|
| By:
|
Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Sunday, August 08, 2010 |
| We tried to do this hike today, but it was not accessible. The cable gait has been replaced by a forbidding large metal gate with signs plastered all over it that say "No Trespassing" and "Beware of the Dog". We were afraid to try to go around it in the brush, so we went elsewhere to hike. The rangers at the Dickey Ridge Visitors center were unaware of this change, which looks fairly recent. They also said that the waterfalls was totally dry anyway, so we didn't really miss much. I think this hike should be taken off the list until the access issue is resolved.
|
|
| By:
David R
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, August 08, 2010 |
| BOUNDARY ENTRANCE CLOSED BY PROPERTY OWNER - TRAILHEAD IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE VIA SKYLINE
Vicious incline on this circuit. Not much payoff in scenery. Great workout. Sparsely occupied. The boundary entrance has been closed by the private property owner only way in is by Skyline, where the hiker must take the decline first no matter which direction chosen.
|
|
| By:
Sarah
|
Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 23, 2010 |
| This is a beautiful hike with a great deal of variety in fauna and views. The hike itself is not very difficult, although parts of the trail do become rather steep.... however, this hike is definitely a "4" in difficulty due to its length and the amount of rocks that are in the trail (be sure to wear very sturdy shoes). In terms of seclusion, we were alone for the majority of the hike, except for around the falls. The only part that surprised me was the amount of trash that was found along some parts of the trails (especially around the falls), but I guess that's to be expected at any heavily-traveled trail. Although it was a busy Saturday, we seemed to be very much alone on some parts, which was really great. Take the hiking upward directions. Also, be certain to check for ticks as parts are heavily grown with mountain laurel
|
|
| By:
Pete
|
Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 24, 2010 |
| I hiked this hike with my dog last Saturday. The hike started off very nicely, as it was a cool, lightly rainy morning. The hike up to the falls were fine, and the falls were absolutely beautiful. It was after the falls that I have the issue. First of all the blue blazed trail continues well past the falls. I literally went a mile and a half past where I was supposed to go before I realized the mistake. Then, once I got on the Mathews Arm trail the real problems started beginning. I was looking at my dog and noticed what appeared to be broken leaves on his back except they were moving. It turned out they were ticks, and a lot of them. I got them off but it seemed like every time I stopped to get my bearings more jumped on. Once I got on the Beecher ridge trail, the trail became very run down and in some places unclear, with bushes virtually overrunning it. Several times I thought I was sure I was going the wrong way. Finally, I got to the bottom, and the swimming holes with the adjacent falls were very nice. In the end I picked 17 ticks off of my dog after the hike, another 20 or so once we got home, and after he got a thorough flea bath, andother 5. Don't hike this hike with your dog unless you have adequate tick protection!
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Monday, April 05, 2010 |
| Great but the foliage is missing from last summer when we swam in the little falls there! I almost didn't recognize the area! I will be back in July or August to go swimming again!!
|
|
| By:
|
Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 28, 2010 |
I had previously done this hike in the late fall when the leaves were off the trees and the stream crossings were virtually non-existent. Yesterday, we got to the trail head about 9am happy to see the cool and overcast weather was our only company.
We hiked the 8.5 mile circuit as listed on this page. We had intentionally taken some shoes to pop on for the creek crossings (very cold but very refreshing water). The jaunt up Matthew's Arm is always one of my favorite parts because I know the rewarding view from the top. We stopped at the falls overlook for some snacks and then made our way on Beecher Ridge (along with several white tail deer) back down to the Overall Run Connector. The last "single" stream crossing was trickier as the high water made it into more of a three smaller stream crossing.
Hike was very enjoyable and would have been 5 stars but there was much visible trash on the Thompson Hollow Trail. Next time I go, I'll be hiking with a trash bag to try to tidy this up.
|
|
| By:
DonnieV
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 20, 2010 |
| We hiked up to the waterfall via the blue blazed trial (not the ridge trail) and then hiked back out the same way we went in. The parking lot was small and full at 1030, however we only saw 4 other groups of two at various points on the trail. Crossing overall run was interesting, as we had to walk upstream to find a good place to cross or we could have gotten wet and walked right threw it. The difficulty rating of the hike was accurate as the ascent to the top of the ridge had short and steep switchbacks. The view from the top was awesome and the waterfall did not disappoint. Now is the best time to see this from the bottom because once the leaves show up on the trees it will hide the waterfall a bit.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 20, 2010 |
| http://hiking.meetup.com/162/calendar/12609159/ On Jan 10 16 of us hiked this in 3.5 hours. There was snow, but nothing compared to today. Today 2 had snowshoes & 2 hiking shoes or boots. We have all hiked Overall Run with difficult group b4. Today took us 6.5 hours. It was a challenge to the waterfalls. We were the first since the huge blizzards to continue the loop clockwise which was a challenge multiplied by 4. Snowshoes were definitely advantageous. Those hikers could have finished 45 minutes earlier -- still a long hike mind you. Those of us w/o snowshoes were beyond exhaustion upon our return. BUT WOW did we feel like we conquered the world!!
