Fort Laramie National Historic Site: Confluence Trail (Blog Hike #1132)

Trail: Confluence Trail
Hike Location: Fort Laramie National Historic Site
Geographic Location: southwest of Fort Laramie, WY (42.21055, -104.53566)
Length: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2026
Overview: A flat lollipop loop to the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers.
Site Information: https://www.nps.gov/fola/index.htm
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming April 2028)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 26 and SR 160 in the town of Fort Laramie, take SR 160 west 0.8 miles to the gravel trailhead parking on the left.  You reach this parking lot immediately after crossing the North Platte River.

The hike: In the mid 1800s, rivers were the main avenues of travel and sources of water on the high plains, and no point in southeast Wyoming had more strategic importance than the confluence of the North Platte and Laramie Rivers.  All of the emigrant trails (Oregon, California, and Mormon) passed this confluence, plus the area had rich commercial value due to the Northern High Plains' bison trade.  The first fort at this confluence was built in 1834 by Robert Campbell and William Sublette, and in 1849 the United States Army purchased an upgraded version of that fort to establish a military presence in the area.  The Army renamed the structure Fort Laramie for its location at the mouth of the Laramie River.

            For the next 40 years Fort Laramie would be the main military post on the Northern High Plains, and all of the region's many Indian Wars were launched and supplied from here.  By 1890, the region's Indian Wars had come to an end, and the fort was closed and sold at auction.  In 1938, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed Fort Laramie a national monument, and it was designated a national historic site in 1960.

Historic Fort Laramie

            Today some of the fort's buildings still stand while others have been reduced to foundations.  Visitors can tour the old fort site for free, and a thorough walking tour includes the enlisted barracks, the post trader's store, the old and new guardhouses, and some officers' quarters including a structure called "Old Bedlam," which dates to 1849 and is the oldest documented standing building in Wyoming.  In addition to the old fort, the site offers a short National Recreation Trail called the Confluence Trail.  As its name implies, the Confluence Trail takes you to the confluence of the North Platte and Laramie Rivers, and it forms a pleasant riverside lollipop loop through the plains for which this area is famous.

Trailhead for Confluence Trail

            The Confluence Trail starts at a trailhead about a mile east of the old fort.  There is no way to access the trail from the fort, but you pass this trailhead while driving the usual route into the old fort.  A couple of small wooden signs and a slightly larger information board mark this trailhead.  Immediately you reach a structure of historic interest: the King Iron Bowstring Bridge across the North Platte River.  The King Iron Bridge Company was known for building bridges with speed and efficiency by using prefabricated parts, and this bridge was completed in 1876 with a construction time of only 6 months and a cost of only $15,000.  This bridge is one of the best-preserved examples of such a structure today.

King Iron Bowstring Bridge

            The single-track dirt trail heads south from the bridge with the North Platte River through the cottonwood trees to the left.  The Confluence Trail stays within 1000 feet of the river for its entire distance, which makes for a very flat but sunny and potentially buggy hike.  Thus, this hike feels more like a prairie hike from Nebraska or the Dakotas than any hike you would expect to find in Wyoming.

Trail splits to form its loop

            At 0.35 miles, the trail splits to form its loop.  For no particular reason, I turned right to hike the loop counterclockwise.  Next the trail heads further away from the river, but the sunny prairie feel remains.  Some vehicle noise from the county road comes in from the right just before a spur trail to the county road exits right.  Angle left to continue around the loop.

Laramie River

            0.8 miles into the hike, the trail curves left as you reach the bank of the Laramie River.  The gravel-banked Laramie River is big enough that at first I thought it was the much larger North Platte River.  The trail heads downstream with the Laramie River on your right, and at 1.1 miles you reach the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers.  Although I came here in the mid-afternoon, the worst time of day to do wildlife watching, I saw several deer and a crane near this point.  A bench makes a nice place to sit, rest, and watch for wildlife.

