Ha! I'm a Roanoke native! I just commented on another one of your videos and clicked to see what other videos you've done and saw this one of Virginia hikes! I did McAfee Knob during sunrise just last month. Unfortunately it was pretty cloudy so I didn't get those crisp colors I was hoping for.
I'm a Virginia boy... a 62 year old Virginia "boy", hahaha! I live in the southern Shenandoah Valley, a small country town named Grottoes nestled up against the western slopes of the Blue Ridge. My home is literally about a mile & a half from the Furnace Mountain trailhead & I hike that trail regularly on weekends. Across the street from me is Cave Hill which overtops Grand Caverns & Fountain Cave. Great hiking trail to the top there also with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge just to the east. There's great rockslides along Furnace Mountain trail & also Austin Mountain trail. Trayfoot Mountain has some gorgeous views of Buzzard Rock across the Paine Run valley. Another favorite of mine is the RipRap Trail which starts just east of Crimora. The trailhead entrance is a little dicey at the moment as there's a private landowner who's trying to block the public trailhead entrance. The access is in litigation currently but with a little sneaky side woods hiking you can shortly be within the Shenandoah National Park boundary & safely hike this trail which is beautiful in the Springtime with many wild rhododendrons blooming & some nice waterfalls uptrail along with a spectacular emerald clear waterhole that's absolutely breathtaking. I like the west side access to trailheads along the National Park & the Blue Ridge Parkway as there's nowhere near the foot traffic you'll find coming from the east side. I've hiked Furnace Mountain without seeing a single other soul there. I've done Crabtree Falls & Humpback Rocks & Old Rag Mountain & White Oak Canyon & Falls. All are great but my favorites are where there's few other people. There's many trails along the Parkway which are pretty isolated & still with knockout views. Even short trails like Wigwam Falls are beautiful in their own right. But just a brisk morning hike up Furnace Mountain to the rock outcrop at the summit without anyone else around, watching the misty clouds roll into the little Madison Run valley & blanketing Austin Mountain from the Shenandoah Valley below & my home in Grottoes... it's truly paradise.
@Cas Vyas Where are you at in the Valley? I think this place is the most beautiful place anywhere & the best kept secret too! Absolutely breathtaking & friendly too! When it comes to the Valley, we are all family!
@@theidahohuskies it will not disappoint! Just get there early, the crowds get insane in the summer! I usually get to the parking lot around 5 am so I beat the heat as well! Headed up there possibly this wknd!
Old Rag is nice - but I think the best camping/hiking trip ever for me was Grayson Highlands on the AT. Close tie with Roan Mountain. The lack of light pollution makes for an amazing night time.
This is high on my list of dayhikes. Is this trail safe to do alone? I ask because I'm short and idk if a boost or pull may be needed? Only reason I haven't done marbleyard already.
Your photography is astounding. Your sense of composition and lighting creates such compelling images that draw you in. I suspect this would be just as enjoyable on mute.
Great video and list. As someone who has lived in Virginia all of my life and has hiked the entire Appalachian trail in that state, I will state two other hikes that should had been on your list. Old Rag and the Grayson Highlands.
Cool. Thank You for sharing this video with The World on TH-cam. I learned of a few new places I didn't know about I want to see someday. I'm from Richmond, VA.
If you haven't, check out Mt Pleasant-it's a blue trail off the appalachian trail and the top of the mountain has a west and east viewpoint, both of which you can easily camp at.
“Foliage” lol. Love Dragons Tooth though. Was my favorite hike while at VT. The summit isn’t as beautiful as McAfee Knob, but really enjoyed the hike itself.
Gonna echo a bunch of people and say Old Rag. My Top Ten would also include a The Channels, Devils Bathtub and the White Rocks/Sand Cave combo. The Sand Cave is technically in KY, but the vast majority of the hike is in VA. Any trail through Grayson Highlands is also a winner.
66 yr old Texan made it to the top of humpback rocks. Really tested my fitness and I passed the test. Didn’t make it in time for sunrise, but still an awesome hike.
I've never hiked in Virginia, and you gave a lot of great information. Even the elevation and type of route, which normally I'd have to look up myself. Thanks for the video man.
I'm planning to hike Macafee knob on july 23rd because of the folklore of the scarlet woman. My birthday is the same day !! Looking for her to show herself !! If you believe it!
