Natural Chimneys Park (Blog Hike #65)

Trails: Chimneys and River's Edge Trails

Hike Location: Natural Chimneys Park

Geographic Location: west of Bridgewater, VA (38.35778, -79.08247)

Length: 2 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)

Date Hiked: April 2000

Overview: A steep climb to overlook the chimneys, followed by an easy streamside course.

Park Information: https://www.co.augusta.va.us/government/departments-and-offices/parks-recreation/parks-ballfields-trails-and-more/natural-chimneys
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940899
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Bridgewater, take SR 42 south 2.5 miles to CR 747.  Angle softly to the right on CR 747.  Take CR 747 3 miles to CR 731 and turn right on CR 731.  Natural Chimney Park is less than 1 mile ahead.  Turn right to enter the park. Continue straight on the park entrance road to where it ends at a parking lot near picnic shelter #3.  Park in this lot.

The hike: Tucked away along the North River in rural Virginia, Natural Chimneys Park is named for the unusual stone towers that stand within its boundaries.  The park's developed campground and location near Shenandoah National Park make it a nice side trip for visitors to the area.  The park is also famous for its annual jousting tournament hosted every August near the chimneys.

Natural Chimney, as seen from picnic shelter #3

           From picnic shelter #3, start your tour of the park with a ground-level view of the Natural Chimneys, which are located to the left of the shelter.  The limestone chimneys range from 65 to 120 feet in height.  They were formed millions of years ago as wind and water eroded the less resistant surrounding rock.  Natural tunnels located in the base of a couple of the chimneys formed as ancient caverns before the rock eroded away.  A couple of interpretive signs near the chimneys give more details about the feature.

Natural Chimneys, Allegheny Mountains in background

          When you are done admiring the chimneys, begin your hike with the Chimneys Overlook Trail, which enters the forest just to the right of the picnic shelter.  The trail begins a very steep climb, the only significant ascent of the hike.  Near the top of the hill, the trail forks.  For now, take the left fork, which leads to the vantage point for which this trail is named. 

          After admiring the chimneys in the foreground and the Allegheny Mountains in the background, retrace your steps to the trail intersection.  Turn left to take the other fork and continue the hike, now on the Chimneys Trail.  The trail now assumes a ridgetop course through young maple forest and soon reaches a small man-made clearing.  Continue straight as the trail joins a dirt maintenance road and begins descending the hill as it slowly turns to the right. 

          The trail comes out at the main park road near shelter #2, where the Chimneys Trail ends.  Continue the hike by turning left on the blacktop road.  Cut behind the visitor center to reach the trailhead for the River's Edge Trail, which starts as a bike path near the campground gate.  The trail heads west toward North River treading a thin strip of land with the park boundary on the left and the campground on the right. 

The North River

          Upon reaching the river, the trail turns right and begins following the river downstream.  A few breaks in the trees allow some nice views of the fast-flowing river.  About 1500 feet past the right turn, the trail comes alongside the main park road.  Turn right on the park road and follow it back to the parking lot near shelter #3 to complete the hike.