|
|
| By:
Ann Beale
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 14, 2010 |
| Did the hike today. Beautiful sunny blue skies. Lots of snow. Frozen waterfalls. Snowshoes and Microspikes!!! It was great.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, January 10, 2010 |
| http://hiking.meetup.com/162/calendar/12167406/ 16 hikers had a fabulous time checking out the frozen waterfalls & completing their hike in 3.5 hours. A couple even went down to check out the swimming hole, but none were brave enough in the 20 degree January weather. Then off to Soul Mountain Restaurant in Front Royal. Super day!!
|
|
| By:
Al
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, November 15, 2009 |
My wife and i took advantage of an unusually warm November day and dragged our dogs along to this great hike. We followed the directions given above and do agree with the four star difficulty rating. We're average weekend hikers in decent shape and the switchback climb between mile two and three was definitely strenuous. We stopped a few times during the climb to catch our breath, but made it to the top without too much difficulty.
The views were amazing and there was a layer of fog covering the valley that made it even more incredible.
The week before we went there was heavy rain in the area and the "run" crossings were troublesome. We got pretty wet. The first two crossings were the hardest and the deepest without any obvious dry paths across.
The crossings at the top and on the way down were significantly easier, but waterproof shoes are a must if there's been recent rain.
Though we didn't take a true lunch break, we stopped to take a few pictures and have some water along the way and finished in just over 4 hours.
Obviously there was very little foliage (none) and no wildlife to speak of, so we're looking forward to coming back next year. The swimming hole looked nice also for a warmer day.
|
|
| By:
Jeff
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 26, 2009 |
| The forecast was for a chance of rain, and it didn't look good when we set out in the morning but we went anyway. It was well worth the trip, and despite the rain, it was a wonderful hike. The views coming down towards the end are wonderful, with plenty of bonuses just off the trail. The 4 rating for difficulty may be a bit exaggerated, but it was an excellent hike, well worth it in any weather.
|
|
| By:
Arnie
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 15, 2009 |
This was a very nice circuit hike, one that I will probably do again with friends. One point of correction for the directions given above. Early in the hike, when reaching the intersection of the blue-blazed Overall Run/Tuscarora Trail, the directions say to turn left and uphill. The correction is that the trail does not go uphill. In fact, from the intersection, the Overall Run/Tuscarora Trail goes downward both to the left and the right. When taking the trail to the left, it goes gently downward for a while and then proceeds with slight up and down pitches for a pretty good distance (until after the second crossing of Overall Run).
The trail was dry and Overall Run was barely flowing. The climb to the falls was a pretty good workout, but at least it wasn't terribly long. The view of the falls and the mountains in the distance was beautiful, and there were plenty of people sitting at the top of the falls enjoying the view. Matthews Arm trail is pretty flat and is very fast walking. The descent on Beecher Ridge Trail was one of the nicest parts of the hike. The downward slope was consistent and not too steep for the knees, and the quality of the trail was excellent until it reached the Beecher Ridge/Overall Run connector trail. The woods along the Beecher Ridge Trail are fairly open and rays of sunlight were coming through the trees, giving a very nice effect. The Beecher Ridge/Overall Run connector trail needs to have the vegetation cut back so that you can walk without your legs constantly brushing the bushes along the trail. The swimming hole near the end looked inviting, and there were about a dozen people enjoying the water. Overall time for the hike was 3 hr. 50 min. with about a 40 minute lunch break at the falls.