Looking for some help on hitting the trail in 2 months. Where to park, what permits are needed? If anyone would be willing to help out with some info. I will be solo and intend to set camp each evening.
Corrections: 1) what you called the “falling water Cascades”, as your honorable mention, is actually Falling Spring Falls In Allegheny County on the side of US 220. 2) for the 10 millionth time, there is no such thing as the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s just “the Blue Ridge.” So called because it’s an almost-continuous single ridge separated by a set of broad valleys from the remainder of the Appalachian and Allegheny mountains to the west. There are no Blue Ridge Mountains because it’s only one mountain! Or one ridge. Hence why it is called the Blue Ridge Parkway and not the Blue Ridge Mountains Parkway.
The water for Falling Spring Falls is somewhat warm and it emerges from Warm River Cave, cool surface water having merged with water over 90 degrees F coming up from deep sources in the cave. Search for Warm River Cave on TH-cam and you will find a nice video.
I stopped at Virginia a couple days and heard about Breaks Interstate Park. We had some time so stopped by to check it out. It’s known as the Grand Canyon of the south and has some awesome views of the canyon with my favorite one being Towers Overlook.
@@theidahohuskies sure thing man! I’ve done those 2 and dragons tooth a ton bc they’re awesome and I live right between the 3. I’m trying to get into making outdoor videos and nature photography but I know nothing about pics and videos so I’m definitely subscribing to your channel/ good videos!
Hi Dylan, if you ever get back to Humpback Rocks, from the parking lot, take the Appalachian Trail straight ahead of you from the parking lot. Follow that down the hill, and make a left onto Dobie Mountain Trail (Jack Albright Loop). At the intersection of the Appalachian Trail stay to the left to complete the hike back to the parking lot. On the way back up the "switch-backs" you'll see a tree tht is bent over in an upside down kind-of "u" shape. Near there is a trail (sometime hard to see), that leads up into the woods to a plane crash from 1962. What's left of the planes remains (in remarkable good condition), are still there). This is a beautiful hike if you include Glass Hollow Overlook (Nice camping spot as well), and clock in right at 4 miles. If you get the chance to do it, there are some beautiful places to get some stunning pictures of "rock city" as you work your way back up the hill going Counterclockwise, or Clockwise. Either way it is a beautiful hike. www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/dobie-mountain-via-appalachian-trail?u=i
What's your favorite hike on my list?
Ha! I'm a Roanoke native! I just commented on another one of your videos and clicked to see what other videos you've done and saw this one of Virginia hikes! I did McAfee Knob during sunrise just last month. Unfortunately it was pretty cloudy so I didn't get those crisp colors I was hoping for.
Hey that's awesome! I love the Roanoke area. You'll have to revisit McAfee for another sunrise...goodness it's beautiful on a clear day!
Hi Dylan! You've got to hike cascade falls in Pembroke. It's near Blacksburg.
Hey Courtney, thanks for the recommendation! I’ll definitely have to visit there.
Old Rag mountain is a great hike with a spectacular view
I'm a Virginia boy... a 62 year old Virginia "boy", hahaha! I live in the southern Shenandoah Valley, a small country town named Grottoes nestled up against the western slopes of the Blue Ridge. My home is literally about a mile & a half from the Furnace Mountain trailhead & I hike that trail regularly on weekends. Across the street from me is Cave Hill which overtops Grand Caverns & Fountain Cave. Great hiking trail to the top there also with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge just to the east. There's great rockslides along Furnace Mountain trail & also Austin Mountain trail. Trayfoot Mountain has some gorgeous views of Buzzard Rock across the Paine Run valley. Another favorite of mine is the RipRap Trail which starts just east of Crimora. The trailhead entrance is a little dicey at the moment as there's a private landowner who's trying to block the public trailhead entrance. The access is in litigation currently but with a little sneaky side woods hiking you can shortly be within the Shenandoah National Park boundary & safely hike this trail which is beautiful in the Springtime with many wild rhododendrons blooming & some nice waterfalls uptrail along with a spectacular emerald clear waterhole that's absolutely breathtaking. I like the west side access to trailheads along the National Park & the Blue Ridge Parkway as there's nowhere near the foot traffic you'll find coming from the east side. I've hiked Furnace Mountain without seeing a single other soul there. I've done Crabtree Falls & Humpback Rocks & Old Rag Mountain & White Oak Canyon & Falls. All are great but my favorites are where there's few other people. There's many trails along the Parkway which are pretty isolated & still with knockout views. Even short trails like Wigwam Falls are beautiful in their own right. But just a brisk morning hike up Furnace Mountain to the rock outcrop at the summit without anyone else around, watching the misty clouds roll into the little Madison Run valley & blanketing Austin Mountain from the Shenandoah Valley below & my home in Grottoes... it's truly paradise.