North Platte River

            The final segment of the loop heads north/upstream with the North Platte River on your right.  Many bugs buzzed around my head, and the hike alternates between sunny grassland and shady cottonwood groves.  At 1.6 miles, you close the loop.  Continue straight/north to return to the King Iron Bowstring Bridge and the trailhead to complete the hike.  Makes sure you drive down the road and walk around the historic fort after your hike if you did not do so before it.

Glendo State Park: Sunset Point (Blog Hike #1131)

Trails: Slide Hill Loop and Sunset Point Trails
Hike Location: Glendo State Park
Geographic Location: southeast of Glendo, WY (42.48238, -104.94927)
Length: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2026
Overview: An out-and-back high above Glendo Reservoir to Sunset Point.
Park Information: https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/glendo
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming September 3, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: Between Casper and Cheyenne, take I-25 to the Glendo exit, exit 111.  Exit, go east on A Street, then in 0.2 miles turn right on Lincoln Avenue.  Lincoln Ave. becomes Glendo Park Road after exiting the town of Glendo.  Drive 6.8 miles from downtown Glendo, crossing Glendo Dam in the process, to the Dam Overlook Trailhead on the left.  Park in the paved parking area.

The hike: Located in the Rocky Mountain foothills east of Casper, Glendo State Park protects 18,382 acres around its namesake reservoir.  Glendo Reservoir was created in 1957 with the construction of an earthfill dam on the North Platte River.  Like nearby Guernsey Reservoir, this dam was built by the United States Bureau of Reclamation to reduce siltation downstream and to produce hydroelectric power.  The park and reservoir are named after the nearby town of Glendo; its name comes from the Gaelic word glean, which translates to "valley."

            Glendo State Park is located in a very rural area, and therefore its main attractions are aquatic recreation on Glendo Reservoir, 19 campgrounds totaling over 500 campsites, and many trails totaling over 45 miles.  Possibly the park's most famous view is the one from Sunset Point, which is the destination of this hike.  Although I did this hike as an out-and-back, you can turn it into a semi-loop if you are willing to add a little more distance, as I will explain later.  I had a pleasant hike on the warm and sunny mid-September morning that I came here.

Dam Overlook Trailhead

            From the large information kiosk at the west end of the parking area, head west on the single-track dirt trail with the road on your right.  This trail is called the Slide Hill Loop, and going this way you are going clockwise around the loop.  The trail climbs moderately through an area that had burned recently on my visit.  This hike goes back and forth between sunny rocky areas and shady dense pine forest, so come prepared for some sun exposure during the summer.

Post #2

            Just past 0.1 miles, the Narrow Bluffs Trail exits right.  Angle left to continue climbing on the Slide Hill Loop.  Trail intersections at this park are marked by numbered posts with trail maps; this first intersection is post #2.  Soon you top the first knob, and the next descent gives this hike's first long and broad westward view.  The rocky ridge you are going to be hiking extends out before you.  Deep blue Glendo Lake is downhill to the left, and some taller mountains stand off in the distance.

Looking out toward Sunset Point

            Just past 0.4 miles, you reach the trail intersection marked by post #3.  The Slide Hill Loop turns right here to continue its loop, but our hike turns left to begin the Sunset Point Trail, which leads to its namesake point.  A little more descending brings you to a saddle and post #4, where the Tin Can Trail exits right.  I did not see a lot of wildlife on this hike, but I did see a woodpecker in the pine trees near this point.

Topping a rocky knob

            Past post #4, the ridge narrows as you go up and over the next knob.  The going here is quite a bit rockier than on the first part of this hike, and you don't want to fall off of this ridge: vertical cliffs lie between you and the lake some 250 feet below.  After descending slightly, you reach post #22, where a steep and narrow connector trail to the Twenty 15 Trail exits left.  Stay right to remain on the ridge crest.

View west from Sunset Point

            Less than 500 feet later, you reach Sunset Point.  This overlook has kind of seen its better days: the nearby pine trees have grown enough to partially block the view.  While this point marks the end of the ridge, I like some of the views I got earlier looking down the ridge more than this one.  A bench here makes a nice place to sit, rest, and rehydrate at the midpoint of this hike.

