We got to the Hone Quarry campground around 10:30, setup our tents, and then headed off on the Oak Knob Hike. There were two great views in the first mile of the hike, then several views of the reservoir further up the Cliff Trail. At only 7.9 miles long this hike is grueling because of the rocky Cliff Trail, and the steep descent on the Pond Knob Trail.

Nestled in a quite area of the GWNF just west of Harrisonburg VA, this is a picture perfect place to spend a weekend hiking from a central camping spot. And because it was car camping, we could bring the added luxuries of camp chairs, a grilled dinner, and other things we could never backpack in :)

Sunday morning we got an early start and hiked the Hone Quarry Ridge circuit, which also had a beautiful view out to the west. In all, this is a great camping spot with two nice loop hikes that both starting at campground.

The Todd Lake recreation area in the GWNF just west of Harrisonburg VA, is another of those picturesque places that only the locals seem to know about. With a sandy beach, and picnic area, this is a beautiful place to car camp for the weekend.

The Trimble Mountain loop is an easy to moderate hike situated just opposite the Todd Lake recreation area on FDR95. There are several views of Big Bald Knob and Little Bald Knob on the western section of the loop. At the end of the circuit, the short climb up to the Lake Todd dam embankment offers a beautiful lunch spot, and view of the lake.

The Trimble Mountain Hike is just one of many hikes that are located in the Todd Lake area. A great weekend plan is to come in on a Saturday and hike Trimble Mountain, take a dip in Todd Lake, camp at the Todd Lake campground, then hike the North River Gorge circuit early Sunday before leaving.

The Todd Lake Campground has clean shower and restroom facilities, as well as a sandy beach and picnic area at the lake. The campsites are $16 per/night, and are on a first come first served basis. Reservations are not accepted. If the campsite is full, there are numerous free camping spots available along the North River off FDR95. Todd Lake Recreation Area is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

We were lucky the with weather, and the temps stayed in the high 80’s with low haze. There were great views on the Austin Mountain ridge of the Furnace Mountain summit, as well as a  vista from the Furnace Mountain summit overlook, back to the Austin Mountain ridge we had just hiked a few hours earlier.

The Austin and Furnace Mountains loop is one of the most strenuous day hikes in the Shenandoah National Park. Not only is the hike long, at over 13 miles, but the steep descent down the Austin Mountain ridge, and long climb up the exposed Furnace Mountain trail, makes the 3000+ vertical feet of gain seem even that much harder.

If you’re looking for a challenging day hike in the SNP, this may well be a good choice. But remember to filter some water at Madison Run before heading up the Furnace Mountain Trail. The long ascent up the ridge is exposed in a lot of places, and you can go through some water fast!

It's not often that we find a brand new hiking area so close to Metro Washington DC, and never one with as much to offer as the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES).

With multiple circuits possible, from the shorter 1.8 mile Farmstead Loop passing a wildlife pond, valley views, two old homesteads, and several pastures, to combining the Farmstead Loop with several of the higher mountain loops to form a 6.2 mile perimeter hike. This area has a hike for everyone.

The Robert and Dee Leggett Foundation purchased Mountain View farm in 1999 as a home for the Blue Ridge Center and to preserve the land's history. If you’re looking for a new hike close to the metro area, the BRCES is one you may want to try before the word gets out :)

Douthat State Park is one of Virginia's jewels. Voted among the nation’s 10 best state parks, it has more than 43 miles of trails. Beards Mountain has just as many beautiful vistas as the Blue Suck Falls Hike, which is the other circuit hike in the park. Both hikes feature lots of Mountain laurel, which blooms in early June.

We were last at Douthat at this same time last year. It was even more beautiful than we remembered. The trails are in fantastic condition with good blazing and signage throughout.

We'll have to make it back again next spring to hike Beards Mountain and make it to the two overlooks that we missed this time out. But we don’t really need a reason :). We could visit this park again and again, just for the beauty of the valley.