Hello from just over the mountains to the east :)
@@floppy401 Hi there!
I myself am from the Shenandoah valley. I love it here!
@Cas Vyas Where are you at in the Valley? I think this place is the most beautiful place anywhere & the best kept secret too! Absolutely breathtaking & friendly too! When it comes to the Valley, we are all family!
Thank you for the video, you added 5 hikes to the list for my dad and me.
The granddaddy of them all is old rag mountain! That is my favorite hike in Virginia!
Yes I definitely need to do that one!!
@@theidahohuskies it will not disappoint! Just get there early, the crowds get insane in the summer! I usually get to the parking lot around 5 am so I beat the heat as well! Headed up there possibly this wknd!
Old Rag is nice - but I think the best camping/hiking trip ever for me was Grayson Highlands on the AT. Close tie with Roan Mountain. The lack of light pollution makes for an amazing night time.
@@jonathonwright594 I’m hiking roan this wknd!
This is high on my list of dayhikes. Is this trail safe to do alone? I ask because I'm short and idk if a boost or pull may be needed? Only reason I haven't done marbleyard already.
Your photography is astounding. Your sense of composition and lighting creates such compelling images that draw you in. I suspect this would be just as enjoyable on mute.
Great video and list. As someone who has lived in Virginia all of my life and has hiked the entire Appalachian trail in that state, I will state two other hikes that should had been on your list. Old Rag and the Grayson Highlands.
Grayson Highlands!
Absolutely have to agree with this. I automatically assumed Grayson would be a deff on any list lol
I hiked Old Rag 11-3-2023 - gorgeous!
My wife and I just did Mcaffe knob and yeah its dope
Cool. Thank You for sharing this video with The World on TH-cam.
I learned of a few new places I didn't know about I want to see someday.
I'm from Richmond, VA.
If you haven't, check out Mt Pleasant-it's a blue trail off the appalachian trail and the top of the mountain has a west and east viewpoint, both of which you can easily camp at.
Yesssss that's another amazing hike!
“Foliage” lol. Love Dragons Tooth though. Was my favorite hike while at VT. The summit isn’t as beautiful as McAfee Knob, but really enjoyed the hike itself.
I really need to hit up Dragon's Tooth again! Such a fun hike with a great view. Nothing beats that knob though.
My favorite hike is the one where I threw up and that woman fainted.
BRO what an experience 😂you shouldn't have had those waffles.
Beautiful Waterfall! thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed the video! I hope you get to visit some of these someday.
@@theidahohuskies you bet! We really enjoyed filming our hikes as well
Beautiful!
I’m from virgina and mine is shenadohe
Grayson Highlands and Mount Rogers!
You are simply fantastic!
Thank you! 😃
Gonna echo a bunch of people and say Old Rag. My Top Ten would also include a The Channels, Devils Bathtub and the White Rocks/Sand Cave combo. The Sand Cave is technically in KY, but the vast majority of the hike is in VA. Any trail through Grayson Highlands is also a winner.
66 yr old Texan made it to the top of humpback rocks. Really tested my fitness and I passed the test. Didn’t make it in time for sunrise, but still an awesome hike.
Love this!
Thanks dude! Happy to hear that you enjoyed the vid.
I've never hiked in Virginia, and you gave a lot of great information. Even the elevation and type of route, which normally I'd have to look up myself. Thanks for the video man.
Tinkers Cliffs is a good challenging hike. It's the white cliffs you can see from McAfee's and part of the Triple Crown of the Blue Ridge.
I definitely need to hit that one! Thanks for the recommendation.
I'm planning to hike Macafee knob on july 23rd because of the folklore of the scarlet woman. My birthday is the same day !! Looking for her to show herself !! If you believe it!
I’m from Covington. Practically my back yard! 540!
Looking for some help on hitting the trail in 2 months.
Where to park, what permits are needed?
If anyone would be willing to help out with some info. I will be solo and intend to set camp each evening.
Thank you! This was so helpful as I am leading a hiking/yoga retreat there in April and trying to plan out 3 days of hiking.