Looking back to Glendo Dam

            The Sunset Point Trail ends at Sunset Point, so next you have to retrace your steps back up the ridge to the trailhead.  I do not recommend the connector trail to the Twenty 15 Trail: it is too steep with too poor footing, and there is no easy way to get back to our trailhead using that trail.  On the other hand, hiking the entire Slide Hill Loop makes sense if you have a little extra time and energy: it adds some variety to your hike and adds only 0.4 miles of fairly easy distance.  I had a long drive that afternoon, so I simply retraced my steps to the trailhead to finish this hike.

Edness K. Wilkins State Park (Blog Hike #1130)

Trails: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Edness K. Wilkins State Park
Geographic Location: east of Casper, WY (42.85375, -106.17888)
Length: 2.9 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2026
Overview: A double loop, mostly on paved trail and partly along the North Platte River.
Park Information: https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/edness-k-wilkins
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming August 6, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: East/south of Casper, take I-25 to SR 256 (exit 182).  Exit and go north on SR 256.  Drive SR 256 north 0.5 miles to US 87 and turn right on US 87.  The signed park entrance is 2.3 miles ahead on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, and park in the first paved parking area on the right.

The hike: Weighing in at only 361 acres, Edness K. Wilkins State Park is the second smallest state park in Wyoming.  The park came to be in 1981 when the State of Wyoming purchased a former rock quarry for development as a state park.  Therefore, this park is also the third newest state park in Wyoming.  The park is named for a former long-time Wyoming state legislator who was from this area.

            Although the park has 7 reservable cabins, Edness K. Wilkins State Park is one of only 3 Wyoming state parks that does not have a campground.  Due to the limited overnight lodging, the fact that most of its trails are paved, and the park's location near Casper, this park sometimes feels more like a city park than a state park.  But a lot of local people come here, and for good reason: anyone who comes here will find a pleasant recreation site along the North Platte River.  The park offers fishing and boating on the river, a small lake with a beach, a disc golf course, picnic and playground areas, and several miles of dirt horse trails and paved hiking trails.  The double loop described here stays on the hiking trails, and although it is paved most of the way, it provides a grand tour all around the park including the park's riverside and upland areas.

Main trailhead

            From the parking area described in the Directions to the trailhead, pick up the concrete trail as it heads east with the parking area on your left and US 87 across the grassland to your right.  A bench and a sign that warns "no motorized vehicles" stands at this trailhead.  This park's trail system is organized as a double loop, and going this direction starts a counterclockwise journey around the eastern loop.  Soon you pass a rebuilt covered wagon, which sits here as a testimony to this area's Oregon Trail history.  Indeed, the Oregon Trail followed the North Platte River through this part of Wyoming including what was then Fort Caspar, and ruts that this type of wagon made in the 1800s can be seen at various places in this region today.  Unfortunately, there are no Oregon Trail ruts at this park.

Covered wagon

            Soon you pass the park's beach and pond on the left.  I saw several deer on this trail including some young ones in this area.  Next you exit the developed park area and enter an area with more trees.  Some large cottonwood trees live here, and they were just starting to show their fall colors when I hiked here in a light rain on a cool mid-September morning.

Entering a wooded area

            At 0.5 miles, you pass a bird blind near a pond on your left.  While in general this park is good for wildlife watching due to its water and its location on the Central Flyway, I did not see any activity at this pond.  Next the trail curves left to pass through the eastern part of the park.  Ignore dirt horse trails that exit right and concrete side trails that exit left.

Deer

            0.9 miles into the hike, you arrive alongside the North Platte River.  The North Platte is a deep and broad sandy-bottomed prairie river, and some benches invite you to stop, rest, and enjoy the riparian part of this hike.  Unfortunately, the riverside area also sits right beside the park road, so you are unlikely to be the only person admiring the river.

North Platte River

            After passing several parking areas, the trail curves left to leave the riverside area and start paralleling the park's west boundary, which sits close on the right.  At 1.45 miles, you reach a trail intersection.  Turning left continues the east loop and quickly takes you back to the parking area.  This hike continues straight to head for the west loop, which is reached at another trail intersection just past 1.8 miles.  Turn right to head counterclockwise around the west loop.

