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.