Nicely explained and put together. Thanks 👍🏼
Glad it was helpful!
which one is possible going during the winter and alone ? (im from brazil)
Sharp top and mcafee knob are both great winter solo hikes!
@@theidahohuskies thank you!
When you put crab trees in there, I lost respect and closed the video.
Corrections:
1) what you called the “falling water Cascades”, as your honorable mention, is actually Falling Spring Falls In Allegheny County on the side of US 220.
2) for the 10 millionth time, there is no such thing as the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s just “the Blue Ridge.” So called because it’s an almost-continuous single ridge separated by a set of broad valleys from the remainder of the Appalachian and Allegheny mountains to the west. There are no Blue Ridge Mountains because it’s only one mountain! Or one ridge. Hence why it is called the Blue Ridge Parkway and not the Blue Ridge Mountains Parkway.
The water for Falling Spring Falls is somewhat warm and it emerges from Warm River Cave, cool surface water having merged with water over 90 degrees F coming up from deep sources in the cave. Search for Warm River Cave on TH-cam and you will find a nice video.
What about Old Rag Mountain?
Beautiful Virginia I grew up in Danville Virginia ❤
I stopped at Virginia a couple days and heard about Breaks Interstate Park. We had some time so stopped by to check it out. It’s known as the Grand Canyon of the south and has some awesome views of the canyon with my favorite one being Towers Overlook.
Love it! Was looking at doing a section of the Appalachian Trail and came across this video. Thank you for sharing!
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
For the distances you’re giving, is that the total distance of there and back? Or just the way there?
Is humpback rock dog friendly?
4 miles round trip on McAfee Knob?
My favorite hike was when a woman fell into a snow creek right in front of me and proceeded to roll around like a turtle and couldn’t get out
OMG I'm weak lol I hope she was ok
I want to knock all of these out !!!! Definitely cedar run. Devils bath tub , not on the list is probably by far one of my tops.
Ooooo I've been wanting to hit Devil's Bathtub for quite some time I just haven't been out that way in a while.
When you say the trail is 7.8 miles and the type is out and back. Is that 7.8 miles each way or 7.8 to hike to the end and back out all together?
All together :)
Old rag is probably #1 in my opinion
Mans hasn’t even done every hike in VA. What a SHAM
will be in shenandoah naational park in march so hope to do bear run
Nice! Such a great hike.
Commenting shamelessly to boost the algorithm.
Dylan Harrell - better than Nat Geo
Cascade Falls
I've gotta try that one soon!
Hey man like the video. I Recommend tinker cliffs too, you can see it from mcafees and they technically connect but I usually go via Andy layne trail.
Thanks Michael! I've been wanting to do that hike - sounds awesome!
@@theidahohuskies sure thing man! I’ve done those 2 and dragons tooth a ton bc they’re awesome and I live right between the 3. I’m trying to get into making outdoor videos and nature photography but I know nothing about pics and videos so I’m definitely subscribing to your channel/ good videos!
Intro to this video gave me an out of body experience.
Like when those leads you slay are so sick that you have to be quarantined.
You already know mine lol. I'm so ready to go back, and check out some new ones, hopefully!
Yesssss, and we have to visit Grayson Highlands too!
@@theidahohuskies And Old Rag!
Positive vibes
Which trail has the most skinwalkers?
Excuse me lol
What a legend.
Thanks for making
Thanks for watching!
What a legend.
Haha well thank you!
Great video man!
Thank you!
Hi Dylan, if you ever get back to Humpback Rocks, from the parking lot, take the Appalachian Trail straight ahead of you from the parking lot. Follow that down the hill, and make a left onto Dobie Mountain Trail (Jack Albright Loop). At the intersection of the Appalachian Trail stay to the left to complete the hike back to the parking lot. On the way back up the "switch-backs" you'll see a tree tht is bent over in an upside down kind-of "u" shape. Near there is a trail (sometime hard to see), that leads up into the woods to a plane crash from 1962. What's left of the planes remains (in remarkable good condition), are still there). This is a beautiful hike if you include Glass Hollow Overlook (Nice camping spot as well), and clock in right at 4 miles. If you get the chance to do it, there are some beautiful places to get some stunning pictures of "rock city" as you work your way back up the hill going Counterclockwise, or Clockwise. Either way it is a beautiful hike.
www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/dobie-mountain-via-appalachian-trail?u=i
I am in the Blue Ridge mountains