Traversing the west loop

            The west loop offers very different scenery than the east loop.  Gone are the ponds, rivers, and trees; they are replaced by a semiarid grassland featuring goldenrod, sagebrush, and cactuses.  You pass the park headquarters/maintenance building before paralleling the park road.  At 2.4 miles, you close the west loop.  Turn right to head back to the east loop, then turn right at the final intersection to return to the parking area and complete the hike.  To add a little variety to the segment connecting the 2 loops, you can take the dirt/gravel dog walkers' trail on the return route.  This trail runs roughly parallel to the concrete trail but further from the private property on the left, and it provides the only opportunity to get off of the concrete on this hike.

Guernsey State Park: North Bluff Trail (Blog Hike #1129)

Trail: North Bluff Trail
Hike Location: Guernsey State Park
Geographic Location: west of Guernsey, WY (42.32125, -104.78330)
Length: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2026
Overview: A loop hike partly along the rim of the canyon containing Guernsey Reservoir.
Park Information: https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/guernsey
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 18, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of I-25 and US 26 in southeast Wyoming, take US 26 east 14 miles to SR 317.  Turn left on SR 317.  Drive SR 317 north 1 mile to the park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and follow Skyline Drive a total of 3.8 miles to the parking lot for The Castle.  Skyline Dr. is paved at first but eventually turns to gravel.  Park in the lot beside The Castle and the restroom building.

The hike: Established in 1925, 6000-acre Guernsey State Park is one of the oldest state parks in Wyoming.  The park overlooks Guernsey Reservoir, which is formed by an earthfill impoundment in the North Platte River.  The reservoir was built by the United States Bureau of Reclamation in 1927 for irrigation and hydroelectricity purposes.  The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to develop the park between 1934 and 1937, and today the park is considered one of the finest examples of the CCC's work in the Rocky Mountains.  The park and reservoir are named for the nearby town of Guernsey, which in turn was named for cattle rancher C.A. Guernsey.

            Though rural in location, Guernsey State Park features a wide array of amenities including the usual aquatic recreation on Guernsey Reservoir, several campgrounds both developed and primitive, a yurt area, a CCC and area history museum, and many miles of trails.  The hike described here explores this park's famous blufftop views that overlook the reservoir.  Even better, it starts at a CCC-built picnic shelter known as The Castle, thus letting you sample this park's impressive architecture and history as well as its scenery.

The Castle

            Either before or after your hike, you will want to check out The Castle.  The stone picnic shelter is impressive as a structure, but perhaps more impressive is the stone spiral staircase that leads to The Castle's roof.  The rooftop overlook provides a great view north over Guernsey Reservoir.  The reservoir sits in a rock-walled canyon over 200 feet below you, and the rooftop vista over the reservoir is one of the best views on this hike.

Main trailhead at The Castle

            When you are ready to start the hike, find the main trailhead at the north end of the small parking loop; this trailhead is marked only by a brown carsonite post.  A paver treadway leads to a rusty chainlink fence and another fine blufftop reservoir view.  Trails depart both left and right from this point.  Turn left to begin heading northwest on the North Bluff Trail with the reservoir to your right.

Guernsey Reservoir near The Castle

            The somewhat narrow dirt trail goes more down than up as it heads first behind The Castle and then through a shallow ravine.  There is minimal shade anywhere on this hike, so prepare for a very warm and sunny hike in the summer.  Great views across Guernsey Reservoir remain to the right.

View from northern-most point

            At 0.4 miles, the trail curves left to pass the northern-most point on this hike, which is also your closest approach to the reservoir.  An interesting canyon rising north from the reservoir can be seen across the lake.  Soon the trail curves left again to head away from the reservoir and trace around a larger ravine.  This ravine has impenetrable cliffs near the canyon rim, but soon the cliffs yield to more gradual terrain that allows for easy crossing of the normally dry streambed.  The streambed and some deer paths look somewhat like trails, but a few brown carsonite posts keep you on track.

