This area doesn’t get its “national scenic” designation for nothing, as the generally gentle and pretty trail leads, every time, to the wonderful 360 views from 4,071-foot Mount Pleasant, where you can have lunch with a western view into West Virginia or an eastern view onto the Virginia piedmont. Not to mention peeks at the peaks to the north and south.
We went to the western overlook for brief looks and then to our favorite spot for lunch on the eastern side, just down from the bare high point and out of the strongest of the breeze. And despite the good number of cars – especially where the AT crosses the forest road – we had the summit area pretty well to ourselves.
The way down – the same for the first half mile and then the gentle other side of the loop the rest of the way – affords views both back up to Mt. Pleasant and across the valley to Cold Mountain, which offers an equally pleasing loop hike and where, we assumed, the people from all those cars were walking on this day.
Henry Lanum Trail loop hike in Mt. Pleasant National Scenic Area. 6.2 miles.
How to get there: I-81 exit 188 through Buena Vista on U.S. 60 to a left onto Va. 634, a right onto Va. 755, which becomes FR 48–to the parking area at Hog Camp Gap.