|
|
| By:
Sharon
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Thursday, August 13, 2009 |
| On June 23rd the water was much higher and the trail was more enjoyable. The water was VERY low this time in August. Not much waterfall to look at, and no water to maneuver your way across. We also saw a Timber Rattlesnake that we watched very closely as it crossed the trail right in front of us so be careful.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, July 12, 2009 |
| Very decent hike. We started on a gravel road and initally were worried that this hike might not be good due to its close proximity to a neighborhood but 5 minutes on the trail and you feel like you are in a very isolated spot. The first few miles were a little wet but easily avoided by walking on the side of the trail. The main climb was steep and was a bit of a challenge but the views were great once you get to the waterfall. On the second smaller waterfall, we hiked down under the falls and the water was very refreshing. A hiker coming the opposite direction told us about a bear sighting but it was long gone by the time we got there. A nice amount of wild blueberries and raspberries on the trail. The back end was a little monotonous but all together a very enjoyable hike. Would do again and probably would enjoy the swimming hole about a mile and a half from the end.
|
|
| By:
The Lynch's
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
My wife and I enjoyed the first half of the hike up to the campsite and waterfall. The view is amazing! The waterfall was just a small stream and the creeks on the way up to the waterfall were bone dry, easy to cross but we would have enjoyed them. I am surprised that they dried up this quickly. I believe the last review in June said it was flowing at full capacity.
The second have of the hike around the ridge back to the parking lot tested us. It was beautiful though. We enjoyed the deep forest, meadows, and woods. Toward the end of the trip we started to discuss our disappointment with the lack of wildlife, we had only seen a small frog and we were pretty sure we heard a bear. About ten minutes later wee did see a bear. Being new to hiking this was my biggest fears. Fortunately, it was 50 yards up on a hill and saw us first he looked then took off running. We keep walking making noise.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 28, 2009 |
| This hike was a tune-up for the soul. It's true about the mud in the beginning of the run, but you can avoid that easily by walking on the edges of the trail. Anyone who complains about mud and bugs on the trail *probably* shouldn't be hiking. Ever. Bugs are an inevitable encounter in the forest prepare yourself appropriately!
Anyhoo, the views were fantastic! We stopped to see Big Falls, which, coming from Alaska, weren't so big, but a decent size for the Blue Hills. The falls sure beats the concrete mess that is the DC metro area! Also, it was at Big Falls that a friend and I were no more than a stone's throw from a German shephard-sized black bear! Yow! It was plodding along uphill from us, and I am sure that with its excellent sense of smell, knew we were there. We turned and calmly walked away, talking but not shouting and not making eye contact. We let others on the trail know that it was around the area just as a courtesy.
Black bears can run 35 mph (they're everywhere in the villages in Alaska but I've never been that close), especially downhill, and are territorial.
For what it's worth, startling a bear is what leads to them charging. Bring a bell or just talk to make your presence known to the wildlife. With a black bear, play dead--they run fast and can climb trees better than any of us. As long as you make your presence known and keep your distance, you'll be ok. Do NOT stop to photograph.
Bring plenty of water and snacks holy mama was that a trek, and I loved every bit of it!! I can't wait to go back.
|
|
| By:
Mary Clare
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 27, 2009 |
A friend from college and I went on this hike and had a fantastic time.
We got to the parking area around 8:30 and were the only 2 cars in the lot. We started up the very muddy trail and we both have a quick pace so we made great time. When the switchbacking started, however, we definitely slowed down a bit and stopped every little bit to take a breather--it's pretty steep (although I probably shouldn't have done a heavy workout yesterday).
When we reached the overlook, the view was beyond worth it. It was absolutely stunning, especially because of today's very low humidity and wonderful breeze. We decided to stop and eat lunch at the overlook and saw other hikers for the first time. There were a few couples and a few small groups, but not a large crowd by any means. We loved the view, sounds of the falls, and gentle breeze so much, we stayed up there for about an hour and half!
About 15 minutes after starting back on the trail, we definitely heard a bear. We just carried on though and never actually saw it.
The trek downhill is rough on the feet. It's rocky and fairly steep in some places having a good, sturdy pair of hiking boots with ankle support is your best bet. We saw about 4-5 other hikers as we made our way down.
We then scoped out the swimming hole, but there seemed to be quite a few people down there already so we decided just to head back to the parking area, which had about 12-14 cars in it at this point! Even after stopping at the overlooks for about an hour and a half and taking a few other short breaks, we were back at the car around 2.
The views and waterfalls were stunning and added diversity to the trip. The trails were well marked and the directions provided here are right on and wonderfully detailed. Get their early and you'll enjoy solitude, a tricky but not overly challenging climb to the overlooks, and a great time!
