The Buck Hollow/Mary’s Rock circuit is one of our favorite winter day hikes. Starting in the valley just west of Sperryville, the route to Mary’s Rock gains over 2,600 feet of elevation in just over 4 miles. The reward for the steep climb are the spectacular views along the ridge, as well as panoramic vistas from the high point at Mary’s Rock.

Saturday morning was cold when we made it onto the trail at 9:00 am with the temp around 35F in the valley, but once we got going we warmed up quickly. However, 2,600 feet higher on the ridgeline the temperature dropped to a chilly 26F, plus the winds whipping up and over the ridge from the west made it feel that much colder.

There are many great vista hikes in the Shenandoah National Park, and the best time to enjoy them is in the cooler months when the visibility is at its best. Cold weather hiking is great exercise, and the SNP trails that are usually very busy in the spring and fall are almost empty this time of the year.