The Overall Run circuit passes one of the largest continuous waterfalls in Virginia. The trails also pass through valley streams and meadows, no wonder this loop is another local hiker favorite.  This is the best time of the year to catch the falls at there highest flow. With the rain we’ve had this spring, the run and falls are at their peak.

Of the hundreds of miles of trails we hike in the region each year, we generally only come across one or two black bears. However, Saturday on the Beecher Ridge portion of the Overall Run Hike, we had three different bear sightings. A cub 20ft up a tree, a juvenile that caught our scent and scrambled down the valley, and a large adult of about 400lbs wandering around one of the hollows along the ridge.

Most people start this loop from the parking area at the top near the Mathews Arm Campgroup. However, this loop version starts from the valley at the end of VA630.  Heading upstream on Overall Run provides better views of the falls, and you also get the steep climb out of the way at the beginning of the hike.

Three Ridges is one of Virginia's most popular backpacking circuits. Situated in Central Virginia, just 30 miles southwest of Charlottesville, the hike has vista after vista along the Appalachian Trail, and many small waterfalls and pools on the Mau-Har Trail on Campbell Creek.

This was the first great weekend for weather we’ve had this year, and you could tell everyone wanted to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The main campground at Harpers Creek Shelter will generally see a couple of campers on the weekends, but Saturday evening it was packed. Both a girl scout group, and boy scouts from the Virginia beach area were camping out, as well as a number of UVA students.

If you like to backpack, or live close enough to make this 14.4 mile circuit in a day, you have to do this once. Although this is a very strenuous loop, you are rewarded with fantastic views of valleys on both sides of Three Ridges.

The Duncan Knob Hollow hike is essentially the same circuit as the Duncan Knob Hike, except starting from the other side of Middle Mountain. This hike is also longer, with several excellent multi-tent camping sites, and is accessible in the winter and late spring months when FDR674/VA211 is closed.

Had showers on Saturday morning, and starting out on the Massanutten Trail it felt like the mist you see in the western cascades this time of year. Did this route solo, and made fairly decent time of 6 hours for the complete 13 mile circuit. Also planted the first of our sassafras hiking sticks for the year.

I didn’t make it up the rock scramble (video) just below Duncan Knob, as the boulders were still slick from the rain earlier. This is definitely a nice longer version of the Duncan Knob Hike that comes in from the west, with two great multi-tent campsites on Little Passage Creek, and I ran into a group of scouts on their way to Scothorn Gap for the night.

We couldn’t have asked for a nicer day in March. With temps in the low 60’s, and sunny weather, this was a great way to start the 2007 hiking season. The only tough part Saturday was kicking trail in the remaining snow cover. Kicking trail for 5 hours made the 8.5 mile hike feel more like 12.

But this is one of our favorites for several reasons. The Little North Mountain ridge has some of the best consistent views along a single trail in the area. What also adds to the appeal is the complete solitude, as this loop hike can only be completed by bushwhacking up the Cedar Creek valley. You will rarely see anyone else on this hike.

If you’re an experienced hiker who doesn’t mind a little bushwhacking, the rewards are great, once you get to the ridge and the Tuscarora Trail. The first two miles north on the trail have beautiful grassy areas, with vista after vista to the east.