Canyon across the lake

            After getting out to the canyon rim one more time, the trail curves left to put the reservoir at your back for good.  A gradual to moderate climb through sunny and somewhat rocky grassland comes next.  Part of this climb will be done on what appears to be an old dirt road.  Some cactuses and yellow wildflowers that I could not identify dot the grassland, and I saw some vultures and a grey catbird while hiking this trail.  Solitude is a real selling point of this hike: I was the only person in this part of the park when I came here on a warm mid-September afternoon.

Climbing through the grassland

            At 1.75 miles, the North Bluff Trail ends at the park entrance road.  You could retrace your steps for the entire distance of the North Bluff Trail, but a shorter option is to turn left on the gravel park road and walk the road back to the parking area.  The road is just as hot and sunny as the trail, but the grassland and Guernsey Reservoir views are just as good.  After returning to the parking lot, make sure you check out The Castle if you didn't do so at the start of this hike and/or stop at the CCC museum on your drive out.

Finger Lakes State Park: Red Trail (Blog Hike #1128)

Trail: Red Trail
Hike Location: Finger Lakes State Park
Geographic Location: north of Columbia, MO (39.08633, -92.32083)
Length: 2 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2026
Overview: A gently rolling loop through an old strip coal mine.
Park Information: https://mostateparks.com/park/finger-lakes
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming May 21, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of I-70 and US 63 in Columbia, take US 63 north 9 miles to Peabody Road and turn right on Peabody Rd.  Drive Peabody Rd. east 0.8 mile to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park.  Drive the main park road north 0.9 miles to the stop sign at the picnic area access road.  Turn left on the picnic area access road, which dead-ends at the picnic area parking lot in 0.3 miles.  Park here.

The hike: When most people think of the Finger Lakes, they think of the grand north-south glacier-created lakes in central New York.  Yet central Missouri has its own Finger Lakes, and while they are not as grand or natural as New York's version, they make for an interesting recreation destination near Columbia.  Missouri's Finger Lakes have a very different origin than New York's.  In the 1960s, over 1 million short tons of coal were strip mined from this site; the gouges from that mining form the lakes we see today.  Peabody Road, which you drove in on, is named for Peabody Energy, the company that mined that coal.

            In 1974, Peabody Energy donated the site's 1139 acres to the State of Missouri, and the park was developed using a federal grant designed to show the potential reclaimed strip mines have for recreational use.  Today the park's lakes are a major paddling destination, and the park offers 4.5 miles of water trails.  Also, Finger Lakes State Park is one of only 2 Missouri state parks that offer ORV trails: over 70 miles of vehicle trails lace the park.

            Sometimes lost among the paddling and ORV trails are the park's 3.8 miles of trails open to hikers and mountain bikers.  The park's hiking trail system consists of two main loops: a 2 mile Red/West loop and a 2 mile Yellow/East loop.  Both loops start at the park's main hiking trailhead, which is near the picnic area and pump track (a constructed obstacle track mountain bikers use to test and hone their biking skills).  This hike features the Red Trail.  The Red Trail offers an interesting loop that explores the park's ridges and creekside areas, and I had a pleasant hike here on a sweltering late-summer morning.

Trailhead for Red Trail

            The Red Trail starts at the far/north end of the parking lot; look for the information kiosk, the stile in the wooden fence, and the park sign with a red square and the words "West Loop Entrance."  The trail curves left to cross Kelley Branch, the main stream in this ravine, without the aid of a bridge.  When I came here, this stream was dry and I walked directly across the rocky streambed, but this crossing could be a problem if it has rained recently.  If the water is too high and/or fast for safe crossing, turn around and save this hike for another day.

Crossing Kelley Branch

Turtle in the trail

            Now on the west side of Kelley Branch, the trail begins a short climb on a moderate grade toward its highest point.  I passed a box turtle on the trail in this area, and the trailhead for the park's ORV children's riding area comes into view on the right.  At 0.3 miles, you pass a bench near this trail's highest point.  The park map calls this point an overlook, but the vegetation is sufficiently dense to provide no view whatsoever.

