Shenandoah National Park

“All are welcome, especially if they have a clue where to go.”

“October is a great time to visit the SNP. The colors should be coming in nicely by then, if they aren't already.

Are you interested in an AT hike along the ridge, or maybe a circuit hike with waterfalls? Do you have an idea of the mileage you want to do?”

“would if I could. I'd recommend Old Rag to anyone who's never been but crowds on Friday I'm unsure of. Saturday you could beat them if you got there by crack-o-dawn....”

“i am open to just about anything. i can easily absorb the miles if the hike is worth it... hours and hours hanging out in camp isn't a lot of fun for me and i would prefer to hike while i have the light. if i have to go alone a circuit hike or "out-n-back" is probably best has i'll have no shuttle. My plane leaves reston on sunday the 14th at 9:45 pm so i should be able to get in a good day on sunday.
last edited: 10/01/07 2:30:57 PM”

“Jimmy San, I highly recommend doing Old Rag. It can be done as a 7 mile dayhike and it is with out a doubt (imho) the best hike in Shenandoah.”

“i don't take up much space and it looks like a big park. i'll read up on "old rag"... thanks for the suggestion!”

“For fewer people and more rugged terrain I'd recommend the Southern District. Check out the hikes on my site: www.midatlantichikes.com/va.htm
I have 2 more great hikes in the south district to post but it's going to be a while before I get them up. One is the Trayfoot Mountain/Paine Run Loop and the other further explores the Big Run Drainage.”

“Did ya decide which route you're gonna take? I believe Creek Dancer and I were thinkin about comin along for this...”

“I like the Brown Mountain loop for a good dayhike in the southern district.”

“I have not and am totally open to suggestions. I have gotten a few good ones but I don't know the area at all... part of the fun.

Old Rag sounded good but I like the sounds of this "Southern District".”

“JS, shoot an email to Creek Dancer..she knows the area and will give you good advice on what hikes to do...water could still be a problem there”

“The southern Treyfoot/Furnace Mtn/AT loop looks like a good one. If I wasn't going up that weekend to do Mt Marcy I'd join you on this one.

We did a loop Memorial day which included Old Rag. If you look at a map this might make sense: Park a MP 37.8 south on AT to Nicholson Hollow to Indian Run to Corbin Hollow to Old Rag Ridge to Nicholson Hollow to Corbin Cabin Cutoff. It was a nice 3 day 2 night trip. The colors should be nice this time of year.”

“The Southern District is generally less crowded than the central and northern districts. They are more crowded because they are closer to DC. This is the time of year for leaf peepers so watch out!

We've had a bad drought here, so I have no idea what the water conditions are like. If you want to get a good sampling of the SNP, I would recommend doing circuit hikes. This would allow you to keep a cache of water in your car. These circuits usually take you off the ridge where the AT runs and down the sides of the mountain and back up again. Several circuit hikes would allow you some great views, waterfalls, and some historical sites.

For the southern district, I agree with ENS that the Rocky Mtn / Brown Mtn loop is great. (10 miles – strenuous) Lots of great views and rugged cliffs. The circuit fords Big Run and Rocky Mtn run several times. These runs are usually rather swift, so I am guessing that water will be available. This would probably be a good full day hike.

The Doyles River Jones Run circuit is also fun. There are a couple of waterfalls (assuming the water is falling!). This is moderate hike of about 8 miles. I’ve done this in about 4 hours with breaks.

For the central district, if you are a history buff, I would recommend the Hoover Camp circuit. This camp was used by President Hoover in the 20’s and some regard it as the first Camp David. Some of the structures still stand today. But watch out for the rattle snakes sunning themselves on the big rocks! This is an easy to moderate hike of 10 miles or so.

The Cedar Run / Whiteoak Canyon loop is awesome and real butt kicker. This is the hardest hike in the park due to the 3,000 foot elevation loss and gain, in my opinion. JMitch was there recently and his pictures showed that the falls were not running much.

If you decide to do circuit hikes, you can still camp at a nearby shelter. Or a campground.

If you are interest in a two-night backpacking trip, I think I can come up with some ideas.

Either way, Sweetpeastu and I are interested in joining you.
last edited: 10/03/07 9:40:38 AM”

“Grave Dancer??? who are you?”

“Creek is that you? lol! You totally messed me up, I didn't sign up as a maybe yet, cause I saw "Grave Dancer" (which sounds scary btw) and I was getting ready to email you and ask what happened to ya. lol.”