Here's a link to my album if you'd like to see some pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/mcbktracy/OverallRun#
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 14, 2009 |
| wear your boots first half mile very muddy. we walked the first mile and took a left uphill this side has the rougher rockier path also a great overlook. on up and around the smaller falls and then back down is a really smooth path all the way back down. we missed the swimming pools altogether. they are straight ahead where the spur intercects the loop. we saw an adults barefoot tracks from the one mile long trail all the way back out. i just couldnt believe it ,somebody has some really tough feet. its a good trail we give it a three on difficulty cause we have waterproof boots. our favorite is signal knob from little powells fort.
|
|
| By:
Steven and Lorna
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 14, 2009 |
| I agree with the previous reviewer, hiking boots are a must. While I had good hiking boots, my girlfriend did not and suffered the consequences. It was very difficult for her to navigate through the mud at the beginning and cross the streams without getting soaked. Overall it was a fairly nice hike, although the overlooks are the only really good scenes. The waterfalls are ok, but don't really compare to some of the ones I'm used to seeing in South Carolina. While we put on bug spray and didn't have too much of an issue with ticks, our dog came home covered in them. We spent the better part of last night picking them off, and I'm still finding some today.
|
|
| By:
Molly
|
Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 13, 2009 |
I didn't have a great time on this hike, but I don't think it was the trail's fault. The first part of the trail was very muddy, after all the rain we've had. Also, it was muggy and BUGGY! Gnats, mosquitos, and ticks! Oh my! The back section of this hike was pretty overgrown, and I was sure I'd breakout in poison ivy before I got home. Fourtunately, nothing ever developped.
I'd recommend doing this hike earlier in the spring to make it more enjoyable.
|
|
| By:
Fred Royer
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 25, 2009 |
| It's a cute little hike, nothing too strenous. However, there were TICKS everywhere. I must have slapped off 15 ticks from my legs and arms. What the heck is going on out there?
|
|
| By:
Chasey Cache
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, April 05, 2009 |
This hike has been on our to-do list for a couple of years. We decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather (70, sunny) and try it. There was plenty of water in the stream and flowing at a good rate. That added a touch of adventure because there were five or six places where the stream went through the trail and we had to figure out how to get across without getting wet. As we approached our first water challenge, we noticed a couple in front of us had chosen take off their boots to ford the stream. That did not really appeal to us so we looked around and found a log which had fallen over the stream. We looked at each other and wondered if our 50-something bodies had the balance to walk across the log. As we pondered, the more adventurous one in our group started across the log and made it! The more technical one in our group found a sturdy stick and used it to balance on while walking across the log. Then it was my turn. Placing the stick in the water for extra balance made it a lot easier to side step across the log. We found that the technique worked on all our water crossings.
After hiking for an hour, we stopped by the stream and ate our sandwiches. When we continued on, the trail got quite steep and a couple of us thought we should had waited until we reached the top to have lunch. Well, even though it was close, no one lost their lunch on the hike up the mountain. Whew, it was great to reach the top to see the falls. Beautiful!! After pausing for some picture taking, we continued on. We were relieved that the trail headed down instead of up! We never saw any bear as we treked along the ridge. With a mile to go, we were all looking forward to getting to the car . We reached the car at 4:00pm. Not bad because we stopped for lunch (15 minutes) and had to wait a few times for a straggler.
All in all, this was an awesome hike. I can see why it's rated 4 for difficulty. Hiking up the mountain and negotiating the rocks and stream crossings makes it a great challenge. We all loved it!
|
|
| By:
Chasey Cache
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, April 05, 2009 |
| Just an addendum to my previous review: We started out on the hike at 11:30 am. and with returning to the car at 4 pm, it took us 4 1/2 hours. I guess we didn't linger at the falls like some people do. Also, my GPS put the hike at 8.51 miles exactly!
|
|
| By:
WyEast
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 10, 2009 |
| I had done this hike in the late summer so we tried it again today. It was a great winter hike! The day called for wintry mix so we had the trail all to ourselves (no other cars when we got there or when we left and not a soul on the trail). Luckily, we made it the first 5 miles or so before it started sleeting, which later turned to a fairly heavy rain. The hike was a great winter hike - the falls is spectacular because of all of the icicles and there were some cool frozen features along the trail. The cold made the stream crossings more difficult because some good rocks were iced over, but we had gore-tex boots and managed pretty well, with only a few minor slips.
|
|
| By:
L & J
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, November 02, 2008 |
We chose to hike this after seeing it in the Washingtonian and we were extremely impressed with the views on the way up, while up there and definitely on the way back down. The water flow was almost to a trickle in the falls and much of the creek beds were dry, but one was somewhat filled and made for some good pix.