Bench at "overlook"

            A moderate descent comes next, and just past 0.4 miles you reach a trail intersection.  A white-blazed connector trail exits left and provides a route directly back to the parking area.  I turned right to continue my counterclockwise journey around the Red Trail.  The Red Trail is marked with plenty of red plastic diamond trail markers in addition to carsonite post mile markers in 0.25-mile increments.

Hiking the Red Trail

            The trail undulates gradually as it heads south, and soon one of the park's ORV trails starts paralleling our trail closely on the right.  The ORV trail's metal guardrail makes for an unusual sight in the woods, and I did not pass any traffic on either my trail or the ORV trail.  In fact, my hike broke a large number of spider webs that had been weaved across the trail.  Some hikers call breaking spider webs "silk blazing," and it indicates that this trail is seldom-used even though it was wide and well-maintained on my visit.

Lake across the ORV trail

            Just shy of 1 mile, you pass over a small hill as you round the southern end of the loop.  If you look to the right across the ORV trail, you can see one of the lakes for which this park is named.  This lake is small by this park's standards: the largest lakes are in the eastern part of the park, as are the park's paddling trails.  You can see the big lakes on the drive out, but they are not visible from either of this park's hiking trails.  I did see a woodpecker and some butterflies while hiking this trail.

Pump track near the trailhead

            The eastern half of the loop heads north through streamside forest.  The terrain is flat, and the going is easy.  Soon Kelley Branch comes in view on the right, and at 1.9 miles the white-blazed connector trail enters from the left.  Turn right to re-cross Kelley Branch, again without the aid of a bridge, and quickly arrive back at the parking lot to complete the hike.

Lake Lurleen State Park: Lakeside Trail to Dam (Blog Hike #1127)

Trails: Lakeside Trail, aka Tashka Trail
Hike Location: Lake Lurleen State Park
Geographic Location: northwest of Tuscaloosa, AL (33.29661, -87.67633)
Length: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: May 2026
Overview: An out-and-back along Lake Lurleen to the lake's dam.
Park Information: https://www.alapark.com/parks/lake-lurleen-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming January 8, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 43 and US 82 on the north side of Tuscaloosa, take US 82 west 5.1 miles to Upper Columbus Road (CR 21).  Turn right on Upper Columbus Rd.  Drive Upper Columbus Rd. 2.3 miles to Lake Lurleen Road and a sign for the state park.  Turn right on Lake Lurleen Rd.  Drive Lake Lurleen Rd. north 2.2 winding miles to the park entrance on the left.  Take a soft left to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, and park near the far/south end of the large blacktop parking area beside the lake on the left immediately after passing the park entrance station.

The hike: For my general comments on Lake Lurleen State Park, see my hike on its Ridge Loop Trail from 2019.  While that hike explored this park's ridgetop areas, this hike explores the park's lakeside area.  This hike is an out-and-back on the most scenic part of the Tashka Trail, which forms an 11 mile loop around the lake.  The lake breezes keep this trail relatively cool, and I had a pleasant hike when I came here on a hot 90-degree afternoon in mid-May.

South Trailhead

            From the parking area, pick up the Tashka Trail as it heads south with the lake on your right.  An information kiosk marks this trailhead, and some park maps call this point the South Trailhead.  The Tashka Trail has mileage markers at 0.5 mile increments, but it is otherwise mostly unmarked.  Nevertheless, the single track dirt trail is wide and easy to follow.

Short boardwalk

            You pass a ranger residence uphill to the left as your meandering lakeside excursion begins.  Short boardwalks take you over wet areas, and the first 0.8 miles of the trail never stray more than a couple hundred feet from the lake.  The lake makes for good bird watching.  I saw a heron gliding over the water and heard an owl on my hike.  Ignore side trails that exit left; they lead to parking areas along the park road.

Hiking along the lake

            Just past 0.8 miles, the trail curves left to begin a gradual climb away from the lake.  As you start the climb, an arm of the lake can be seen downhill to the right.  When you pass the Tashka Trail's 1 mile marker, the lake is out of sight and only nice broadleaf forest dominated by oaks and sweetgum trees surrounds you.  I saw a raccoon, a scarlet tanager, and many other small songbirds in these woods.  I also found a timber rattlesnake laying across the trail; I waited patiently for it to clear before I carefully moved on.

