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| By:
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Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 04, 2010 |
| Three Ridges is a tough circuit, but the views from the ridge and beautiful Campbell Creek are worth it. Unless you are very fit, do not try it as a one-day hike. I started at Reeds Gap with a couple of 25-30-year old guys, apparently used to backpacking, and met them again at Harpers Creek shelter, as tired as myself. The water situation is not too good. Campbell Creek has good flow all the way from the spring at Maupin Field shelter, but Harpers Creek is a trickle. All little tributaries to the main creeks were dry.
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Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 |
| I did this as a day hike and started from the Tye River rather than Reed's Gap so I could get more elevation gain and a tougher workout. I picked a cool, cloudy day for the ascent, though the sun came out at Maupin Field and made the decent much warmer. Not sure I'd want to do this hike much later in the year because of the heat and poison ivy. It took me 6.5 hours for the 13.5 mile hike, though I didn't stop long at the overlooks as I was hiking in the clouds. My GPS indicated a total elevation gain of 4205 feet.
I had last hiked this section of the AT before it was designated a wilderness area. The work the TATC has done around the shelters is great! The campsites look beautiful, though I found the AT difficult to follow near the Harpers Creek Shelter because of all the signs and side trails. I'll have to come back to camp, though I'll park at Reed's Gap. I would never leave my car overnight at the Rt. 56 lot - I've heard too many horror stories.
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Sunday, August 02, 2009 |
| Note to self: buy raincover. This was one tough hike, and while the views were outstanding, most of them required some work to get to . . . the foliage blocked direct views from the trails with a few exceptions. I left Reeds Gap at 2:05 and walked into Harper's Shelter at 7PM at a brisk pace I was determined to camp at Harpers' to be ready for the Mau-Har today. It rained lightly last night, but today it was a steady drizzle to a good rain, which made the Mau-Har fairly treacherous. I left Harper's at 9:15AM and arrived at Reeds Gap at 12:50PM. Pluses: great camping tough hike great camping! Minuses: several downed trees vegetation encroaching the trail from the peak down toward Harper's Shelter. I think this would be a great hike in the fall, or even early spring.
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Saturday, May 30, 2009 |
...this is an incredible hike!!!....everything from slow ascensions to treacherous declines with great waterfalls and creeks in between.....
...me and two others started this hike at 12ish saturday, the 30th, and, at a medium pace ended up at Harper's Creek at 6ish.....views were fair to great, (especially the 1st peak past Bee Mt.), but we think that Fall would be even better due to being blocked by green most of the time....found a great spot next to the running water, and bedded down......big thunderstorm overnight and rain was cool, but made the MauHar trail back wet and treacherous, especially near Campbell's Creek......keep in mind that the return hike from Harper's is easy 'til you reach Campbell's Creek and campsite, then, there's a steep ascent along the falls with many crossings before you even get to the switchbacks.....(there's only 3 switchbacks after this, but the 1st one is brutal after a day's hike)......
...the mileage itself makes the difficulty rating very true, definitely not beginner stuff, the elevation wasn't the hardest for us, it was more the wet, rocky, and treacherous descents (due to the overnight boomer).........
...definitely a great challenge....felt great, despite much soreness upon return to the Parkway........great fun....!
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| By:
Carl
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Date of Hike: Friday, April 03, 2009 |
| Be advised doing this entire trail is not for beginners. Great views, lots of friendly people but the Mau-Har trail was extremely difficult especially after a full day hiking. If you decide on going, don't make this your first trail and wear good boots. My feet are throbbing as I write this review.
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Saturday, March 21, 2009 |
| I did this the opposite way: Took the AT to the Mau Har and then past Harpers Creek and up the Three Ridges. I camped out somewhere just below the summit of the highest point because my legs gave out and I was running out of daylight anyway. This was one tough hike.
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Saturday, March 14, 2009 |
| Went with a group of 6, we started at Reed's Gap on Friday night, there was fresh powder snow on the ground about 2 to 4 inches of accumulation. Spent the night at Maupin, then did the loop around 3 Ridges and Maupin trails, stopping at Harper's Creek shelter for lunch, then spending another night at Maupin, hiking back to Reed's Gap on Sunday. It was a tough hike in the slushy snow and constant rain, but well worth it! Lots of rocks on certain parts of the trail, so be careful with your footing.
