Elyse ClarkExplorer

In Douthat State Park, park at the Discovery Center/Amphitheater parking lot near the children's fishing area. The Blue Suck Falls trail head will be towards the dam on the left side and is well-marked.Note: A trail map is highly recommended for this trail! It is fairly well-marked with blue blazes, but has 5 separate trail intersections and it may be easy to get turned around if you don't have...

You can park your car at the small gravel lot where VA-42 and Rt. 629 intersect. Starting from the Appalachian Trail crossing at VA-42,  head north on the AT, which winds through some grass meadows. After about 0.8 miles into the hike you will cross Rt. 630 (Northside Road) on a bridge over Sinking Creek. The trail continues to the right side of the creek.  From here it is a short 0.5 miles to ...

From Rt. 219 about 7 miles south of Hillsboro, West Virginia, there are well-marked signs for Beartown State Park. This narrow road winds about a mile until the small parking area for the state park.   The boardwalk trail starts to the left of the bathrooms, and it is encouraged to walk the trail in a counter-clockwise direction, while reading the interpretive signs.  There are many rocks and c...

Start at the Hogback parking lot at MP 21.1 on the Skyline Drive. Take the Appalachian Trail south for 0.8 miles, and turn right onto the Tuscarora-Overall Run Trail. After 0.5 miles you will come to another intersection-keep right to stay on the Tuscarora-Overall Run Trail. A final intersection with the Mathews Arm Trail is after another 1.3 miles. Keep right at this intersection.The waterfal...

A short distance from downtown Richmond, this park contains over 450,000 azalea plants in 76 different beds that are usually in peak bloom around mid-April every year. When the plants are in full bloom, you can drive (or walk) the 1 mile loop and there are various places to park and get out and walk along the way.  If the gates to the road are closed, simply park at the soccer fields parking lo...

Breaks Interstate Park lies on the border of western Virginia and eastern Kentucky, and is known as the “Grand Canyon of the South”. This park surrounds a 5-mile long gorge created by the Russell Fork River, which lies 1650 feet below the park.Once you enter the park, stop at the first overlook on the left called the “Towers Overlook”. There is a short 0.15 mile path to a beautiful overlook of ...

Just outside of Washington DC is a great hike and rock scramble you don't want to miss. Great Falls lies in both Virginia and Maryland and has beautiful views of the Potomac River. Start out at the Great Falls Tavern parking lot (Maryland side), and keep in mind it is $10 to park here if you don't have a National Park pass. When facing the river, go left on the C & O Canal Towpath. You'll ...

From the parking lot, the paved handicap-accessible trail switchbacks to a view of the upper falls (20'). The falls are a bit hard to see from the viewpoint, so it's best to continue down the trail.  At the upper falls the trail changes to wooden stairs that descend gradually down. You will cross a wooden bridge over the stream, then there will be a viewing platform for the middle falls off to ...

From Hampton, Tennessee, take US-321S for about 3.5 miles. Turn right onto Dennis Cove Road and travel for 4 miles on this steep and very curvy mountain road.  The trailhead is where the Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses the road at a small gravel lot on the left.  Take the AT north on the trail leading out the left side of the gravel parking area.  For about a mile the trail will follow an old ra...

First, from the parking lot, there is a trail which climbs up to walk on top of the rock. The top of the rock is narrow, but has hand rails to hold on to.  Once finished walking on top of the rock, cross the road (be extremely careful) and walk away from the tunnel. Here is a good angle to take a photo of the tunnel which was created in 1901.  Still walking away from the tunnel, there will be a...