Hike Schedule
Upcoming Events
We are hoping that September provides some cooler weather and the beginning of fall colors. We are looking forward to enjoying autumn on the trails. More hikes and work trips may be added as our leaders finalize their plans. Watch your email for upcoming hikes for the week.
We are hoping that September provides some cooler weather and the beginning of fall colors. We are looking forward to enjoying autumn on the trails. More hikes and work trips may be added as our leaders finalize their plans. Watch your email for upcoming hikes for the week.
Saturday, September 4: Seven Bends State Park. Approximately 6 miles, moderate.
Come explore Seven Bends State Park with me. We will access the park at the Hollingsworth entrance and hike on the following trails: Bass Bight, Pawpaw Hollow, and Reservoir Trail. We will use Pawpaw Hollow to access Reservoir Trail. We will hike to the end of Reservoir before returning and descend using Pawpaw and Bass Bight. These trails are rated moderate and difficult by Virginia State Parks. There is a $5 parking fee for Seven Bends unless you have a Virginia State Park Pass. We have a few passes to share. Contact our leader for more information: Pam Heinrich (pamheinrich13@gmail.com or 540-290-5595).
Wednesday, September 8: Blue Ridge Tunnel, East Entrance. 3 miles easy. Must have a reliable head light or flashlight with a bright beam. Contact our leader for more information: Karen and Mike Waterman (home phone 540-337-1273 or karenswaterman@gmail.com).
Sunday, September 12: Dowells Draft Trail. 8 miles, moderate. From Rt. 715 (Braley Pond Rd.) we will take Dowells Draft Rd for approximately 0.3 mile then connect with Dowells Draft Trail. This is a steady gradual incline for 3.1 miles. We will then connect with the Wild Oak Trail and continue to a scenic overlook offering views of Crawford Mountain, Elliott Knob, Shenandoah Mountain south, and the Deerfield Valley. We will return from the overlook via the same route. Contact hike leader: Jean Stephens (jtstephens12@yahoo.com or 443-986-5649) to register and for final details.
Thursday, September 16: Chimney Rock, 3.4-mile out/back round trip, moderate with 830-foot elevation gain. We will begin at the Riprap parking area at mile 90 on the Skyline Drive, and take the Appalachian Trail north for a short distance before turning onto Riprap Trail. We will follow the Riprap Trail to the viewpoints of Calvary Rocks and Chimney Rocks. We will return using the same route. This hike is located in the southern district of Shenandoah National Park. You will need a park pass to enter. Contact our leader for more information: Pam Heinrich (pamheinrich13@gmail.com or 540-290-5595).
Saturday, September 18: Austin/Madison Run Loop. 8 mile, moderate/strenuous. Located in the southern district of Shenandoah National Park, this hike starts on a fire road then ascends very steeply up on Austin Mountain Trail, crosses some rock slides, and goes along the top of a mountain before finishing on the Madison Run Fire Road. Meet at Grottoes Food Lion at 8:30 a.m. Contact our leader to attend: John Kolp (JLKolp@yahoo.com or 540-887-1235).
Monday, September 20: Albright Loop, 3.5 miles, easy/moderate hike located near Humpback Rocks. Contact our leader for more information: Pam Heinrich (pamheinrich13@gmail.com or 540-290-5595).
Wednesday September 29: Crescent Rock, Limberlost & Appalachian Trail. We will start the hike with the Stables Horse Trail, then circle around the Limberlost Trail, and continue until it meets Crescent Rock Trail. At that point, we will cross Skyline Drive to Crescent Rock Overlook and hike north on the Appalachian Trail. This is an Easy/Moderate hike of approximately 5.5 miles. Bring a snack and some water. We will meet at the Parking for the Skyland Stables in Shenandoah National Park at 9:00 am. This is in the central district of the park at milepost 42.5. Contact our leader for more information: Millie Davis (pisgahdavis@gmail.com or 540-292-0869).
Saturday, October 2: Buzzard Rock. 7 miles, moderate, out/back hike. This hike is located on Massanutten Mountain and begins in the Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area. This is an exploratory hike for more experienced hikers as I, the hike leader have not hiked this before. For more about the hike, see this description from Hiking Upward: https://www.hikingupward.com/gwnf/buzzardrock/
To attend, contact Pam Heinrich, (540-290-5595 or pamheinrich13@gmail.com).