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Monday, February 16, 2009 |
| We really picked a good day to hike. Thirty degrees & snowing when we crossed the "Swing" spanning the Tye...a couple of inches covering the footboards. An hour later it was really coming down. Saw a lot of deer & turkey tracks along the way. They were relatively fresh & following the trail ahead of us. We made Harper's Creek in two hours. Not a record I'm sure, but considering my trail buddy & I are in our late 50's I figured, not bad. The shelter was a welcome sight in the snow. Almost fell getting' across the creek. Lit the stove & made a pot of tea. Ate lunch, entered a notation in the journal. Stayed an hour, hated to leave. Snow, ice & leaves covering the trail. Hiking difficult. Then the fun began. Several sections of trail covered totally by previous rock slides. Ground, wet & icy, slick rocks, snow covering holes, etc. it was hard to tell where the trail was. Tricky getting thru. Weather then changed.. Sun came out. Trail dried out ahead. We made the top by 2:30 PM. Grand view... At this point everything becomes worthwhile. For those who have been there you know what I mean. Left at 3 PM. Made Tye River by 6 PM. Unfortunately my friend took a spill thirty minutes after leaving the top. Twisted his angle & was really hurting on the way down. All told I fell three times but was lucky. Next time I'll do the whole hike. WE did not see another soul. Very rewarding hike... Not for the clumsy or for those "who just want a stroll thru the woods".... Highly recommended.
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| By:
Josh
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, November 08, 2008 |
| I did this as a training "run" for trail ultras. Finished in 3:11.40 and feel like I started out too hard. Should've conserved more early on because once I got to the Mau Har trail I didn't have much left. It took me a little over 50 minutes to do the 3 miles on the Mau Har. I would advise anyone doing this for the first time as a trail run to bring plenty of fluids and save a little for miles 10-13. I only had a Nathan Hydration belt with 5 10 ounce bottles and a cliff bar.
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Sunday, September 28, 2008 |
| Started and ended at Reed's Gap, day-hiking with a small pack--took me about 6.5 hours to do the loop, or roughly 2 miles/hr. Humid & overcast, but cool, with breezes at higher elevations. I did the Mau Har after Maupin's shelter--very steep down on slippery rocks and roots (the previous two days were rainy). Plenty of water as the trail follows a beautiful stream with occasional waterfalls. The rise back to the AT was off the stream, and consequently less of a scramble. I went towards the Harper's Creek Shelter, which is right by a stream with plenty of camping around it, though I imagine it gets crowded. Steep uphill to the highest point on the ridges, punctuated by a wonderful view from a flat rock, especially of the Priest. I think the official Chimney Rock comes later--one climbs over it on the AT--no view from it this time of year. The AT along this stretch is beautiful. After the high point on the ridge, it drops or is level back to Maupin. There are occasional opportunities for views on rock ledges, or in gaps between the trees. Even the trail to Reed's Gap is quite nice. A really good work-out with excellent views. I saw 7 hikers at or near Maupin's, and only two others on the rest of the route--headed to Harper's Creek.
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| By:
Smooth
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Date of Hike: Sunday, September 07, 2008 |
This was a great hike! The Mau Har trail is not as strenuous as I thought it would be if nothing else because while steep at parts, it levels off and allows for breaks. Add on another 14 miles or so on the AT to and from The Priest and you can make a really nice, if not challenging, 2 night weekend trip. The "swimming" holes along the Mau Har were not as expansive as I'd hoped for but still a nice relief.
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Saturday, July 19, 2008 |
| Did this hike with a crew of 8, making a weekend visit to this very well described circuit. One reviewer has used the word "relentless." That is an apt description. The trail goes up, or the trail goes down, often steeply, sometimes over rockfalls. It is rarely flat. But it is well marked and manageable. The rewards are the views near Three Ridges and the Chimney Rocks, and the chance to swim in Campbell Creek at the Falls marked on the Mau-Har Trail. These, the natural beauty, and the sense of accomplishment make the trek more than worthwhile. For hydration, clear, moving water at the Harpers Creek Shelter was available in small pools, but the creek bed was dry. Lots of water in Campbell Creek and near the Maupin Field Shelter. Despite the heat wave that was occurring on the coast we enjoyed moderate temperatures, good sleeping weather and few bugs. A great hike that was enjoyed by all.