We started on Thompson Hollow Trail, parking in the gravel lot and walking in. We walked to the falls and then doubled back. We took an 8 year old with us and we made it with up there and back with no whining from him... rather he was just as impressed as us with the views of the mountains, valley and falls.
A definite must see! We can't wait until spring to go back when there's more water to see!
|
|
| By:
Whitey
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, October 11, 2008 |
3 stars only because it was bone-dry and there was only a trickle this time of year at the waterfall. I would reccomend the hike with the steep ascent first as outlined on HikingUpward. We got started at 8:30am and were the first car. I bet this would be a completely different hike in the Spring with the water coming down. Ankle support needed because the creekbed is the trail part of the way (or something alongside). Fun hike, good view.
http://picasaweb.google.com/matt.c.white/2008_10_11OverallRunHike#
|
|
| By:
ricenpeas
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, October 11, 2008 |
A very nice hike, just so many people! The weather was perfect and this is the northern section of the Shenandoah, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, eh? Still, the mobs at the overlook/waterfall were a bit maddening so we didn't linger long, but it was still a great day to be in the woods. The climb up Matthew's Arm is quiet steep and sustained, exactly the butt kicker we were looking for. The overlook is grand, and as someone else said, another couple weeks and the autumn colors will be peaking! And we had perfect hiking weather, sunny, low 70s with a light breeze. Loved it.
All directions found here were accurate, as we didn't have any trouble navigating the creek sections with few trail blazes (just stop and put your head up BEFORE it looks like you're about to veer off what you definitely consider the trail!) I would give this 4 stars, but the crowds keep it at 3 stars. During the week or in less ideal weather conditions when the trail is quieter, this could easily be a 4 star hike.
|
|
| By:
Zach
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Friday, August 22, 2008 |
| A nice day hike or easy overnighter - we had a very relaxed two-day adventure and camped at the campsite (lovely, slight incline though). Wonderful views from the overlook, although the waterfall and the stream were almost completely dry. Saw two bears ambling through the brush, but as far as I can tell, no nocturnal visitors. One thing to keep in mind - the middle section of the trail, around the peak elevations, is not very well explained on this trail guide, and there are a few unlisted markers and confusing junctions.
|
|
| By:
Ryan
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Friday, August 01, 2008 |
| This was a nice hike over several different types of terrain. Real rocky in spots and a long descent toward the end that's tough on the shins are the only real negatives. It was in the 90s today and humid, but plenty of shade for most the hike cooled things off considerably. Also, a couple of great swimming holes at the end made for a great reward. While up on the ridge I had two instances where I ran across a bear cub - first time I'd seen one out on a trail. I think I heard several more bears later in the hike, but by then I was a little nervous and making quite a bit of noise, so no more sightings. The wildlife, variety of terrain, and some nice views at the top of the ridge made for a real nice hike.
|
|
| By:
Jim
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Friday, July 25, 2008 |
| Overall, this is an enjoyable hike. It was a hot day, and we started out from the Thompson Hollow Rd. parking area around 11:15 a.m. Despite the abundant shade, it was still pretty hot throughout the hike. Very little water flowing this time of year. An earlier start might have helped, but the timing worked well for lunch an hour and a half or two into the hike at the falls overlook. The climb to the falls is VERY steep, but the view is worth the effort. The trail continues to be fairly steep heading up from the falls, but as you near Matthews Arm Trail, things flatten out. The descent is much more gradual and enjoyable. We completed the hike in four hours, with about 30 minutes for lunch. Periodic bear scat sightings, but saw no bears. Spotted several scarlet tanagers--beautiful birds. Only 5 other people on the trail, and 4 of them had hiked down from the Matthews Arm Campground. We ran into two of our fellow hikers (who identified the tanagers for us) again at the nearby Chester Gap Cellars winery, which, along with the nearby Rappahannock Cellars, we highly recommend. Both off of 522 on the other side of Front Royal from the hike.