Hiking the upland section

            The trail traces a winding course around the rim of a ravine before descending back to lake level.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevation on this hike is about 100 feet, so all of the grades are manageable.  Near 1.7 miles, you come out on an old dam construction road, where signs tell you to turn right.  A few hundred feet later, you reach the dam that forms Lake Lurleen.

Lake Lurleen, as seen from the dam

            Dams usually give the best lake views, and this one is no exception: you can peer down the length of Lake Lurleen's reflective waters.  The Tashka Trail keeps going and forms an 11 mile loop around the lake, but for a reasonable-length dayhike, the dam is a good point to turn around.  Retracing your steps 1.75 miles to the South Trailhead completes the hike.

Grayson Highlands State Park: Rhododendron and Appalachian Trails (Blog Hike #1126; Golden Staff Hike)

Trails: Rhododendron and Appalachian Trails
Hike Location: Grayson Highlands State Park
Geographic Location: east of Damascus, VA (36.63333, -81.50875)
Length: 2.3 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: April 2026
Overview: An out-and-back through prime wild pony habitat past craggy rock outcrops.
Park Information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/grayson-highlands
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 11, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: From Damascus, take US 58 east 25.9 miles to the signed entrance for Grayson Highlands State Park on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, and drive the main park road 3.5 miles to the large roadside parking area for Massie Gap on the right.  Park here.

The hike: Spanning the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia has many fantastic state parks, including Douthat, Natural Bridge, Westmoreland, and Kiptopeke, but few of them are as fantastic as Grayson Highlands.  Perched on the southeast approach to Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, Grayson Highlands State Park consists of 4502 acres of woods and meadows, most of which are above 4000 feet of elevation.  The high elevation keeps temperatures reasonable for most of the summer.  When I came here in late April, spring was well underway down in Wytheville, but the trees had not yet budded up here.

            Grayson Highlands State Park has some nice amenities including a 64-site developed campground.  Nevertheless, hiking and wildlife still take centerstage here.  The famous Appalachian Trail passes through the park, but this park's most intriguing attraction is its wild ponies, which were brought here from Assateague in 1974.  The ponies were not introduced just to fascinate hikers: their grazing helps keep the park's meadows from being invaded by trees.

            The wild ponies are wildlife, and like any wildlife there is no guarantee you will see the ponies on a particular visit or hike.  That said, the hike described here starts by taking the Rhododendron Trail to Massie Gap, which is the ponies' favorite spot in the entire park.  This hike then follows part of the Appalachian Trail past some of the park's huge rock outcrops.  Thus, this hike showcases both the wildlife and hiking highlights of Grayson Highlands State Park.

Massie Gap Trailhead, Rhododendron Trail

            From the west end of the roadside parking area, walk north across the grassy field and go through the swinging gate to begin the signed Rhododendron Trail.  A large information kiosk marks this trailhead.  The dirt/gravel Rhododendron Trail begins climbing a single switchback on a moderate grade.  A thin smattering of pine and broadleaf trees lines the trail, but most of the surroundings are meadows.  Therefore, this will be a warm and sunny hike in the summer.

View south across Haw Orchard Mountain

            After topping the switchback, a great view opens south across the park road to Haw Orchard Mountain and beyond.  Past this viewpoint, the trail continues climbing and curves left as the bridle trail enters from the right.  I did see plenty of horse manure on this trail, and I am unsure if it was from bridle trail users, wild ponies, or both.  Some rhododendron grows in the wetter areas beside the trail, but mostly the scenery maintains its meadow character with only patches of trees.

Wild ponies

More wild ponies

            At 0.6 miles, you reach Massie Gap.  When I arrived here on a sunny afternoon in late April, 5 ponies were grazing and awaiting my arrival.  They ranged in color from brown to black, solid to spotted, and they seemed more interested in grazing than anything anybody was doing.  Some people pet or feed the ponies, but they should be treated like any other wildlife: no petting and no feeding.  A bench makes a great place to watch the equine action in the foreground and the long-ranging vistas in the background.