“LOL, yup, that would be me! I was wondering why you didn't sign up yet.

Grave Dancer is kind of ghoulish.”

“I would really welcome some ideas. I am up for about anything. Clearly you know the area better than I do. Wow!

I have to drive in from Reston on Friday. So it's a two-night trip but I will prolly be getting a late start on Friday. My plane doesn't go home until like 10pm on Sunday so a full day hiking on Sat/Sun is possible. I am going to see how early I can get out on Friday. It's a training thing and I don't think they want to hold people too late in the day.”

“Second what Creek Dancer said about the leaf peepers. It's crazy there later in the day, with skyline drive getting clogged - people can see the leaves without getting out of their car. (I assume there's some color change high up)

I'd make sure you get there at very first light, and as CD said, the South section will be far less crowded. Once you hike about a mile off the drive things calm down a lot.”

“Big Run still has water as of 2 weeks ago. Rocky Run and Paine Run had enough water to pump in the pools. The Trayfoot Mt/AT/Paine run has one of the best views in the Park at Black Rock. I did it 2 weeks ago. Pretty tough but rewarding day hike. Another hike I need to post starts at the loft Mt Wayside. Hike north on the drive for a few yards then turn left onto Patterson Ridge Tr and take it down to Big Run Portal Tr. Turn left and follow that up to the Big Run Loop Tr. Turn left and follow it up to the Drive. Walk north on the Drive a few yards and turn right onto the Doyle River Tr but just for about 5 steps. Turn left on the AT. This section is in the shadow of Loft Mt Campground so you'll see more people but you'll enjoy about 7 vistas. Turn left onto the seconf Frazier Discovery trail juncrion for a really great panoramic view then follow it down to your start point. That's about 12 miles.

Doyle River and Jones Run were barely flowing in May so I'm sure the falls probably look like water from a garden hose right now.”

“Any preference in terms of miles per day/etc? I'll do some research tonight. People have really been good and given me some ideas. I was thinking of a fairly easy to find Friday night crash-camp and then a full day of hiking/exploring on Saturday, Saturday night deeper in the interior, then another full day Sunday with a hike out. I have to catch a 9:45 pm flight from Dulles. If that sounds good I'll work out something. Would people freak at a 10 mile day? 15? Let me know you comfort level. It would be really nice to have company.”

“somewhere between 8-10 miles each day is fine by me....I would freak at anything over 10 lol. 15....dude man....you're crazy. LOL> :)”

“yeah, that sounds cool. i'll try and pull something together tomorrow. this isn't supposed to be a marathon hike or death march... not this time anyway. lol!”

“Park at the Black Rock Summit Trailhead on Skyline Drive. Hike in to the AT. Turn left (downhill). I think in about 0.6 miles you'll come to a sign post. Turn left to go to the shelter. The next day you can do the Trayfoot Mt. Route I described above.”

“actually from Black Rock Summit Parking one goes up hill for about .3 or so before going down hill”

“that sounds really good... easy to find even in the dark.”

“but knew it wasn't real long. If you wanted to do 2 big hikes from the same area you could also do Furnace Mt/Austin Mt from there with some retracing of your steps. I think that's a pretty long, hard loop though.”

“Mrhyker, is there water along the Treyfoot Mtn trail?”

“DO we know whats goin on with this trip yet?”

“Sorry, but I am out. I sprained my ankle over the weekend and there is no way I am going to be able to hike on it as soon as this weekend. I was really looking forward to this trip.

Have a great time you guys. Take lots of pics!”

“oh So sorry to hear that! I hope it heals quickly.

I think I might bail on this too.
last edited: 10/08/07 7:23:42 AM”

“I am still going, I just have been lazy about figuring out where to go. There have been no shortages of ideas, however! I actually am in Reston now and brought my backpack/gear for the weekend. I'll be renting a car Friday to drive to the park for the weekend. The weather here is really hot but the forecast says it should be nice by the weekend after the rain. Sure hope so! Talking to some friends out here this morning it sounds like a great area.”

“I've been waiting for you to decide where you are going to hike before joining this hike but I probably can make this trip.”

“i am really not particular and open to just about anything so long as i can get into the interior. i chose the park because i am in reston this week and staying over the weekend to see a new area. so this is totally new territory to me, but that's kind of the point.”

