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Length	Difficulty	Streams	Views	Solitude	Camping
11.0 mls
Hiking Time: Elev. Gain: Links: Resources:	5 hours plus a half hour for lunch 2,150 ft Shenandoah National Park Printable Topo Hike Map (PDF) Sperryville 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 Park at the Buck Hollow and Meadow Spring Trails parking area

The Hazel River circuit easily gets a difficulty rating of five. Starting on Skyline Drive the route descends almost to the bottom of the valley. On the return leg along the White Rocks Trail the grades are extremely steep. The payoff is a great waterfall at the top of Hazel River just off the White Rocks Trail.

Start out to the right through the closed gate on yellow blazed Hazel Mountain Trail (the blue blazed Buck Hollow Trail starts from the same point and descends on the left). In 0.5 miles come to the intersection of the Buck Ridge Trail.

Turn right remaining on the yellow blazed Hazel Mountain Trail. In 1.1 miles arrive at the intersection of the White Rocks Trail that you will be ascending at the end of the loop. Remain straight on the Hazel Mountain Trail and reach the intersection of the Catlett Spur Trail in another 0.7 miles.

Stay straight crossing Runyon's Run and passing the intersection of the Hazel River Trail on your left in 0.9 miles before arriving at the Sams Ridge Trail in another 0.1 miles.

Now turn left onto the blue blazed Sams Ridge Trail and in 0.1 miles pass the Broad Hollow Trail that intersects from the right. For the next 2.1 miles along the Sams Ridge Trail the grade of the descent increases as it winds towards the valley below making a sharp left turn before reaching Hazel River.

Turn left on the yellow blazed Hazel River Trail for 1.3 miles crossing the river several times before arriving at the intersection of the White Rocks Trail. Turn right onto the yellow blazed White Rocks Trail cross the Hazel River for the last time then begin an extremely steep ascent to the ridge.

At the ridge continue for 1.2 miles and reach the waterfall trail. Take the trail 0.2 miles steeply downward to Hazel River and one of the main highlights of the circuit. Return to the White Rocks Trail, turn left, and in 0.9 miles arrive back at the Hazel Mountain Trail that you descended earlier.

Turn right uphill on the Hazel Mountain Trail retracing you route, again passing the Buck Ridge Trail in 1.1 miles where you now turn left and in 0.5 miles further arrive back at the parking area.

Just got back from an over-night on the trail and i will say is was great fun. Me and my girlfriend went clockwise around the trail. The views from whiterocks where great and the falls made for good picture taking. we spent the night down near the river. The night was cold but bearable with the right sleeping bag. At about 8 a.m. on sunday we start again. My girlfriend took a short swim in the Hazel River after slipping off a rock which was interesting. (thank god for have lots of extra dry clothing). And I dont know if i was asleep while reading the topo map but sam's ridge was a monster with all the camping gear on my back. It was however, a great hike and I would do it agian. but maybe in the other direction.

There are great camping spots along Hazel River, but crossing the river after all the rains was interesting: I almost took a dip in cold water.