best day hike within 2.5 hours of NW DC?
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Anonymous
| I've done old rag too many times. But, something similar. 9-12 miles ideally. Views and climbs but really open. |
Anonymous
| I just realized that made no sense. I would like views and climbs but am quite open to any suggestions. If there is a really pretty 12 mile walk through a meadow .. please share that too! |
Anonymous
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Have you done Devil’s Staircase, Mary’s Rock, Hawksbill etc. in Shenandoah? Shorter than the mileage you’d like but all good hikes. I love Macafee Knob, great length, great views, but 4+ hours.
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Anonymous
My friend. There's a little book about all the hikes in the Shenendoa (no, I can't spell) and you are severely limiting yourself. and what do you know, the .gov ppl made a website https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/trails-location.htm There's also messanutten. and GW nat park/mountain, something. there's also an app for that. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alltrails.alltrails |
Anonymous
| the AT at sky meadow is a there and back but pretty cool. Eat at the Ashby Inn. |
Anonymous
| It’s fun to hike Overall Run. Can do it down and up from Matthews Arm Campground. Or up and then down from Thompson Hollow Road. Prob 2,000 vertical. |
Anonymous
| Maryland heights is only 6.5 miles but it’s on the Appalachian trail so you can make it as long as you want. Beautiful, accessible, food options. |
Anonymous
| Sugarloaf has a 7 mile, 5 mile and a 2 1/2 mile trail. |
Anonymous
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https://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
Catoctin aka Cunningham falls |
Anonymous
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Hiking upward was an amazing resource for hiking in the region. Looks like it’s content is now housed on a different site.
https://myhikes.org/hikers/HikingUpward/trails |
Anonymous
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White Oak Canyon top to bottom to top
Marys Rock from Pinnacle Loudoun Heights Black Rock Cliff |
Anonymous
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I love Sky Meadows but the loop (Up South Ridge Trail to AT and then down via the meadows/overlooks) is only about 5.5 miles. That would be top of my list if you are open to something shorter.
Little Devil's Stairs connecting to Keyser Run Fire Trail is another favorite. Starting at the bottom from the parking lot on route 617 -- not too far from Sperryville/Washington VA. |
Anonymous
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I would like to do Old Rag, but I've got the damn dog.
Doing Cedar Run Trail this weekend because in two weeks I'm going to do the presidential range up in NH and need some altitude. Everything is so short here! |
Anonymous
Reviews are mostly along the lines of: strenuous. I'll post back with how it was. |
Anonymous
+1 |