“OK, so I am forming a plan. The southern portion of the park really resonates with me:

http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/riprap_area.pdf

here is what i am thinking...

friday: drive to riptrap trail parking. crash someplace legal. i still have to figure out where.

saturday: hike loop made up of riptrap trail/wildcat ridge trail/AT back to riptrap trail parking. hike as far north on AT as daylight permits but stop short of paine run trail. crash somewhere legal, perhaps i can find out where in advance. (> 9.5 miles)

sunday: hike paine run trail/trayfoot mountain trail/at loop back to riptrap trail parking (> 10 miles)

i am thinking this will be a good solid weekend hiking. i could do more or less. since this is a "figure-8" loop (i.e. it passes the parking lot at mid point and then returns) there are lots of options.
last edited: 10/08/07 3:03:58 PM”

“that's riprap trail not riptrap... sorry”

“are you a hammocker? if not then note that the riprap trail does not have a lot of _legal_ campsites that are at all close to flat

wrt to the hike - I think I would be one hurting dude to backpack that route so I will pass on the trip”

“"camp" for me is a place to drop my groundcloth, pad, and quilt.

i am open to suggestions/compromise. i would enjoy the company as much as the trail.”

“updates to trip page... one could do saturday as a dayhike and camp at the at hut saturday night and skip the sunday hike... or just do a portion of it. there are lots of options since the car will always be close at hand. i do have to be on the road to the airport by 6pm EST on sunday to catch my plane home. man i feel sorry for the person that has to ride 1:45 next to me back to chicago o'hare!
last edited: 10/08/07 8:49:41 PM”

“Perhaps I could meet up with you for Saturday night somewhere - pick a spot and I'll try to find you there. Black Rock Hut would work and there may be some SOBOs there also but feel free to pick a different spot so long as you can describe it well enough that I can find you.”

“Black Rock Hut sounds good to me as well. I have never seen an AT shelter (yet alone hiked on the AT!) so this would be fun. I don't know what time i'll be getting there, however. that southern loop looks like it will take a while to hike but not the entire day.”

“OK - see you Saturday PM at Blackrock Hut.”

“sounds great! i booked my car and will be driving up friday afternoon. i may have to spend friday night outside the park if i can't get a permit. sigh. i am swamped at work!”

“Jimmy, you can self-register at the entrance station. Your copy of the registration form is the permit. You should tie this to your backpack so that it's visible. There is a dark brown box with the registration forms near the guard's office. I am just not sure how late the gate is open. Maybe HOI knows.

There is also a fee to enter the park. I think it's $15.

I wish I could go on this trip.”

“The gates are still open 24 hrs - this will change when hunting season comes around in a couple weeks but for now its no problem

as for getting a permit after sundown - this may be more of an issue - they sometimes lock the self registration boxes at night cause they don't want people night hiking into their campsites (overprotective arseholes)”

“http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/campbc_permit.htm

Yup, the website says they only issue permits between sunrise and one hour before sunset. As HOI said, sometimes they lock the self-registration boxes.”

“bummer. i may have to drive like hell to get there before sunset -or- stay in a local hotel or sleep at a rest stop friday night. i gots nowhere else to go!

i am kind of being dumb here. i could have gotten a permit in the mail. work has just been too hectic.”

“You don't need a permit to stay in a campground in the SNP. Since the gates will be open, this might be an option for you if you get in late. You would have to go back to the entrance station in the morning for a permit, however.

As far as I know, Big Meadows Campgroup is the only one that requires a reservation. The others are on first come first serve basis. I've never had a problem getting a campground spot, but the chances are still iffy during leaf peeper season.

Good luck JimmyC.”

“i'll give that a shot GD... thanks!”

“frankly you could easily just park at an overlook and stealth camp - a car parked overnight is just assumed to be one for a backpacker whose permit info has not been entered into the system yet - just make sure you are completely out of sight from the road - pick up a permit in the morning before actually hiking with your pack
last edited: 10/11/07 10:33:56 AM”

“my friday night is shot anyway... new job!

i have to support a change a customer is putting in on friday night so i will be in a hotel i guess (where i can get internet access and my cell phone works)... but i am free early sat morning... so i'll lose a bag night but still get to hike these two loops as planned, see the AT (a little bit of it) -and- stay at the shelter -and- meet HOI which is super cool.

i love my new job, but the way... it's just crunch time right now on this project.”