|
|
| By:
sarah
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, July 19, 2008 |
Overall, a nice hike! This was a good choice for a hot day as there were significant shady portions. We started at Thompson Hollow, hiked up the short but challenging switchbacks to the "falls" (more like strong trickles in late July, but quite pretty), a great view of the massanuttens, and then crossed Matthews arm to return to a long descent back to car, with a lovely stop at a couple water holes just off the trail. Although most of the trail was very dry (no water in overall run) there was enough in the swimming holes for a nice dip. The trail itself was fairly well maintained, but be on the lookout for poison ivy and ticks. We saw lots and lots of bear scat but no bears, although a few other hikers did and we enjoyed wild blueberries and raspberries. We did the hike in 5 hours, with a couple water /snack breaks, a lunch break, and some swimming time.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 15, 2008 |
| Perfect day for a hike with 14 +1 hikers from 2 meetup.com groups $3 Charity Hikes http://hiking.meetup.com/446/ and No Va Hikers http://hiking.meetup.com/162/ . We had maps and were so careful to check the directions and your wonderful pictures of the trail often. It wasn't until the end we realized we had done the loup the opposite way. We laughed and then jumped (read that as slipped) in the swimming hole at the end. Wonderful adventure. The Apple House just before I-66 on the way back is an option for eating. Food is only "OK"; but we didn't want to spend time hunting down a place.
|
|
| By:
Brandon F.
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, April 06, 2008 |
Well after the rain stopped, out I emerged from my car into a water wonderland! It's a shame it wasn't a warm day, or else I would've jumped into the water countless times.
Really not much else to say, it was great.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 29, 2008 |
Two good discoveries in one day -- this Web site and its wealth of free content, and the Overall Run hike that I decided to trek after reading about it here early this morning.
Pros:
1) That it's a loop hike of moderate length and elevation change -- I strongly prefer the variety of loops to up-and-back trails, and this hike was long enough and challenging enough to provide decent exercise.
2) Proximity to Arlington -- 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on how heavy traffic is on 66. Far enough outside the beltway without taking half a day to reach.
3) After a relatively flat beginning, which is nice to have to warm up, the ascent was an invigorating reminder that I was at the foot of the Shenandoah's.
4) After a half dozen or so switchbacks, you come to the falls overlook -- a pleasant reward. Unlike some views, this won't be obstructed by summer vegetation.
5) I encountered 5 or 6 couples, none loud. Considering that it was a near perfect 50 degrees and mostly sunny, I was pleased. Oddly, they were all going in the opposite direction, clockwise as opposed to the counterclockwise direction described in the site description. I recommend the counterclockwise route because I prefer my ascents to be shorter (and steeper) than my descents.
6) The trail was well maintained. It looked as if PATC volunteers or boy scouts or somebody had recently bolstered runoff channels. Except for the beginning of the yellow trail (mentioned in the description), the blazes are frequent and easy to follow.
7) Last, but certainly not least, my lab and I both enjoyed the company of the stream for the first quarter and last quarter of the hike. I definitely intend to comeback when it's warmer to partake of the swimming hole near the end.
Con:
The only one that comes to mind is because of all the positive qualities this trail has going for it, I imagine that its very popular during the warmer months.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 10, 2008 |
| Hiked this on a glorious (read: mildly depressing global warming day) in Feb. High of 60 and clear. This is one of my new favorite places on earth, and so close to DC. Trail is not always crystal clear, but leafy winter was likely the issue. Ascent is great until last mile. No one here mentions this, and maybe we're just out of shape (don't think so), but this was one tough mile or so. Keep something in the tank. We saw some folks eating lunch before this vertical jaunt, and I was feeling bad for them. View of main falls nice, but IMO pales in comparison to the creek and many swimming holes along the way toward the end (about :30 before trail ends). Look for them. Save lunch and camera battery.
I would DEFINITELY not wait for summer to do this hike. Do it after a big rain fall. The water is a terrific peaceful respite from the city and a great price at the near-end of a nice walk.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 |
Two of us did this hike on December 19th. There had been an ice storm early in the week and many trees were down across the Thompson Hollow and Overall Run trails at lower elevations. Higher up, most trees were still ice covered which made for a beautiful hike. Strangely enough, the footing was good on ice covered deeply packed leaves. Aside from the fallen trees, the trails were all in excellent shape.
I would rate this hike only a 3 in terms of difficulty. The steep parts come early (up to 25% grade), but after reaching the falls overlook, the hike is almost entirely flat or downhill. The steep section is only a little over a mile long. Views near the top were great and the icy falls were beautiful.