Saturday, October 23: Workday for our chapter's section of the AT (Ivy Creek Overlook to Pinefield Gap). More information about this trip will be available in early October. To attend and help out, contact Jeff Bolander (jblndr@hotmail.com or 540-421-9275).
Come explore Seven Bends State Park with me. We will access the park at the Hollingsworth entrance and hike on the following trails: Bass Bight, Pawpaw Hollow, and Reservoir Trail. We will use Pawpaw Hollow to access Reservoir Trail. We will hike to the end of Reservoir before returning and descend using Pawpaw and Bass Bight. These trails are rated moderate and difficult by Virginia State Parks. There is a $5 parking fee for Seven Bends unless you have a Virginia State Park Pass. We have a few passes to share. Contact our leader for more information: Pam Heinrich (pamheinrich13@gmail.com or 540-290-5595).
Wednesday, September 8: Blue Ridge Tunnel, East Entrance. 3 miles easy. Must have a reliable head light or flashlight with a bright beam. Contact our leader for more information: Karen and Mike Waterman (home phone 540-337-1273 or karenswaterman@gmail.com).
Sunday, September 12: Dowells Draft Trail. 8 miles, moderate. From Rt. 715 (Braley Pond Rd.) we will take Dowells Draft Rd for approximately 0.3 mile then connect with Dowells Draft Trail. This is a steady gradual incline for 3.1 miles. We will then connect with the Wild Oak Trail and continue to a scenic overlook offering views of Crawford Mountain, Elliott Knob, Shenandoah Mountain south, and the Deerfield Valley. We will return from the overlook via the same route. Contact hike leader: Jean Stephens (jtstephens12@yahoo.com or 443-986-5649) to register and for final details.
Thursday, September 16: Chimney Rock, 3.4-mile out/back round trip, moderate with 830-foot elevation gain. We will begin at the Riprap parking area at mile 90 on the Skyline Drive, and take the Appalachian Trail north for a short distance before turning onto Riprap Trail. We will follow the Riprap Trail to the viewpoints of Calvary Rocks and Chimney Rocks. We will return using the same route. This hike is located in the southern district of Shenandoah National Park. You will need a park pass to enter. Contact our leader for more information: Pam Heinrich (pamheinrich13@gmail.com or 540-290-5595).
Saturday, September 18: Austin/Madison Run Loop. 8 mile, moderate/strenuous. Located in the southern district of Shenandoah National Park, this hike starts on a fire road then ascends very steeply up on Austin Mountain Trail, crosses some rock slides, and goes along the top of a mountain before finishing on the Madison Run Fire Road. Meet at Grottoes Food Lion at 8:30 a.m. Contact our leader to attend: John Kolp (JLKolp@yahoo.com or 540-887-1235).
Monday, September 20: Albright Loop, 3.5 miles, easy/moderate hike located near Humpback Rocks. Contact our leader for more information: Pam Heinrich (pamheinrich13@gmail.com or 540-290-5595).
Wednesday September 29: Crescent Rock, Limberlost & Appalachian Trail. We will start the hike with the Stables Horse Trail, then circle around the Limberlost Trail, and continue until it meets Crescent Rock Trail. At that point, we will cross Skyline Drive to Crescent Rock Overlook and hike north on the Appalachian Trail. This is an Easy/Moderate hike of approximately 5.5 miles. Bring a snack and some water. We will meet at the Parking for the Skyland Stables in Shenandoah National Park at 9:00 am. This is in the central district of the park at milepost 42.5. Contact our leader for more information: Millie Davis (pisgahdavis@gmail.com or 540-292-0869).
Saturday, October 2: Buzzard Rock. 7 miles, moderate, out/back hike. This hike is located on Massanutten Mountain and begins in the Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area. This is an exploratory hike for more experienced hikers as I, the hike leader have not hiked this before. For more about the hike, see this description from Hiking Upward: https://www.hikingupward.com/gwnf/buzzardrock/
To attend, contact Pam Heinrich, (540-290-5595 or pamheinrich13@gmail.com).
Saturday, October 23: Workday for our chapter's section of the AT (Ivy Creek Overlook to Pinefield Gap). More information about this trip will be available in early October. To attend and help out, contact Jeff Bolander (jblndr@hotmail.com or 540-421-9275).
