Fairy Stone State Park, VA - Stuart's Knob

ABOUT THE PARK:
Fairy Stone State Park - Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 36.798622, -80.116830

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TRAIL MAP:
Fairy Stone State Park Trail Guide - Virginia State Parks 

HIKE DISTANCE:  4.4 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Stuart's Knob - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

Before leaving for the hike, a visitor at the cabin.  Pictures are blurry because they were taken through the screen of the enclosed porch.  This is a Northern Flicker.

Same bird, different angle.

At the trail head, an adult male Common Whitetail dragonfly.

The Stuart's Knob trails pass several old mines.

There were several huge blowdowns from the storms the day before.

Beach Overlook

The red-blazed Lower Stuart's Knob Trail.

Bull Mountain Overlook on the Lower Stuart's Knob Trail

The blue-blazed Whiskey Run Trail

I heard chainsaws while hiking and could not believe the trails were already being cleared by the park staff.  Sure enough, we ran right into them on the job.  Thanks guys!

The blowdown from the beginning of the hike as we were finishing.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]    Take trail to right of kiosk at benches; after a few steps turn left on the yellow trail
[0.15]    Turn left on yellow-blazed Iron Mine Trail; pass mine on right as trail veers left
[0.35]    Make sharp right turn on yellow Iron Mine Trail when blue-blazed Whiskey Run Trail goes straight at Beach Overlook
[0.40]    Side trail on right to bench
[0.45]    Turn left on orange-blazed Upper Stuart's Knob Trail
[0.65]    Turn left on red-blazed Lower Stuart's Knob Trail
[0.75]    Turn left on side trail to Bull Mountain Overlook
[0.80]    Bull Mountain Overlook; retrace
[0.85]    Back at intersection, keep straight/left on red-blazed Lower Stuart's Knob Trail
[1.10]    Turn right on yellow-blazed Iron Mine Trail
[1.25]    Keep left on yellow Iron Mine Trail when orange-blazed Upper Stuart's Knob Trail goes right
[1.35]    At beach overlook turn right on blue-blazed Whiskey Run Trail when yellow Iron Mine goes left
[1.70]    Old rock quarry on left
[2.35]    Mine on right
[2.80]    At T-intersection turn right on yellow-blazed Iron Mine Trail
[2.85]    Turn left on Iron Mine Spur Trail when yellow continues straight
[2.95]    Mine at end of spur trail; retrace
[3.05]    Back at yellow Iron Mine trail turn left
[3.35]    Turn right on orange-blazed Upper Stuart's Knob Trail
[3.55]    Keep left on orange Upper Stuart's Knob Trail when red-blazed Lower Stuart's Knob Trail goes right
[3.80]    Left on orange Upper Stuart's Knob Trail when red Lower Stuart's Knob Trail goes right
[4.00]    Right on yellow-blazed Iron Mine Trail
[4.05]    Side trail on left to bench, keep straight
[4.10]    Beach overlook; turn left on yellow Iron Mine Trail when blue-blazed Whiskey Run Trail goes right
[4.30]    Yellow trail veers right with mine on left, after few steps turn left to parking when yellow continues straight
[4.40]    Back at parking lot

Fairy Stone State Park, VA - Little Mountain Loop

ABOUT THE PARK:
Fairy Stone State Park - Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 36.797030, -80.112268

View Larger Map

Large parking lot on opposite side of road from trails.  Trails are walking distance from the cabins.

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Cabins at this park are pet-friendly.  I stayed in Cabin 12.  These cabins are older, built in the 1930's by the CCC.  Click here for more information on cabin rentals.

Out the back door of the cabin, Fairy Stone Lake was just a few steps away.

Fairy Stone Lake early in the morning.

Fairy Stone Lake at sunset.

TRAIL MAP:
Fairy Stone State Park Trail Guide - Virginia State Parks 

HIKE DISTANCE:
Hikes from base camp at Fairy Stone State Park: 

• Fairy Stone State Park - Little Mountain Loop (this hike) - 6.25 miles
• Blue Ridge Parkway - Rock Castle Gorge - 11.3 miles
• Fairy Stone State Park - Stuart's Knob - 4.4 miles
• Hanging Rock State Park, NC - 9 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Little Mountain - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

To start hiking, cross the street from the parking lot, ascend the stone steps and keep straight on the white-blazed Beach Trail.

The blue-blazed Turkey Ridge Trail.

Fairy Stone Lake from the Lakeshore Trail.

The Lakeshore Trail continues across the dam between Fairy Stone Lake and Philpott Lake before it ends.

Spotted Sandpipers at the dam.

Fairy Stone Lake from the dam.

Mallards in Fairy Stone Lake.

Orange-blazed Little Mountain Falls Trail.

Little Mountain Falls

Blue Ridge Mountain view from the Little Mountain Falls Trail.

A harmless Eastern Milk Snake on the Little Mountain Falls Trail.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]    From parking lot cross road and go up 3 stone steps to trail head at the kiosk; continue straight on white-blazed Beach Trail
[0.10]    Left on yellow-blazed Lakeshore Trail
[0.25]    At intersection post turn right, go few steps turn right at next post, turn right at next post on blue-blazed Turkey Ridge Trail when the yellow-blazed Lakeshore Trail goes left
[0.50]    Keep left on blue-blazed Turkey Ridge Trail when orange-blazed Little Mountain Falls Trail goes right
[0.55]    Keep left on blue-blazed Turkey Ridge Trail when blue-blazed Turkey Ridge also goes right
[0.80]    Keep right as yellow-blazed Lakeshore Trail joins in from left; left on yellow Lakeshore Trail when blue Turkey Ridge leaves to the right
[1.10]    Bench with lake view on left, few steps later keep straight when blue-blazed Turkey Ridge Trail comes in from the right (now blazed both blue and yellow)
[1.30]    Keep straight on yellow-blazed Lakeshore Trail when Turkey Ridge Trail leaves to the right
[1.50]    End of dam with lake views; retrace
[1.70]    Turn left on blue-blazed Turkey Ridge Trail when yellow-blazed Lakeshore Trail goes straight
[2.50]    Make sharp left turn at intersection on blue Turkey Ridge Trail when Turkey Ridge Trail also goes straight
[2.55]    Make sharp left turn on orange-blazed Little Mountain Falls Trail when blue Turkey Ridge Trail goes right
[2.65]    Turn left on orange-blazed Little Mountain Falls Trail when orange goes right also
[3.15]    Keep left on orange trail with staff access trail comes in from right
[3.50]    Short side trail on left to waterfalls; retrace and continue right on orange trail
[4.15]    Blue Mountain Vista at bench
[4.50]    Turn right on orange trail when paved Mountain View Trail passes on left
[5.40]    Keep straight on orange at a clearing where staff access is to the right and Mountain View Trail is to the left
[5.65]    Turn right at sign post towards trailhead still on orange
[5.75]    Make sharp left turn on orange when orange also goes right (completion of Little Mountain Falls Trail loop)
[5.80]    Keep straight on blue-blazed Turkey Ridge when blue-blazed Turkey Ridge goes right also
[6.05]    Turn left on yellow-blazed Lakeshore Trail towards trailhead; few steps later left on yellow Lakeshore Trail
[6.15]    Turn right on white-blazed Beech Trail when left goes to campground
[6.25]    Cross paved road back to parking lot