George Washington National Forest, VA - Kepler Overlook

ABOUT THE PARK:
George Washington National Forest - USDA

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 38.970117, -78.565305

Driving in, pass one gate (if closed park there and walk in) then turn left just before the second gate and park at the camp site.  That second gate is where the hike starts.

TRAIL MAP:
Map F: Great North Mountain-North Half (VA/WV) - Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

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HIKE DISTANCE:  6 miles (3 miles each way)

THE HIKE:
Followed the hike as described by Hiking Upward.

From parking at the camp site, walk back out to the road that you drove in on ...

... and turn left through the gate (that apparently was permanently closed at some point) ...

... on the yellow-blazed Cedar Crest Trail.

We had just driven through 5 hours of heavy rain but fortunately it stopped right when we started hiking.

Where the blue-blazed Tuscarora Trail crosses over, turn left.

Just beyond an old "road closed" gate ...

... a rock hop over Cedar Creek.  I was concerned the water might be too deep after so much rain but it was passable.

Cedar Creek

Crossing a little creek where a bridge would not have been necessary at all.

Yay, some blue sky peeking through.

Up to this point the trail had been mostly woods road but becomes a more rugged footpath after this turn.

It's always gradual uphill, never steep.

Blue-headed Vireo

A short side trail to an overlook on Tea Mountain.

The trail to the left led to a rock scramble so Brodie had to be tethered at the bottom while I climbed up.  He was not pleased about this.

A little bit of a view from the top.

Went around the rocks to the next left ...

... to an overlook Brodie could get to.

Unfortunately, still lots of low clouds from the remnants of Hurricane Willa passing through.

Continuing on the Tuscarora Trail.

Once on the ridge of Little North Mountain, it's a short distance to a clearing on the right with camping sites and ...

... Kepler Overlook where I think you should be able to see the Shenandoah Mountains but not with these low clouds.

It was still a pretty view.

Heading back the way we came.

A right on the yellow Cedar Creek Trail ...

... then a right back to the parking area.

Five more hours of driving ...

... to the motel in Charleston, WV.

Big Schloss - George Washington National Forest Wolf Gap Recreation Area, VA

ABOUT THE PARK: Big Schloss - Wikipedia

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 38.92409, -78.68865

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TRAIL MAP: 
National Geographic 792 Massanutten & Great North Mountain Trail Map

HIKE DISTANCE:  4.4 miles

HIKE DESCRIPTION:
From the parking lot, look for the restroom building and follow the trail in that direction.  Go through the split rail fence beyond the restrooms, cross the paved road and pick up the orange-blazed Mill Mountain Trail to the right of camp site #9.

The trail switchbacks up then levels out along the ridge.  West Virginia will be on your left, Virginia on your right.

Enjoy several views along the ridge.

At the intersection, turn right on the white-blazed trail towards Big Schloss.

Cross the newly constructed bridge (Fall 2010) to Big Schloss.

While the bridge was very sturdy and did not bother me at all with my fear of heights, I just could not bring myself to scramble up the rocks at the end for the best views.  So even if you can't go all the way, there is still plenty of scenery to enjoy and the hike is still worth it.

HIKE SUMMARY:

[  0.00]  From the parking lot follow trail past restroom, across paved road, to traihead for the orange-blazed Mill Mountain Trail to the right of camp site #9

[  0.30]  Trail starts to switchback up

[  0.80]  Trail levels out along ridge

[  1.90]  Right at fork on white-blazed trail to Big Schloss

[  2.10]  Cross bridge to Big Schloss; retrace back

[  2.50]  At intersection turn left on orange-blazed Mill Mountain Trail

[  4.40]  Arrive back at parking lot