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Ashby Gap - Paris, Virginia


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Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping
8.5 mls N/A
Hiking Time:
Elev. Gain:
Resources:
4.5 hours plus a half hour for lunch
1,520 ft
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e.g. 12000 Government Center Parkway 22035 or Fairfax VA
The parking area is recessed 75 yards off VA601, with the entrance obscured when heading north on VA601

Another nice spring or fall hike closer to the DC Metro area. This is a out and back hike with two side loops, the main features being the small mountain streams, wildflowers, Myron Glaser Cabin, and the Rod Hollow Shelter. The best time to do this hike is springtime when the wildflowers are out and the streams are at their fullest.

From the parking area on VA601 follow the blue blazed trail down from the end of the parking area for 0.1 miles to the intersection of the Appalachian Trail (AT). Turn right uphill/north on the AT as it passes over the first of four ridges, cross a small stream, pass over the second ridge, then arrive at the blue blazed trail that makes a side loop to the Myron Glaser cabin.

Turn left downhill on the blue blazed trail where it shortly joins a small road and turns right. Cross another stream and walk up to the Myron Glaser cabin. The cabin is maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and is available for rental to PATC members only. The blue blazed trail passes around the back of the cabin and climbs back to the AT in another 0.2 miles.

Turn left on the AT crossing the next ridge and descending through Duke Hollow. After crossing the stream in Duke Hollow it will be another 0.4 miles to the Fisher Hill Loop Scenic Trail. The trail passes over Fisher Hill without any vistas, and is more of a scenic walk in the woods. Turn left on the blue blazed Fisher Hill Loop Scenic Trail as it passes over the top Fisher Hill then descends and rejoins the AT in 1.0 miles.

Turn right/south on the AT for 0.4 miles to the junction of the Rod Hollow Shelter. The shelter is 0.2 miles from the AT and usually has a good water source next to the stream in Rod Hollow. Continue south on the AT passing the the Fisher Hill Loop Scenic Trail in 0.4 miles you ascended earlier.

From this point you can follow the AT the 2.9 miles back to the parking area blue connector trail, or retrace your hike back past the Myron Glaser cabin.

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Hiker Reviews For The Ashby Gap Hike (5 Most Recent)
Review the Ashby Gap hike here!   Average Rating:   Share Hike: 

By: Mr. O-R Rating: Date of Hike: Monday, May 06, 2013
Unlike my review March 13, the Rod Hollow creek crossing was no problem. Continue some miles North of the shelter for an incredible stand of red Columbine wildflowers.

By: Rating: Date of Hike: Thursday, April 18, 2013
This hike may not have the vistas of many other hikes, but this hike is INCREDIBLE for wildflowers, especially right now in April. There are hundreds of VA Bluebells, Yellow and Blue Violets, Wild Geranium and many others blooming right now. The stream crossings are covered in what I think will be Large Trillium come May/June.

One caveat: The Fisher Hill section of the trail has a ton of downed trees and the trail can be faint and hard to follow, but keeping an eye on my GPS and looking for the blazes helped, but I was bushwhacking a lot.

It was wet and rainy, but totally worth the hike!


By: Mr. O-R Rating: Date of Hike: Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Heading North from Ashby Gap on the AT, found the Rod Hollow creek (just before shelter) uncrossable. Did not try Fishers Hill loop crossing.

By: MWG Rating: Date of Hike: Saturday, June 16, 2012
A nice hike. Not too hard but as others have said, nothing to look at. We spooked a few deer, and the bugs were a little annoying. If you like a decently forested hike, this is right up your alley. The parking lot was near full when we arrived but we never saw anyone else on the trail. A big thanks to the hiking group (2 vans full) that backed their vans right into the trail head, obscuring it and making it difficult to get back out.

Overall the terrain was mostly solid earth, not a lot of rocks to stumble on.


By: Rating: Date of Hike: Sunday, February 26, 2012
http://www.meetup.com/hiking-162/events/52379362/ 19 of us started at Ashby Gap and headed north for a couple hours.  Some checked out PATCs cabin and surprised its weekend visitors.  Others tried out the Fisher Gap Loup.  It was enjoyable checking out this portion of the Appalachian Trail's Roller Coaster. 

Be advised the trailhead is easy to miss.  Once you leave US-50 taking a slight right onto VA-601 follow it to the right then keep a sharp eye out for trail post on your left where you will take a left down to parking.  If you pass it & turn around it is much harder to take that right down into the trailhead.  We know, we did.


    View all 13 reviews for the Ashby Gap hike
Late April
 
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