Blue Ridge Parkway, VA - Rock Castle Gorge

ABOUT THE PARK:
Rocky Knob/Rock Castle Gorge Trails - Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trails
Rocky Knob Trails - Virtual Blue Ridge

DIRECTIONS:
Where this hike generally starts at the higher elevation of the Blue Ridge Parkway, I wanted to get the steepest climb out of the way first so I started low in the gorge.  These directions are for that parking area.

GPS Coordinates 36.807732, -80.331023

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Parking for 4 cars on the left (2 on either side) and additional parking to the right all the way to the dead end.

TRAIL MAP:
Rocky Knob Trails - National Park Service

HIKE DISTANCE:
Everything says this hike is 10.8 miles although I measured it out at 11.3 miles with the first third and last third of the hike jiving with given mileage - something was different along the Blue Ridge Parkway section - the difference is probably from circling around cows and crossing over the Blue Ridge Parkway for views on the other side.

PEAK BAGGING:
Rocky Knob - Peakery.com
Grassy Knoll - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

From the parking area, cross the barrier and bridge and continue straight on the fire road.

Make a sharp right turn on the green-blazed. Rock Castle Gorge Trail.

The trail starts out very easy along the creek through beautiful forests.

During mid-May an explosion of wildflowers throughout most of this hike.

The trail will start to climb more steeply.

And more steeply.

After crossing a challenging blowdown (you have to climb over the top of the huge tree trunk that slants down into the gorge so you keep sliding down the trunk while trying to get over it) the trail becomes intensely steep for a bit.  After passing a bench on the right, things smooth out and it becomes a stroll in the park.

The trail ascends more gently through pastures along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Posts mark the way.

An interesting tree growing out of a rock in the mountaintop meadow.

There were many cows in the pastures we hiked through.

The cow on the right was standing in the middle of the trail and had no intention of moving so we made a wide circle around her and she kept her eye on us.

There will be several stiles to cross - some with steps like this...

... and a couple of walk-through stiles

The trail traverses The Saddle at the Blue Ridge Parkway.

On the opposite side of the Blue Ridge Parkway from The Saddle overlook, Buffalo Mountain.

An old shelter from when the Appalachian Trail used to pass this way before being rerouted.

View from the old AT shelter.

View from Rocky Knob

View from the Grassy Knoll

Starting the descent back into the gorge.

Descending through Catawba Rhododendrom

Going down is easier than coming up was.

Passing through Bare Rocks.

Old fireplace and chimney in the woods.

Cascades in Rock Castle Creek

The trail becomes an old woods road following along the creek with several bridge crossings.

The Austin House, built in 1916, privately owned.

Final stretch through a campground.

Driving back to the cabin at Fairy Stone State Park I saw a bird sitting in the middle of the highway and she did not fly away when I passed her.  There was no traffic so I put on my flashers, backed up, jumped out and scooped her up.  I held in my hand the Virginia State Bird.  It appeared as though she had been clipped by a car and was dazed.

Back at Fairy Stone State Park I was consulting with the park rangers over what to do with her when she started protesting at being held.  I opened my hand and she flew away and landed in the parking lot.  She would not let the rangers catch her so that was a very good sign that she was coming around.  She flew into a fire wood box and we decided that was a good place for her to rest and hopefully take off when she was ready. 

HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]    From parking cross barrier and bridge, continue straight on fire road
[0.10]    Make sharp right turn on to green-blazed Rock Castle Gorge Trail
[0.50]    Trail becomes steeper
[1.25]    Cross over huge blowdown; trail becomes much steeper
[1.40]    Trails levels out some and beyond bench on right becomes very smooth and level
[2.00]    Cross two bridges
[2.80]    Rock hop over creek
[3.00]    Cross fence on stile
[3.15]    Rocky Knob Campground on right other side of Blue Ridge Parkway
[3.70]    Leave cow pasture via walk through stile
[3.90]    Saddle Overlook
[4.00]    Keep left at fork - no blazes through this area which goes over Rocky Knob
[4.15]    Former Appalachian Trail shelter from before the AT was relocated; continue other side of shelter following ledge when other unmarked trails go right towards the parkway; top of incline is Rocky Knob
[4.40]    Green blazes start again
[4.65]    Turn left at T-intersection
[5.05]    Rock Castle Gorge Overlook
[5.40]    Keep left when a trail goes up steps to right
[5.45]    Twelve O'Clock Knob; trail now blazed both green and blue
[5.55]    Straight on green/blue when unmarked comes in from right
[6.05]    Cross fence on stile
[6.40]    Grassy Knoll; just beyond bench keep left on green when blue leaves to the right
[7.10]    Cross fence on stile
[7.75]    Rock hop over creek
[8.30]    Trail goes over boulders of Bare Rocks
[8.65]    Old chimney on left
[8.70]    Cross bridge
[8.75]    Turn left on woods road at T-intersection
[9.50]    Cross bridge
[9.65]    Cross bridge and rock hop creek
[9.90]    Austin house, built in 1916 on right (privately owned)
[10.10]    Cross bridge
[10.90]    Campground
[11.20]    Keep straight when Rock Castle Gorge Trail goes left
[11.30]    Back at parking