Wild ponies at Grayson Highlands

            In addition to being pony central, Massie Gap is also a major trail intersection.  The Rhododendron Trail ends here, and the Appalachian Trail (AT) goes left and right.  I turned right to begin heading northbound on the AT.  The trail climbs very gradually on a rocky and dusty treadway.  More great views open up to the right, and you reach the base of some rock outcrops that appeared way above you back at the trailhead.

Rock outcrops

            Just past 1.1 miles, you reach the highest point of this hike.  My original plan was to form a loop by taking a spur of the AT back down to the parking area.  Due to an error on the map I was using, I thought I had passed the spur trail's intersection with the AT even though I had not reached it yet.  Thus, after reaching this high point I turned this hike into an out-and-back by turning around and retracing my steps back down the AT and the Rhododendron Trail to the parking area.  On the bright side, I got to see the ponies a second time, and there were more and different ponies on my second trip through Massie Gap than there were on my first one.

Panther State Forest: Twin Rocks Trail (Blog Hike #1125)

Trail: Twin Rocks Trail
Hike Location: Panther State Forest
Geographic Location: southwest of Iaeger, WV (37.44761, -81.87644)
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: April 2026
Overview: An out-and-back on an old coal tram path beside Panther Creek.
Park Information: https://wvstateparks.com/parks/panther-state-forest/
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 22, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: From Iaeger in rural southwest West Virginia, take US 52 west 1.5 miles to Panther-Mohawk Road and turn left on Panther-Mohawk Rd.  Drive Panther-Mohawk Rd. west 6.1 miles to CR 3 and turn left on CR 3.  Drive CR 3 south 3.6 miles to the signed turnoff for the park office on the right.  Turn right, cross Panther Creek on a concrete bridge, and park in the gravel lot beside the park office in another 0.4 miles.

The hike: Tucked deep in the remote hills and hollows of southern West Virginia, Panther State Forest occupies 11,389 rugged acres along the West Virginia/Kentucky border.  The forest is named for its main watercourse, Panther Creek, which in turn got its name from a pioneer who supposedly killed a panther here.  The forest was established in 1940 partly as the result of a locally-organized "Pennies for Panther" campaign that raised more than $9000 in donations.

            True to its designation as a state forest rather than a state park, Panther State Forest is light on amenities.  The forest offers a tiny developed campground, hunting and fishing, a swimming pool, and 4 hiking trails totaling just over 5 miles.  I came here on a rain-filled day in late April, so I needed to keep my hike short to get it in between the rain showers.  Thus, I hiked this park's shortest and easiest trail: the Twin Rocks Trail described here.  The Twin Rocks Trail offers an out-and-back along Panther Creek that follows an old coal mining tram path.  I managed to do the out portion of this hike rain-free but got soaked on the return portion.

Trailhead a park office

            From the park office parking lot, walk a few feet back up to the road and turn left to begin heading southeast on the old coal mining tram path, which today makes a wide two-track treadway.  A sign designates this trail as a Mountaineer Mile Trail, a state health initiative that encourages people to walk 1 mile each day.  The trail passes through dense forest that is a mixture of pines and deciduous trees, and Panther Creek is visible and audible downhill to the left.

Wild grass field and wooden structure

            Near 0.4 miles, the trail curves right and gains distance from the creek.  Soon you come to a wild grass field, and if you look to the left across the field you will see an old wooden structure.  While I could not find any history on that structure, it probably predates the park.  Some large sycamore trees grow along the creek here.

First bridge over Panther Creek

Panther Creek

            At 0.7 miles, you reach a wooden bridge that crosses Panther Creek.  The trail map shows the Twin Rocks Trail forming a loop by continuing up the west side of the creek and crossing another bridge, but the trail becomes very overgrown past this first bridge.  Also, the second bridge was missing when I came here.  Thus, I spent a few minutes admiring the creek and some nearby rock outcrops before turning around and retracing my steps to the park office to complete the hike.