Connect With Us
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Instagram

Kurt’s Hikes

CURRENT Kurt’s Hikes

The Lure of the Forest Road

Appalachian Trail from Va. 311 to McAfee Knob, back via AT and forest road. About 7 miles.

A Two-Summit Hike

Old Hotel Trail to Appalachian Trail; AT south to Bald Knob, then back north to Hog Camp Gap. 7.7 miles.

The Bear Spotter and the Confident, Expert, Lost Woodsman

In the Hone Quarry Recreation Area from FR 62: Cliff Trail to Meadow Knob Trail to Pond Knob Trail to FR 62, to apparent end of FR 62 and back. About 13 miles.

A Blithe (Extra) 4.5 Miles

From Va. 613: War Spur Connector Trail to Appalachian Trail to Potts Mountain Trail beyond White Rocks; back to Appalachian Trail past Wind Rock back to War Spur Connector Trail to 613. 12.7 miles.

Bushwhacking to the Cascades

Cascades Trail and beyond onto Butt Mountain ISO Barney's Wall. About 7 miles.

Current Issue

View is from McAfee Knob toward Tinker Cliffs (to right, at the end of the ridge). Rainbow in foreground courtesy of light drizzle out of a pretty nice day.

The Lure of the Forest Road

Appalachian Trail from Va. 311 to McAfee Knob, back via AT and forest road. About 7 miles.
Old man on Cold Mountain.

A Two-Summit Hike

Old Hotel Trail to Appalachian Trail; AT south to Bald Knob, then back north to Hog Camp Gap. 7.7 miles.
The Day Hiker uses her stick to point out blossoms of what she says is ginseng (she could be wrong too, you know), long before her face took on many other expressions altogether. Check the stoopit socks.

The Bear Spotter and the Confident, Expert, Lost Woodsman

In the Hone Quarry Recreation Area from FR 62: Cliff Trail to Meadow Knob Trail to Pond Knob Trail to FR 62, to apparent end of FR 62 and back. About 13 miles.
Odd dog and Day Hiker's head with odd sweatband messing up good view across Johns Creek Valley.

A Blithe (Extra) 4.5 Miles

From Va. 613: War Spur Connector Trail to Appalachian Trail to Potts Mountain Trail beyond White Rocks; back to Appalachian Trail past Wind Rock back to War Spur Connector Trail to 613. 12.7 miles.
Swimmers at Cascades

Bushwhacking to the Cascades

Cascades Trail and beyond onto Butt Mountain ISO Barney's Wall. About 7 miles.
VIEW MORE

Departments

At Coopers Rock State Forest, new Stargazer cabins invite guests to look up through skylights and telescopes.
Country Roads

Even Closer to Almost Heaven

New Stargazer cabins at Coopers Rock State Forest offer a skyward escape in the mountains of West Virginia.

June 29, 2026
©Duncan Seaman
Country Roads

A Mountain Tradition Turns 90 

Visitors flock to Galax, Virginia, each summer for the Old Fiddlers’ Convention, a days-long celebration of Appalachian music.

June 29, 2026
Synchronous Fireflies
Creature Feature

The Light Fantastic

Fireflies are struggling with the effects of artificial light.

June 29, 2026

CALENDAR OF EVENTS