Sky Meadows State Park, VA

ABOUT THE PARK:  Sky Meadows State Park

DIRECTIONS:

View Larger Map
TRAIL MAP:  Sky Meadows State Park Trail Guide

HIKE DISTANCE:  8 miles

HIKE DIRECTIONS:
From the visitor center parking lot, with the Mount Bleak House behind you, walk across the road towards the kiosk where the hiking trails begin.  Take the gravel road out passing cow pastures on the right where the red-blazed Piedmont Overlook and blue-blazed North Ridge Trails terminate.

When the gravel road turn right, keep straight on the Snowden Interpretive Trail, a 1.14 mile loop.

After completing the loop, continue to the left on the gravel road.  A short distance ahead at 1.60 miles, turn left on the yellow-blazed South Ridge Trail.  At 1.80 miles a short side trail to the right leads to a scenic overlook with a bench.

Backtrack and continue on the yellow-blazed South Ridge Trail arriving at the Snowden Manor Ruins at 1.90 miles.

At 2.15 miles arrive at a bench with scenic views.

Turn left on the blue-blazed North Ridge Trail at 3.00 miles.  Turn right on the white-blazed Appalachian Trail at 3.50 miles.  After a short distance turn left on the purple-blazed Old Trail, the original Appalachian Trail before it was rerouted.  At 5.40 miles arrive back at the white-blazed Appalachian Trail, turn right.

At 6.00 miles turn left on the light-blue blazed Ambassador Whitehouse Trail which leads over meadows with views.

At 7.00 miles turn left on the dark blue-blazed North Ridge Trail briefly then left on the red-blazed Piedmont Overlook Trail and over steps.

At 7.25 miles arrive at the Upper Piedmont Overlook

where the trail descends to the Lower Piedmont Overlook

At 7.80 miles go up and over another series of steps, turn left and down a short flight of steps, then left on the gravel road which lead back to the trailhead.  Arrive back at the visitor center parking lot at 8.00 miles.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]  From visitor center parking lot cross road to trailhead proceeding up gravel road
[0.40]  Stay straight on Snowden Interpretive Trail when gravel road turns right
[1.50]  Exit Snowden Interpretive Trail; continue left on gravel road
[1.60]  Turn left on yellow-blazed South Ridge Trail
[1.80]  Side trail on right to scenic overlook with bench
[1.90]  Snowden Manor ruins
[2.15]  Bench at scenic overlook
[3.00]  Left on blue-blazed North Ridge Trail
[3.50]  Right on white-blazed Appalachian Trail
[3.58]  Left on purple-blazed Old Trail
[5.40]  Right on white-blazed Appalachian Trail
[6.00]  Left on light blue-blazed Ambassador Whitehouse Trail
[6.40]  Scenic overlook
[7.00]  Left on dark-blue blazed North Ridge Trail
[7.10]  Left on red-blazed Piedmont Overlook Trail
[7.25]  Upper Piedmont Overlook
[7.80]  Go up and over steps, turn left down short flight of steps, left on gravel road
[8.00]  Arrive back at visitor center parking lot

Shenandoah River State Park, VA

ABOUT THE PARK:  Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. Shenandoah River State Park

TRAIL MAP:  The online map is not up to date as the park is still a work in progress.  Updated maps can be obtained at the park office.  This map is current as of October 2010. (Click on the picture to enlarge.)

DIRECTIONS:

View Larger Map

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Stayed in a brand new (as of summer 2010) pet friendly cabin right next to the trailhead.

HIKE DISTANCES:

• Shenandoah River State Park, VA - 8.90 miles (hike described in this blog below)
• Cacapon Resort State Park, WV -  6.50 miles
• Shenandoah National Park, VA - Whiteoak Canyon/Hawksbill/Cedar Run - 11.40 miles
• Sky Meadows State Park, VA - 8.00 miles
• Shenandoah National Park, VA - Mary's Rock via Appalachian Trail - 7.20 miles

HIKE DIRECTIONS:
Trails are very well-marked, not only with the color of the trail but the name of the trail on each marker as well.  It's a very pretty hike through farmlands and forests and along the river on woods roads with some uphill and downhill sections, mostly on switchbacks.

At the information board next to cabin 6 on the cul-de-sac,  follow the trail downhill.

At the first intersection, turn left on the orange-blazed Cullers Trail.

At .45 miles turn left on the white-blazed Big Oak Loop Trail.

Turn left on the pink-blazed Tulip Poplar Trail at .65 miles.

At the intersection with the white-blazed Big Oak Loop Trail at 1.35 miles, turn right and follow that briefly then turn left on the red-blazed Redtail Ridge Trail.  This trail has nice views with a short side trail to an overlook.