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| By:
B. Love
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Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Friday, July 04, 2008 |
| The Mau Har trail is a punishing beast! Hiked this trail as prescribed by this great web site. The weather was 75 degrees, mostly cloudy, and breezy on Day 1. Very pleasant hiking. I didn't see my shadow much and the trail canopy and weather combined for a feeling of hiking at dusk all day. Pack hydration. I packed enough to get to the Harper's Creek shelter and found the stream bed dry once there. Had to make the best of a couple of small pools of water. Didn't see much traffic on the trail but about 11 stayed in or made camp around the shelter. The majority doing the same circuit I was. Day 2 started as a hot and humid July day after an overnight monsoon brought the mountain water. Tackling the brutal Mau Har. I was mentally prepared thanks to previous reviews. I met 2 thru hikers, and all in all good company for a long lunch at the Maupin shelter before the short jaunt off the mountain. The rocky outcrop just below the Three Ridges summit on Day 1 makes it all worth it!
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| By:
Joe
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 24, 2008 |
| Very good hike, nice camping good water spots. Nices views from 3 Ridges.
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| By:
B. Gordon
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 10, 2008 |
I did this as an overnight backpacking trip with a friend. As per the other reviews, this is a relentless hike, you are either going up or down and are going to feel muscles ache that you forgot you had!! There are not many places where you get a good level stretch.
The weather was a little strange this weekend. It looked like it was going to clear up as we began the hike around 11am at Reeds Gap but it quickly clouded back up and was pretty windy, chilly (around 50F) and foggy until around 3:30 when the sun finally broke out. Due to the weather, we did not get to see the views from most of the vistas except at Chimney Rock where we took a prolonged break and enjoyed the view and the heat from the sun. We camped at the Harpers Creek Shelter and were the only ones there, very unusual. We ran into some other hikers on Sunday and it sounds like the Maupin Shelter area was absolutely packed on Sat night. Both Harper Creek and Campbell Creek are in all their glory with the rain we have had recently. In fact, the flow of Harpers Creek was almost deafening it was flowing so well.
We hiked up the tough Mau Har trail on Sunday with overcast skies and a little rain but not enough to worry about a jacket. Don’t miss the waterfall on the yellow blazed spur trail on the way up the Blue blazed Mau Har trail, it is worth ditching your pack for a few minutes. Hiking poles would be highly recommended for this hike with the creek crossings and extra help going up hill and downhill. This was a great hike with the creeks, great places to camp, and the challenging climbs.
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| By:
Stephanie
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Date of Hike: Saturday, May 03, 2008 |
| My husband and I just returned from doing this hike as a 2 day over the weekend. I definitely agree that there isn't much flat level climbing, mostly up and down. We hiked it in the direction specified and definitely preferred it that way. The weather was great this time of year, not too hot or cold. There was a lot of water available in the streams, but we were still able to cross them without any difficulty at all. Great hike if you like a challenge, and a pretty good amount to see along the way, especially on Day 2 with the waterfalls.
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 |
One of the few times I've regretted not having a camera with me...great panoramic views and Campbell Creek was in all its glory; suppose because of all recent rain not only was the "big" waterfall fantastic but the mile or so upstream towards Maupin Field was one great fall after another.
By the way, while 3 Ridges may be technically the big climb, Mau Har is nothing to sneeze at and I'm a fairly in shape 52 year old. So, I'd say, skip the killer one day circuit and enjoy a challenging but more leisurely two day jaunt. Pitch a tent under the tall poplars at Harpers Creek and r-lax!
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Saturday, December 01, 2007 |
| Wow thats was a climb, but what a great hike and good camping also. Though it seems one for a more experienced hiker.
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| By:
Jane
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Date of Hike: Saturday, November 17, 2007 |
| As previously stated, the views are amazing. I did this hike a little later, so foliage was past peak at upper elevations, but spectacular in the valleys. My boyfriend and I did this as a day hike in 7 hours, but that was at a good pace. Be warned, the first 10 miles are deceptively easy. It earns its rating on miles 10-13, which are killer, so don't wear yourself out early. Overall, an excellent hike if you're looking for a challenge.
