Shenandoah National Park: Blackrock Summit (Blog Hike #468)

Trails: Trayfoot Mountain and Appalachian Trails

Hike Location: Shenandoah National Park, Blackrock Summit

Geographic Location: northeast of Waynesboro, VA (38.22293, -78.73329)

Length: 1.1 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Date Hiked: May 2014

Overview: A short climb to an impressive, rocky view.

Park Information: http://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=726455
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: The Blackrock Summit Parking Area is located on the west side of Skyline Drive at mile marker 84.8.  This mile marker is located 19 miles south of US 33 or 21 miles north of I-64.

The hike: My two visits to Shenandoah National Park have come 14 years apart.  On my first visit in April 2000, spring had arrived in the surrounding valleys but not on the mountain.  Most of the park’s facilities were still closed that time of year, and I drove Skyline Drive, the park’s famous view-filled scenic highway, in such a hurry that I finished the last few miles in complete darkness.

            My second visit came in May 2014 on a week-long hiking trip to Virginia.  At that time of year, the park featured more activity, but the summer crowds had not yet arrived in full force.  Ironically, although I lived in Virginia for almost 3 years in between these visits, I never came here while I was a Virginia resident.

            Whether you come on vacation or as a Virginia native, in the off-season or at the height of vacation season, a visit to Shenandoah National Park offers a special treat.  Established in 1935, the park is one of the oldest national parks in the east, and the many fine trails and buildings constructed by the depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) still serve park visitors well today.  Because the park is much longer than it is wide, most of the good loop hikes have short length.  I focused on the northern half of the park on my first visit, so on my second visit I focused on the southern half, starting with the short loop to Blackrock Summit described here.

Trailhead at Blackrock Summit parking area

            This hike starts on the Trayfoot Mountain Trail, which leaves the southeast corner of the parking area at an information board and yellow chain that blocks vehicle access.  As the chain and this trail’s wide path give away, this section of trail doubles as a fire road.  A few dirt waterbars have been installed in the trail to help reduce erosion.

            After 0.15 miles of moderate climbing on the fire road, you reach an intersection with the Appalachian Trail (AT).  A concrete post inscribed with the familiar AT symbol marks this intersection, which is also the beginning of the loop portion of this hike.  The loop is a little easier to hike counterclockwise, so this description will angle softly left here to enter southbound on the white-blazed AT.  The powder blue-blazed Trayfoot Mountain Trail exiting on the fire road at a hard angle left will be our return route.

Intersecting the AT

            For the next 0.25 miles the AT climbs gradually through high-elevation forest, which includes a few yellow birch trees.  At 0.4 miles, the trail curves right to enter a boulder field on the west side of Blackrock Summit.  A lot of hard work went into building this section of trail, as the grade and treadway stay nearly level despite the jagged Hampton quartzite rocks all around.  The black color of the rock is due to lichen called rock tripe that live on these rocks.  Outstanding views open to the west with the forested hills of Shenandoah National Park in the foreground, the cultivated fields of Shenandoah Valley in the middle ground, and the rugged Allegheny Mountains in the background.  Some other boulder fields can be seen on neighboring mountains.

Trail through boulder field

View to the northwest

            At 0.5 miles, where a connecting trail to Trayfoot Mountain exits downhill to the right, continue straight on the AT, soon leaving the boulders.  Ironically, the Blackrock Summit loop does not go to Blackrock Summit; you will need to scramble up the boulders to the left here if you want to obtain the actual summit.  At 0.6 miles, you reach an intersection with the Trayfoot Mountain Trail, marked by another concrete post.  Turn left to begin the return portion of this loop.

Returning on the fire road

            Still following the grassy fire road through stunted high-elevation forest, the Trayfoot Mountain Trail climbs moderately before leveling out at the highest point on this hike and then descending.  At 0.9 miles, you close the loop.  Angling right to stay on the fire road will retrace your steps 0.15 additional miles to complete the hike.  Alternatively, you can follow the AT downhill a short distance and cut cross-country to the parking area if retracing your steps seems too boring.

Liberty Mountain Trail System: Peak-2-Peak Trail to Monogram (Blog Hike #467)

Trail: Peak-2-Peak Trail (to Monogram)

Hike Location: Liberty Mountain Trail System

Geographic Location: southwest side of Lynchburg, VA (37.35216, -79.16788)

Length: 1.6 miles

Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)

Date Hiked: May 2014

Overview: A peak-hopping route to the LU monogram.

