out at the Great Falls Tavern parking lot (Maryland side), and keep in mind it is $10 to park here if you don't have a National Park pass. When facing the river, go left on the C & O Canal Towpath. You'll ...

There are two entrances to Maymont: the Nature Center Parking area and the Estate Parking Lot.  The Estate parking lot is closest to all of the gardens, so if you want a longer walk around the estate, park at the Nature Center.  From the Estate parking lot, enter through the gate and the entrance to the Italian Gardens will break off shortly to your left. This garden has numerous water features...

The Devil’s Bathtub is a deep pool of blue-green water known for being a great swimming hole and a beautiful natural feature. This hike is a 3.2 mile out and back hike with 250 feet elevation gain. There are at least 15 stream crossings, so extreme caution should be taken during periods of medium-to-high flow as the stream crossings may be slippery and submerged. This hike has gotten very cro...

From Hampton, Tennessee, take US-321S for about 3.5 miles. Turn right onto Dennis Cove Road and travel for 4 miles on this steep and very curvy mountain road.  The trailhead is where the Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses the road at a small gravel lot on the left.  Take the AT north on the trail leading out the left side of the gravel parking area.  For about a mile the trail will follow an old r...

There is a walking tour of the cemetery that you can follow that will bring you by champion trees (the largest tree of that species in the state of Ohio), around 15 scenic lakes, as well as across some bridges.  The unique mausoleums and obelisks are a sight in their own and will surround you on your walk. A map of the points of interest within the cemetery can be found here: http://www.springg...

Sharon Woods Metro Park is located just northeast of Cincinnati in Hamilton County. To visit this park it is $3 for a day permit for residents of Hamilton County or $5 for a day permit for non-residents.  When you enter the park, take the first left on the road before you cross a bridge over the stream. Park in the first parking area on the right. Keep the creek on your right side as you walk a...

Park at the parking lot at the crest of Clinch Mountain at Hayters Gap on Rt. 80, and walk along the road (Raven Ridge Road) behind the gate. The trail is fairly easy with minimum elevation gain and follows an old road bed almost the whole way. Be sure to keep to the left when the road splits and cross into "Channels State Forest". The trail is easy and well-marked, and will soon lead you to t...

In Douthat State Park, park at the Discovery Center/Amphitheater parking lot near the children's fishing area. The Blue Suck Falls trail head will be towards the dam on the left side and is well-marked.Note: A trail map is highly recommended for this trail! It is fairly well-marked with blue blazes, but has 5 separate trail intersections and it may be easy to get turned around if you don't have...

Robertson Mountain is often overshadowed by the nearby Old Rag Mountain, but standing 5 feet taller than Old Rag, this hike offers seclusion and gorgeous views to the south.  Starting from the Limberlost Trailhead parking lot at MP 43 on the Skyline Drive, take the chained off Old Rag Fire Road.  Walk for 2.1 miles on the fire road, until you reach the Robertson Mountain Trail which breaks off ...

For a tough hike with rewarding views, check out Angels Rest and the Wilburn Valley Overlook. Easily accessible from US-460 near Pearisburg, this hike along the Appalachian Trail gains a total of 1600’ elevation is a 4.6 mile round trip hike. Angels Rest is a large boulder that overlooks the New River at the crest of Pearis Mountain, and the Wilburn Valley Overlook has a wide viewpoint of the ...

The Murray's Mill Historic District features Murray's Mill (constructed in 1913) with its 28 ft. waterwheel, a general store constructed in the 1890's, Wheathouse Exhibit gallery, and the John Murray House.  Free and open to the public to visit, this is a great place to stop and stretch your legs if traveling.  It is also a great place for a picnic as there are stream-side picnic tables on the ...

Mabry Mill is one of the most photographed spots on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and rightfully so. Located at MP 176.1 the mill is beautiful in any season and easily accessed from the parking lot. Since this place is so popular, be prepared for crowds.This place is a nice " leg-stretcher" if driving the Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway or a short side trip from the trailhead if you're hiking Rock Cas...

Kaymoor was on old West Virginia coal mining town that thrived in the early 1900's until it was abandoned in the 1950's. Along this trail you will see remnants of the old mine entrance, mining cars, a coal processing plant, and coke ovens, among other structures. This trail, although short, is quite difficult. Starting from the parking lot, walk back towards the road you came in on and the trai...

From the parking lot, take the trail to the left of the bathrooms.  This trail will wind down past a unique rock feature with a hole in it and ends at the black sand beach.  Sprawled out along the beach are remnants of a shipwreck.  The British trawler Epine wrecked here in 1948 and many oxidized pieces of the ship still remain on the beach today.  On the right side of Djúpalónssandur a trail b...

Starting at the James River Footbridge, which is the longest foot traffic only bridge on the entire Appalachian Trail. Head north on the Appalachian Trail.  You will quickly cross over Rt. 501. After a mile of hiking through the woods skirting the Rocky Row Run stream, you will cross over Forest Road 812. There is an intersection with the spur trail to John's Hollow Shelter 1.8 miles into the h...

From Lansing-Edmond road, turn right onto Beauty Mountain Road. Go for 0.1 miles and the road will appear to split into three roads. The main road goes left, but take the middle road here. After another 0.1 miles you will arrive at a gate with a few parking spaces on the left side. Do not block the gate or the driveway for the house by the trailhead.The trail follows a gravel road and is steep ...

Since this waterfall is less than 200 feet from the parking lot, visiting this waterfall provides a huge reward for minimal physical effort. From the parking lot, cross the bridge over the stream and follow the trail on the right side of the stream/waterfall.  To have the best view of the falls cross the stream (there are plenty of big rocks to do so).  Early morning is optimal for long exposur...

From the parking lot at MP 81.1 on the Skyline Drive, take the trailhead to the left of the sign with the trail map. Immediately you'll cross over the Appalachian Trail-stay straight on the blue-blazed trail to Doyles Falls. The trail will descend rapidly for 1.3 miles to Upper Doyles Falls (28' waterfall), then another 0.3 miles to Lower Doyles Falls (63' waterfall). Both of these waterfalls...

Start at the trailhead located just past the Gray's Arch picnic area. Follow Auxier Ridge Trail #204 (white diamonds). You will pass a trail junction at 0.9 miles, but continue on Auxier Ridge. At the following fork in the trail keep right.Along the trail, you will catch views from the ridge of Raven's Rock, Double Arch, Courthouse Rock, and the surrounding valley. Be careful of the steep cliff...