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| By:
Chris M.
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Date of Hike: Sunday, October 21, 2007 |
| This a great hike for the fall colors. The AT was full of yellows and reds on the mountains. This was a relatively clear day, so the views from the overlooks were amazing. I did this as a day hike in about 7.5 hours, but I think most of that was spent resting during the ascent of Campbell's Creek canyon on the Mau-Har trail. I am glad I took the hike in the direction specified, otherwise the ascent of Three Ridges would have just about killed me. Unfortunately, Campbell's and Harper's creeks were little more than trickles due to the recent drought. However, the views from Three Ridges and Chimney Rock were great. Most of the foliage in the upper elevations is at peak, although at lower elevations, the canopy is still green. Maybe next week everything will change.
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| By:
Reese
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 |
| This trail was the truth. My friends and I did this trail in reverse. Maupin Field to Harpers Creek via Mau-Har Trail (Day One); Harpers Creek through the Three Ridges and out (Day Two). I brought an out of shape friend with me on this trail and he just about died on the switchbacks going up the Three Ridges. It was pretty funny but all in all he made it. Additionally, I did about 5/8 of the loop in flip flops. It was dangerous but exciting! The views along the Three Ridges were out of this world and worth every minute of the uphill battle!!!!
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 |
| This makes a challenging, but manageable day hike (even when coming from DC). Man, what a great hike - down Three Ridges, lunch at Creek Shelter, and up the Mau-Har trail. Great views from the ridges, good water at the shelter. Several nice swimming pools off the Yellow Blazed trail around the waterfalls. We weren't pushing too hard and completed the loop under 9 hours. Certainly would have been a drag with overnight gear. Do it as a day hike!
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 |
| My son and I decided on this hike after hearing other people’s stories and reading this post in HikingUpward. Although both of us are flatlanders from Virginia Beach, we're in good shape or at least thought we were. The hike is challenging on the 3+ miles dropping down to the Harpers Creek shelter with LOTS of switchbacks. Our dog Beemer was along for the hike as well and for a dog that has never been on the trail, he handled it with very few problems. There were quite a few ticks on the logs that cross the trail. That's probably as common as sharks in the ocean though....it's their turf. The Harpers Creek shelter is a real treat with the stream running along the front. It provides you with a nice sound track to sleep to at night. We met two through hikers that stopped by in the early evening to grab a quick bite before going up the trail to Chimney Rock and then on to The Priest IN THE DARK. Both of them tried their hand of hitting the hanging water bottle with rocks to gain some trail magic before they left with no luck. I hope they made it up that trail without many mishaps. In the morning, we climbed out of the valley and stopped by the waterfall on the way. If you have some time to kill and need a place to take an early lunch or just hang out and enjoy the view, this is the place. The trail then starts uphill with the stream running right next to you so as you're sweating bullets, you can see and hear this cool stream right next to you, kind of ironic. The rest of the hike is cake once you get past the next shelter. One nice touch was all the wild flowers in bloom on the trail now. Enjoy!
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Saturday, April 21, 2007 |
| This has got to be the hardest day hike (last year) and the hardest overnight backpack I've ever done. Of the 14.4 miles hiked less than 3 of them can be considered flat or a slight incline. The rest of the time you are either going up or down. Some sections are extremely rocky. I would still recommend this one to anyone in good shape who likes a challenge. Besides 8 spectacular vistas there are the rock walls and falls of Campbell Creek Canyon. In the spring its floor is covered in white and pink Trillium Grandeflorum. They actually bloom white but fade to pink with each passing day. If attempting to do this one as a day hike allow 9 hours to complete it. This is definitely a "must do" hike!
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| By:
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Date of Hike: Saturday, April 21, 2007 |
This was a great backpack. The one word that I have used to describe the hike is "relentless". This is because you are either going up or down (very little to no level walking) on some difficult terraine. Just when you are catching your breath from a challenging uphill, down you go. I guess this is what you need to do to cover the almost 8000 feet of elevation change over 14 miles. The vistas are numerous and some are spectacular. Hiking upward along a cascade was beautiful with nice waterfalls and flora along the way. It was also nice to see the beginning of the wild flowers starting to pop.
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