Trail Information: https://www.liberty.edu/campusrec/hydaway-outdoor-center/

Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=291044
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: This hike starts at Liberty University’s Snowflex, which is located on Candler’s Mountain Road just south (up the mountain) of US 460.  Park in the gravel general parking area to the right as you enter.

The hike: If you were a university, what would you do with 5000 acres of forested, mountain land that is too steep for constructing buildings?  Build a trail system, of course.  At least, that is what Liberty University did…eventually.  Though the university was established in 1971, the trail system was not built until 2006.  The lightly worn pathways still have the feel and problems of a young trail system, but the potential for a great hiking and biking destination can be seen already.

            The trail system consists of two-track old logging roads and single-track newly constructed trails.  Over 50 miles of trails are open to hikers and mountain bikers during daylight hours.  As the system’s name suggests, some of these trails are quite steep, but others have only moderate elevation changes.  Also, the trails close to campus are quite popular, while the more remote trails are seldom-used.

            Obviously, many different routes are possible through the trail system.  Due to the expansive views it offers, the most popular destination is the gazebo atop the infamous (in some circles) LU monogram.  The best hiking route to the monogram has changed over the years due to construction on Liberty Mountain.  At the time of this writing, the shortest hike leading to the gazebo that avoids long stretches along the road is the one described here.

Start of Peak-2-Peak Trail beside Monogram Road

             Walk around the front of Snowflex, following black and white signs for the Monogram.  Pick up the Peak-2-Peak Trail where it starts beside a yellow vehicle gate to the right of gravel Monogram Road.  The trail heads through a recently graded area before entering the forest and beginning its climb to the first peak, the peak that features Snowflex.  True to its name, the Peak-2-Peak Trail traces three peaks, the third of which bears the monogram.

            At 0.2 miles, you reach a post marking the intersection of the Monorail and Peak-2-Peak Trails.  Although nothing about the sign would indicate such, you need to take the second trail going left here to stay on the Peak-2-Peak Trail.  Angling right will take you down the Dirty Ridge Trail, which circles the knob and heads south toward Camp Hydaway.  If you reach a hand-carved sign that says “Dirty Ridge,” you have missed this turn, as I did the first time.

Eastern box turtle on the trail

            The trail descends gradually to reach the south shoulder of Monogram Road at 0.3 miles.  Rather than crossing the road, the trail ducks back into the woods on the same side of the road where a couple of other trails exit right.  A trail sign reassures you that you are on the Peak-2-Peak Trail.  On my mid-May hike, some mountain laurel was in full bloom near this junction.

Mountain laurel in bloom

            After topping the second peak, which is considerably lower and more gradually sloped than the first one, you again come out on the south shoulder of Monogram Road, this time at a major trail intersection.  Champion Road and a couple of single-track trails exit right, while the dead-end Luge Trail exits left. (Parenthetical note: the Luge Trail was the best route to the monogram before its lower end was obliterated by construction.)  The Peak-2-Peak Trail again stays on the south side of Monogram Road as it begins the final push to the monogram.

Beginning the final climb to monogram

            The final 0.2 miles are the steepest of the hike, as the trail gains more than 200 feet of elevation over this segment.  Just before reaching the top, you get an interesting side view of the monogram, a view people who drive up here never get to see.  At 0.8 miles, you reach the gazebo atop the monogram and the best view on campus.  On a clear day you can see the entire campus in the foreground, the wooded Piedmont hills in the middleground, and the rugged Peaks of Otter in the background.  I came up here on a cloudy day, and the view was still excellent.  Also, there is an interpretive sign presented by Liberty University’s graduating class of 2010, the last class to have Jerry Falwell Sr. as Chancellor.

View from monogram

            The Peak-2-Peak Trail continues past the monogram, but there are no more fantastic views.  If you wish to explore deeper into the Liberty Mountain Trail System, make sure you print and bring a trail map: many of the trails beyond here are unmarked, and most of the intersections are unsigned.  Enjoy your trip to Liberty Mountain, but make sure you get back to the Snowflex trailhead before sunset.