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

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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

Jefferson National Forest, VA - Cascades and Barney's Wall

ABOUT THE PARK:
Cascades Day Use Area - USDA Forest Service
Cascade Falls - Giles County, Virginia

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 37.353838,-80.598986

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Looking back at the parking lot from the trail head next to the restroom building.

On the way in, just before the parking lot, pull off to the right to self pay the extremely reasonable $3 parking fee.  If you don't pay, the fine is $75.

TRAIL MAP:

Picture of the map at the trail head.  I drew in the continuation to the Upper Falls and Barney's Wall

Click here for a map that shows more of the trails in the area.

HIKE DISTANCE:  8.3 miles (Cascades Trails only - 4 miles)

THE HIKE:

Start the hike to the right of the restroom building at the far end of the parking lot.

Trail Entrance

The trail follows along the left side of Little Stony Creek.

At the first bridge, the trails split.  The Upper Cascades Trail (return route) continues straight ahead.  Turn right and cross the bridge to the other side of Little Stony Creek for the Lower Cascades Trail.

Lovely small cascades all along Little Stony Creek.

A lot of old stonework and steps along the way.  The second bridge leads back to the other side of Little Stony Creek, still on the Lower Falls Trail.  The Upper Falls Trail is now at a higher elevation and can be reached via short connector trails to the left if the hike needs to be cut short.

Trail signs are etched in stone.  This is the half way point to the falls.

More old steps leading up to the falls.

At the end, the Cascades.  The wooden steps on the left lead to an observation deck by turning right part of the way up the steps, or left to the Upper Cascades Trail and the continuation to the Upper Falls and Barney's Wall.

Taking the left branch of the steps, ascend to an intersection where the Upper Cascades Trail is to the left for the 4 mile hike, or turn right to continue on to Barney's Wall. 

Just before reaching the Conservancy Trail, a short side trail to the right leads to the upper falls.

Although it takes a few different trails to reach Barney's Wall, they are all blazed yellow so instead of the blazes denoting individual trails, the yellow blazes lead the way to Barney's Wall.  It is a relentless ascent until the trail finally levels out at the top.

View from Barney's Wall.

Rocks at Barney's Wall make a nice break spot.

Returning on the Upper Falls Trail.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]    Start on the unblazed trail to right of restroom at far end of parking lot
[0.20]    Turn right and cross bridge (Upper Cascades Trail continues straight not crossing the bridge)
[1.05]    Cross second bridge and turn right; connector trail from Upper Cascades Trail joins in from the left
[1.40]    Cross bridge running parallel to creek
[1.70]    Cross bridge running parallel to creek
[2.15]    Arrive at lower cascades; go up wooden steps and at t-intersection turn right to observation deck; retrace
[2.20]    Coming from observation deck continue straight when steps to the left lead back down to the Lower Cascades Trail
[2.30]    At clearing turn right on fire road towards Conservancy Trail and Barney's Wall  (For a 4 mile hike, turn left on fire road which is the Upper Cascades Trail back to the parking lot.)
[2.70]    Continue on fire road as it turns left, unmarked trail leaves to the right (short trail with no view)
[2.75]    Turn right on unmarked trail leaving fire road, switchback down to upper falls
[2.85]    Upper falls; retrace
[2.95]    Turn right to continue on fire road short distance then turn left on yellow-blazed Conservancy Trail
[3.40]    Go through rhododendron tunnel and rock hop creek
[4.10]    Turn left at intersection on Barney's Wall Trail (still blazed yellow) when Conservancy Trail goes right
[4.40]    At circle keep right and turn right on first trail before fire pit, descent to Barney's Wall (trail blazed yellow but blazes not visible until on the trail)
[4.50]    Barney's Wall; retrace
[4.60]    Turn left at circle then left on Barney's Wall Trail
[4.90]    Turn right on the Conservancy Trail at intersection
[5.60]    Go through rhododendron tunnel and rock hop creek
[6.10]    Turn right at intersection on fire road towards Cascades Trail
[6.50]    Keep straight on fire road which is now the Upper Trail
[6.70]    Keep straight when trail to left connects to Lower Trail
[7.25]    Keep straight when trail to left connects to Lower Trail
[8.10]    Keep straight at bridge
[8.30]    Back at parking lot