Virginia. Shenandoah
National Park. Central Section
Page 06. Rapidan
Fire Road - Conway River Road
Maps:
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Software - Topo! Mid-Atlantic
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PATC Map 9, 10, 11
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Shenandoah, Official Map and Guide, NPS, free (good for finding campgrounds and to see the general layout of the park)
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Nat. Geographic. Trails Illustrated map. #228 Shenandoah National Park, VA
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USGS 1:62,500 maps: USGS Shenandoah North, Middle, South: 1: 62,500
Books:
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Circuit Hikes in Shenandoah National Park, Ed. 14, 1996
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Appalachian Trail Guide to Shenandoah National Park with Side Trails, PATC. Ed. 12, 1999 (sometimes includes PATC Maps 9, 10, 11)
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Hikes to Waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park, 1997
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Hike America: VA – an Atlas of VA’s Greatest Hiking Adventures, Bill and Mary Burnham, 2001
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75 Hikes in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, 2d ed, Russ Manning
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50 Hikes in Northern VA – Walks, Hikes, and Backpacks from the Allegheny Mtns to the Chesapeake Bay, 2d ed., Leonard M. Atkins, 2000
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Cabins, PATC, 2004
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The Trails of Virginia, Hiking the Old Dominion, 3d ed., Allen de Hart, 2003
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Waterfalls of VA and WV – a Hiking and Photography Guide, Kevin Adams, 2001
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Hikes to Waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park, 1997
Historical books:
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Shenandoah Secrets. The Story of the Park’s Hidden Past. Carolyn and Jack Reeder. PATC 1991
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Shenandoah Vestiges. What Mtn. People Left Behind. Carolyn and Jack Reeder. PATC 1980
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Shenahdoah Heritage. The Story of the People Before the Park. Carolyn and Jack Reeder. PATC 1978, reprint 2000
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Memories of a Lewis Mtn. Man. John W. Stoneberger. PATC 1993
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The Dean Mtn. Story. Gloria Dean. PATC 1982
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Lost Trails and Forgotten People. PATC 1981. Ed. 3, 2004
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Skyland. The Heart of the Shenandoah National Park, George Freeman Pollock, 1960
Notes: Appalachian Trail (AT) is always blazed White!
In the Shenandoah Nat. Park Blue blazed trails are for hikers only, and Yellow are shared between horse riders and hikers
The maps and books listed above are for the whole park, not just for this page
Hikes in this section are organized North to South and then by date
Hike 1. Powell Mountain Trail - AT - Naked Creek
Club: Jack and William leading for MWROP; my scouting
Date: 08/16/2003; 07/16/2005
Parking: good
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: PowellMtnTr_AT_NakedCreek_GPS20030816.tpo; PowellMtnTr_AT_NakedCreek_GPS20050716.tpo
GPS TrackMaker Trace: PowellMtnTr_AT_NakedCreek_GPS20030816.gtm; PowellMtnTr_AT_NakedCreek_GPS20050716.gtm
Notes: one of the most spectacular hikes in terms of waterfalls
Warnings: we actually walked in the Naked Creek going up. Bring long pants and maybe gaiters - there is a field of the stinging nettles at the end of the hike
Hike 2. Tanners Ridge Road - Naked Creek - Skyline Drive
Club: my scouting with Kisun
Date: 01/28/2006
Parking: good
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: TannersRidgeRd_NakedCreek_SLD_GPS20060128.tpo
Description File: TannersRidgeRd_NakedCreek_SLD_GPS20060128.doc
GPS TrackMaker Trace: TannersRidgeRd_NakedCreek_SLD_GPS20060128.gtm
Notes: we went from the top along the Naked Creek. Great waterfalls
Photo Album: TannersRidgeRd_NakedCreek_SLD_GPS20060128
Warnings: very rocky and steep
Hike 3. Staunton River Trail - Jones Mountain Trail - Bluff Ridge
Club: my scouting
Date: 10/22/2005
Parking: good
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_BluffRidge_GPS20051022.tpo
GPS TrackMaker Trace: StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_BluffRidge_GPS20051022.gtm
Notes: bushwhack along the Bluff Ridge old trails was relatively hard due to the blowdowns and unexciting. There was no overlook at the end which I expected to see. The only interesting thing was the "Table Rock" - my name - a natural relatively flat large rock sitting on 2 other rocks like on legs. Otherwise, this is a classical hike with the old cabin and the Bear Church Rock overlook plus beautiful streams.
Photo Album: StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_BluffRidge_GPS20051022
Hike 4. Staunton River Trail - Jones Mountain Trail - Laurel Prong Trail
Club: Chris Nolen and the Tuesday Group Hikers; Shelley scouting with Brad and me; my leading for MWROP; Jack's trace
Date: 07/06/2004; 12/26/2004; 02/25/2006; 03/28/2006
Parking: good
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20040706CNolen.tpo; StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20041226.tpo; StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20060225.tpo; StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20060328JThorsen.tpo
Description File: StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20041226.doc; StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20060225.doc
GPS TrackMaker Trace: StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20041226.gtm; StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20060225.gtm
Notes: classical hike with minor variations. Bear Church Rock and the old cabin are spectacular. So is Staunton River.
Photo Album: StauntonRiverTr_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20041226
Warnings: stream crossings may require wading in wet weather
Hike 5. Laurel Prong Trail - Jones Mountain Trail - New Trail - Conway River Road
Club: my scouting with Jack
Date: 12/02/2007
Parking: good
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: LaurelProngTr_JonesMtnTr_NewTr_ConwayRiverRd_GPS20071202.tpo
Description File: LaurelProngTr_JonesMtnTr_NewTr_ConwayRiverRd_GPS20071202.doc
GPS TrackMaker Trace: LaurelProngTr_JonesMtnTr_NewTr_ConwayRiverRd_GPS20071202.gtm
Garmin MapSource Trace: LaurelProngTr_JonesMtnTr_NewTr_ConwayRiverRd_GPS20071202.gdb
Google Earth Trace: LaurelProngTr_JonesMtnTr_NewTr_ConwayRiverRd_GPS20071202.kmz
Notes: some bushwhacking on old trails on this hike. Scouting the new blazed trail on the Rapidan WMA.
Hike 6. Conway Fire Road - Jones Mountain Trail - Laurel Prong Trail
Club: my scouting with Jay
Date: 10/14/2007
Parking: good
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: ConwayFireRd_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20071014.tpo
Description File: ConwayFireRd_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20071014.doc
GPS TrackMaker Trace: ConwayFireRd_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20071014.gtm
Garmin MapSource Trace: ConwayFireRd_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20071014.gdb
Google Earth Trace: ConwayFireRd_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20071014.kmz
Universal GPS Format: ConwayFireRd_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20071014.gpx
Notes: explored roads and trails of the Rapidan WMA. Short interesting bushwhack, where I lost my Ray Ban Glasses.
Photo Album: ConwayFireRd_JonesMtnTr_LaurelProngTr_GPS20071014
Warnings: Rapidan WMA is primarily for hunters, who also like to camp off their trucks there.