Most of me and my husband’s favorite hikes we did in Virginia are located in the Shenandoah National Park. However, there is the Jefferson National Forest which is home to one of our top 5 favorite hikes in Virginia – Sharp Top Mountain. Sharp Top is very popular and is known as the best hike of the three Peaks of Otter.
According to one article I read, Mary’s Rock is not as popular as other spots in Shenandoah National Park, but when we went, it was one of the more crowded trails we’ve been on! Not overly crowded I’d say, but still quite busy. The beginning of this hike was so beautiful. So many small overlooks and openings with beautiful views. The trail was well-maintained and so full of greenery! It was a spectacular hike up to Mary’s Rock.
Surprisingly, the Jones Run-Doyles River Loop trail was my first ever solo hike. It’s so crazy to me that I have never been on a solo hike before seeing as how I grew up my hiking with my family on our annual (sometimes bi-annual) vacations to the mountains and going to college in the mountains of North Carolina. I guess I always liked the company of someone being with me.
I’m actually typing this blog post over a year later, but from what I remember, my parents and I had a great time hiking to Rose River Falls and Dark Hollow Falls! It was well-maintained, not too challenging (e.g. family friendly), and an overall beautiful hike. The waterfalls were flowing quite nicely. Even though Dark Hollow Falls seems to be the most popular waterfall out of the two and slightly taller, I personally liked Rose River Falls better. Maybe because it was less crowded.
The Cedar Run and Whiteoak Canyon Loop was me and my husband’s (then boyfriend) first hike together! I was very much into hiking since I was a little kid, and he had been on a few hikes before. But this 8-mile hike to see a total of 8 waterfalls was the longest hike my husband has ever done. He was very excited for this adventure, and so was I!