My GPS edited tracklog recorded 8.6 miles including the short trip to the swimming hole. I measured the total ascent to be about 2100 feet. Photos and profile at:
http://arthurhass.fotopic.net/p47333842.html
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, November 03, 2007 |
Great day hike. I have hiked at least 60% of the trails in the SNP, and this one is right up there with the best of them for a day hike. Perfect day, highs in the mid-60s, not a cloud in the sky, and unlimited visibility from the top - we could see all the way to the Alleganies. Didn't see any bears, but probably because my friend and I were talking the entire time. There were quite a few more people than I would have imagined, particularly up at the overlook, but it was all good. I'd recommend wearing some good boots for this one - fairly rocky coming down the hill. I wore sneakers, which is unusual for me, and didn't have a problem, but it was not the safest thing for my ankles and my toes were a little sore. This loop now has a permanent place in my list of places to go for a good day hike on the Blue Ridge.
|
|
| By:
Aaron Bagby
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Monday, October 22, 2007 |
| I just got back from backpacking on the Overall Run / Beecher Mountain Trails and had a great time. Most of the Overall Run was dried up due to the recent weather but that didn't dampen the natural beauty of this area. The trails are fairly diverse, starting in peaceful meadows followed by steep ascents up ridgelines. Certain areas can be challenging with a backpack and loose rocks can be treacherous so good physical condition and proper shoes with ankle support are definitely an asset. The overlooks at the top of Overall Run are breathtaking and worth the effort. I'd also suggest visiting the swimming holes by the main trailhead, as they are perfect after a long hike. As for camping here - be warned. I didn't see any bears during the daytime but had a few "visitors" at night and they are by no means skiddish when the sun is down. One actually came right up to the tent sniffing around for food. If you do camp, it is absolutely crucial that you cook and store your food away from your campsite - I cannot stress this enough. I also recommend carrying a small air horn, as that usually does the trick. Black bears are generally not known to be aggressive but are curious by nature and not shy about finding a food source. Please keep this in mind if you are planning an overnight stay.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Thursday, September 06, 2007 |
| After reviewing the different hikes on hikingupward.com I choose this as my next hike. It was a good choice. I printed the directions for the trail and also downloaded the GARMIN GPS into my "Garmin Etrex Vista Cx". I must say that they both where excellent. I use the paper version from time to time, but I mainly relied on the GPS device. It worked great but I did lose reception sometime. I loved the hike. It was alot of work. Alot of rocks. Lucky I had the right shoes. On a thursday in the middle of the day there was no one on the trail. I think the bears knew that because they where every. This is the first time that I actually saw a live bear on a trail. He saw me and ran to the top of the ridge. I slowly walk by heart pounding. About another mile I saw a bear and a cub down by what probably should be a stream, but today it was all rock. They didn't run they just went about there business. I saw at least seven more bears on the trail. Pros: scenery, the hike it self. solitude and the bears. Cons: Mosquitoes. Never got bitten, but they followed me through the entire hike (in my ear) and the streams where all dried out. Overall highly recommended.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 |
Nice day, we climbed up a steap ascent about 45 minutes from the beginning of the hike which was challenging. Probably one of the harder ones I've done as of yet. The streams were mostly dried up all over the hike, but we did notice the nice waterholes at the end of the hike which are great for jumping in when you done with the hike.
I did see a very large black bear about 10 minutes into the yellow blaze. He was huge. We just kept walking and he went in his own direction. Probably about 100 yards away from us. Totally amazing to see the bear. Good hike. Its long and bring lots of water.
-Liam
|
|
| By:
hiker mom
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, August 05, 2007 |
My girlfriends and I picked this hike on a hot & muggy day hoping for some relief in the cool Shenandoah woods - no such luck this time! I'm sure this is a lovely trail when the weather is somewhere near normal but the stream crossings along the Overall Run Trail were completely dry and the falls were merely a trickle. After lunch at "overlook" with a hazy view of Massanutten Mt, we headed down back down in a light rain via the Beecher Ridge Trail hoping to salvage the day with a bear sighting. We were grateful to find some water in the swimming holes on the lower part of Overall Run where we soaked our feet while little fish nibbled our toes. Our reward for the day was seeing a large bear high up in a tree along the Thompson Hollow Trail. I'll do it again when the water returns. The trail directions were great - thanks for posting a great loop hike for Overall Run!
|
|
| By:
Boo Boo Bear
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, July 08, 2007 |
Great hike! Despite the high temperatures in DC (97F) this hike was pleasant with shade most of the hike and cool mountain breezes at higher elevations. Fantastic views. Saw one black bear, another hiker claimed to have seen two black bears in a different area. Fairly fresh bear scat was seen on the trail in several places.