At 2.50 miles turn left on the gray-blazed Shale Barrens Trail briefly then right on the white-blazed Big Oak Loop Trail for almost 1/2 of a mile.

At 2.95 miles, turn left on the teal-blazed Bear Bottom Loop Trail.  You will be returning to this point at the completion of the 3.5 mile loop.  This is a fun trail with roller coaster ups and downs, weaving around from one mountain over to another.

At 6.20 miles arrive back at the beginning of the Bear Bottom Loop and take the white-blazed Big Oak Loop back to the gray-blazed Shale Barrens Trail.  Turn left on the Shale Barrens Trail following the switchbacks down to the orange-blazed Culler's Trail.

Turn left on the orange-blazed Culler's Trail then right on the green-blazed River Trail a short distance ahead.  Cross over the bridge and follow the trail along the river.

The River Trail briefly joins the Culler's Trail at a brown cabin, then veers to the left.  Just before crossing a bridge where the campground can be seen straight ahead, turn right on the mowed path to get back over to the orange-blazed Culler's Trail.  Turn left on the Culler's Trail then immediately turn right on the trail that leads back to the cabins.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]  Start hike from trailhead at the end of the cul-de-sac next to cabin 6
[0.20]  Turn left on the orange-blazed Culler's Trail
[0.45]  Turn left on the white-blazed Big Oak Loop Trail
[0.65]  Turn left on the pink-blazed Tulip Poplar Trail
[1.35]  Turn right on the white-blazed Big Oak Loop Trail briefly then left on the red-blazed Redtail Ridge Trail
[1.60]  Turn right on short side trail to scenic observation point
[1.75]  Continue right on red-blazed Redtail Ridge Trail after backtracking from scenic view
[2.50]  Turn left on gray-blazed Shale Barrens Trail briefly then right on white-blazed Big Oak Loop Trail
[2.95]  Turn left on teal-blazed Bear Bottom Loop
[4.65]  Continue to the right on teal-blazed Bear Bottom Loop where left goes to horse trailer parking
[6.20]  Turn left on the white-blazed Big Oak Loop Trail
[6.60]  Turn left on the gray-blazed Shale Barrens Trail
[7.10]  Turn left on the orange-blazed Culler's Trail
[7.25]  Turn right on the green-blazed River Trail; cross over bridge
[7.65]  Keep left at the intersection
[8.20]  Keep left at split at brown cabin
[8.65]  Turn right before bridge and walk on mowed path; left on Culler's Trail; immediate right on path back to cabins.
[8.90]  Arrive back at the cabins

Appalachian Trail, NJ - Route 284 to Vernie Swamp

ABOUT THE PARK:
Appalachian Trail in New Jersey - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.28845, -74.55236

Parking on western side of Route 284.  The Appalachian Trail crosses Route 284 into the woods just beyond my car.

TRAIL MAP:
New York/New Jersey Guide - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

HIKE DISTANCE:  5.3 miles (2.65 miles each way)

THE HIKE:

Heading south on the Appalachian Trail.

This section of the AT runs right along the New Jersey/New York state line and is one of the easiest sections we have hiked.

The most rugged parts were going over old stone walls.

At first the trail alternates between woods and wild flower meadows.

Pochuck Mountain

The AT follows an old rail bed.

Leaving the old rail bed to the left.

Some thru-hikers camped along the trail overnight.

Coming up on Lott Road.

Turn right on Lott Road towards the pond then left back into the woods.

How sad that this German Shepherd is doomed to a life in an outdoor pen with a dog house watching hikers go by on the AT.

I would have never seen this teeny little frog had he not jumped off of the trail.

The frog had apparently been hanging out with this little red eft.

Countryside views from the trail.

A short section of puncheons.

Where the next section of puncheons start at the northern end of Vernie Swamp ...

... they go on for about .2 miles and looked to be pretty uneven.  That would have been more challenging for Shawnee this far into the hike and it had started to rain so this is where we turned around and headed back.  She had been having some stability issues in her back end all week and even though her gait smooths out when hiking, she wasn't quite on her game this hike.

Passing back by her poor relative in the dog pen.

Back on Lott Road crossing on the bridge back to the AT on the left just beyond the bridge. (There is also a parking area just the other side of the bridge where the AT goes back into the woods.)

It was still raining.

Back on the rail bed.

The AT leaves the rail bed to the left.  I wondered where the rail bed continued on to but needed to finish with Shawnee so wasn't able to investigate.  On the map it looks like it goes to Quarryville Brook Preserve, assuming it isn't broken up by private property along the way.

Almost there and of course the rain stopped and the sky was blue.

Coming up on the parking area.

The AT continues northbound across Route 284.

No balloons today but did pack out a couple of plastic water bottles that I probably hate just a bit more than I hate Mylar balloons.