Ashby Gap Hike

Ashby Gap - Paris, Virginia


	Printable Topo Trail Map
	Click for location shots
	Click for Parking/Start location
	Hike trail
	Other trail

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 Printable Topo Hike Map (PDF) Paris Weather Forecast Graphic Precip/Temp Forecast Current Weather Radar Loop (Java) Garmin (GDB), GPS eXchange (GPX) (What's this?) 3D View of Route!
From:	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.

Interactive Hike Map Below Printable Topo Hike Map (PDF)

Hike route in

Drag the map with your mouse using the

icon

Zoom with the controls on the left

Mouse-over icons in the map below for location shots

Calculate roughly how many calories you could burn on the Ashby Gap hike:

Your Weight: lbs = Calories burned | What is your daily caloric requirement? Find Out Here

Hiker Reviews For The Ashby Gap Hike (5 Most Recent)

Review the Ashby Gap hike here! Average Rating:

Share Hike:

By: ekg	Rating:	Date of Hike: Saturday, November 26, 2011
This is a rather pointless hike, I vote that it be removed from this website. Sky Meadows is nearby and is much better for terrain, views, and access. I would not recommend this hike to anybody.

By: JV	Rating:	Date of Hike: Sunday, September 25, 2011
A good hike if all you want to do is hike and camp. I went on a rainy day and was slipping and sliding a bit, but not too bad. Multiple camp sites here as well as the PTC cabin. However, it is really just a walk in the woods- no overlooks, veiws, waterfalls etc. that would provide visual interest. The parking lot for the trail head is easy to miss, its up the Blue Ridge Road just a bit on your left.

By:	Rating:	Date of Hike: Thursday, April 21, 2011
For starters, the parking lot entrance reminded me of the third Indiana Jones movie. "Only with a leap from the lion's head will he prove his worth.". Yes, as another mentioned, the driveway IS there. It only looks like you're going to drive off a cliff... Anyway, the hike was nice. Lot's of streams and the wildflowers are popping up everywhere. With recent rain the streams were pretty swollen and the trail is a bit muddy. Glad I wore my crappy shoes as I slipped into one stream and got very dirty. One wide crossing I briefly lost the trail, but it was easy to find again. There was a really beautiful patch of blue flowers (bluebells?) about .25 miles past the second turn off to the Glaser Cabin... Took some good pictures. My only real issue was the Fisher Hill Loop which may be easy to lose on a normal day, but with the recent rain I think the downhill portion may have been washed out as I completely lost the trail and had to bushwack using my sense of direction (No GPS for this cheapskate) to get back to the AT.... I'm an amateur, so if my common sense could figure it out, I'm sure the rest of you will have no problem. Anyway, it was a nice hike, lots o water, no real vista views to speak of. The cabin was kind of cool and the outhouse made me chuckle a bit.... Overall not bad.

By: wazoo	Rating:	Date of Hike: Sunday, April 10, 2011
Very pleasant hike. Nothing too strenuous, or that exciting in terms of topography, vistas, or waterfalls, etc. But a decent way to get some exercise in a picturesque setting. Lots of wildflowers in evidence, but still not in full bloom -- probably another week. We started early, and the fog did not fully lift till mid-morning, which added an extra dimension to the hike. Trail was not too crowded: 4-5 cars in carpark when we started, 7-8 by the time we returned.

By:	Rating:	Date of Hike: Sunday, April 03, 2011
Did this hike with my dog. We started out around 9:30am. There were 4-5 cars in the lot when we started, but we only saw the folks (3) staying in the cabin, and two other hikers (male/female with two dogs...more on THAT at the end). The parking area is very easy to miss. I was really looking for the "postage stamp" sign from the previous review. It's so straight down off the road, you have to have faith the driveway is there (since you can't really see it). The hike to Myron Glaser Cabin was just OK. Crossed a couple of runs, hiked up, then down. Passed a stone wall that was remnants of historical occupants. The cabin itself was occupied, so I didn't linger. The hike on the AT to the blue-blazed Fisher Hill scenic trail intersection was more ups & downs. We decided to take the scenic trail. There are a LOT of large downed trees right at the beginning for the first 30-40 yards. I have no doubt this would discourage 80% of hikers to skip it. We climbed over, went around, and trudged onward. This trail is really hard to follow in places...keep alert and watch for the blue blazes! I did like this trail, simply because the flora was different up higher. This time of year, I was able to see some views through the trees that you wouldn't see in summer. The summit of Fisher Hill was a nice flat area. Coming down back to the AT, once again the trail became hard to follow...watch for the blazes! Once you've descended to the hollow, you have to follow a wash (it was wet now...probably dry in summer) north, and then look for a small metal post marked with blue & white blazes. Turn right at this post, look for the blue blaze, and cross the creek. Very shortly you will arrive back at the AT. This part of the AT has wooden raised planks. We turned right and finally arrived at the Rod Hollow Shelter. We had lunch there, signed the trail log, and left a little trail magic (something to keep hikers warm at night). We took the AT straight back to the parking area. When coming back and bypassing the Myron Glaser cabin, you can see a nice little waterfall below where the trail crosses a creek. We bushwhacked down and got some nice photos. We finished around 3pm (which included stopping for pics). My only complaint on this entire hike was for the couple with the two off-leash dogs, one of which (Buddy) bit my dog and broke the skin. Thanks for taking off before I could completely assess my dog's condition. You owe me $225 in emergency vet bill reimbursement.

View all 8 reviews for the Ashby Gap hike

Late April