One hiker on the trail warned of thick poison ivy growth. We didn't have any problems, but hikers may wish to think about wearing protection.
|
|
| By:
Kris
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Monday, July 02, 2007 |
| Absolutely fabulous hike!! This was the perfect 10!! I decided to do the hike counter clockwise to avoid some rowdy people playing upstream along Overall Run. I wanted to savor the solitude as long as possible. Well worth it! The ascent up Beecher Ridge is long and steady, but a nice workout and not overly taxing. I met one other hiker heading down the trail about 3/4 of the way up. The ascent took a good solid hour and a half. The hiker warned me of a large bear in the area and I soon came upon fresh bear scat. No bear. I stopped for lunch at the intersection with the Matthews Arm/ Tuscorora Trail. Saw a youth trail maintainence group heading up the mountain. Nice guys. The first falls were pretty, and I got some nice pics at the bottom and freshened up in the water. I continued on to the main falls overlook and hung out there, not wanting to leave. Just beautiful!! The day was perfect; low to mid eighties, dry, and not a cloud in the sky. There were some nice vista descending Matthews Arm, and I am glad I did the route the way I did. I finally got my bear sighting along the trail near the Overall Run. I was able to stay still and watch while he fed for about 15 minutes. The end of the hike, I headed back on the trail to the swimming hole I had passed early in the hike. This swimming hole is awesome!! I had brought spare pants and a towel, so in I went. The first hole is about 6+ feet deep! the other holes were pretty deep as well. Just gorgeous!! This will be a repeat in the future for sure!
|
|
| By:
Scott
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 26, 2007 |
| This is my first hike to overall run. I took a friend along for the motivation. it was a warm saturday. we were at trailhead at 10:45am... nice road to start then the trail begins.. after some up and downs we came across the first fall.. very nice with a swimming hole.. looked refreshing... then we continued on.. Beechers ridge was a bear. no pun intended. with its continious climb and really no spots to stop I was tired as we got to the top to make the turn toward the big falls... the 93 footer was nice... water was flowing good despite the dry conditions.. trail was not crowded.. everyone was at the falls hanging out.. as we descended we came across 3 young local teen boys.. they were looking for a fishing hole. they followed us down and we talked with them.. I had a feeling they wanted something.. when we got to the parking lot, one boy asked shly, mr., could we have a ride to our house.. I laughed and said sure.. mile down road in red house was there destination.. so close to so much beauty. I don't thnk they realized what they have.. good trip.. a little warm though...
|
|
| By:
Heather
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 06, 2007 |
| Really beautiful, challenging hike. The wildflowers are spectacular, and views are wonderful. The long downhill gets rather tedious, and because much of it is rocks covered in dried leaves, it's easy to twist an ankle. (I did...) The directions are crystal clear, and all paths are well marked/blazed. I have a feeling the hike is more than 9.1 miles. Some of the sections seemed quite a bit longer than the directions stated.
|
|
| By:
Michelle
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 05, 2007 |
| This was a beautiful trail with lots of wildflowers just beginning to bloom this time of year. It was strenuous but absolutely worth the effort. There were portions that felt longer than the stated distances between landmarks, but I wasn't using GPS to know for sure. There are many creek crossings, so be prepared to get your feet wet if you don't have waterproof boots. The watering hole looks like a nice, cool place to take a break. Watch for ticks out there. Views are fantastic.
|
|
| By:
Dean Simmons
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 20, 2005 |
| Hiked this with 4 fellow NVHC hikers on a cold, mostly cloudy day. We went in from Thompson Hollow then took Overall, the Connector, Heiskell Hollow, Weddlewood, and Mathews Arm to get to Tuscarora. The two upper falls were spectacularly iced up, and spread over an area much larger than the normal stream flow. Several ice climbers were working on the Big Fall (93'). (These were the only people we saw all day.) The views down Overall Gorge and across to Massanutten were awesome. This is a great hike with many options thanks to the dense trail network near Mathews Arm and Elkwallow.
|
|
| By:
MRHyker
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 19, 2004 |
| Actually hiked this one 2X and both were a little different than described here. We opted to come in from the bottom on Thompson Hollow Trail. This makes the 9.5 mile hike here-in described a 7.2 mile hike with less out and back to it. That's the way we did it in February. We had 5 inches of snow on the ground and swollen streams so we did this shorter option. When we came back in June we came in the same way but substituted the Beecher Ridge Trail with a combination of Matthew's Arm Tr, Weedlewood Tr and the Heiskell Hollow Tr to extend the hike to 8.6 miles. In both cases the hardest part was getting up to the falls from the valley below them. Of course, slushy snow really slows one down. I highly recommend this hike but think it's best done after ice out when the highest falls in the park (90 feet) is at its best. This might leave the swimming holes down below a tad too nippy to enjoy and the multiple stream crossings a challenge but I think the outing will be much more memorable.
|
|
|
