Virginia. Shenandoah
National Park. Central Section
Page 07. Conway River Road - Pocosin Fire Road
Maps and Books: See the Shenandoah Nationa Park Northern Section North East of Gravel Springs Gap.
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. All Hikes Including the Big Creek Falls
Club: Jack's merged traces; Jack and William leading for the MWROP; my scouting
Date: 04/22/2006; 11/15/2003; 12/29/2003
Parking: when on Skyline Drive - good. Parking on the park border of the Meadows School Fire Road requires an SUV, parking in the valley - not recommended.
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: BigCreekFalls_BearfenceMtn_GPS20060422Merged_JThorsen.tpo; MillProngTr_LaurelProngTr_AT_BigCreekFalls_PowellMtnTr_GPS20031115.tpo; BigCreekFalls_MeadowSchoolFireRd_GPS20031229.tpo
Universal GPX format from Topo!: BigCreekFalls_BearfenceMtn_GPS20060422Merged_JThorsen_tpo.gpx; MillProngTr_LaurelProngTr_AT_BigCreekFalls_PowellMtnTr_GPS20031115_tpo.gpx; BigCreekFalls_MeadowSchoolFireRd_GPS20031229_tpo.gpx
Description File: MillProngTr_LaurelProngTr_AT_BigCreekFalls_PowellMtnTr_GPS20031115.doc; BigCreekFalls_MeadowSchoolFireRd_GPS20031229.doc
GPS TrackMaker Trace: MillProngTr_LaurelProngTr_AT_BigCreekFalls_PowellMtnTr_GPS20031115.gtm; BigCreekFalls_MeadowSchoolFireRd_GPS20031229.gtm
Notes: I typically put only very close traces under one hike. This is an exception. I decided to put all the traces involving the Big Creek Falls together. This way the user can see many options to see this spectacular waterfall. Since the bushwhacking is rather strenuous because the old trails have lots of blowdowns and are not always visible, the best option is MillProngTr_LaurelProngTr_AT_BigCreekFalls_PowellMtnTr_GPS20031115.tpo trace since it's using the Powell Mountain Trail as well as the Meadows School Fire Road for most of the uphill/downhill bushwhacking, making this trip easier. It also is covering the Bearfence Mountain which offers a great overlook.
Photo Album: BigCreekFalls_MeadowSchoolFireRd_GPS20041127
Warnings: strenuous bushwhack
Hike 2. AT from the Lewis Spring Parking Lot - Powell Mountain Trail - Meadows School Fire Road
Club: Jack's trace
Date: 06/25/2006
Parking: good
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: AT_LewisSpring_PowellMtnTr_MeadowsSchoolFireRd_GPS20060625JThorsen.tpo
Universal GPX format from Topo!: AT_LewisSpring_PowellMtnTr_MeadowsSchoolFireRd_GPS20060625JThorsen_tpo.gpx
Warnings: strenuous bushwhacking as part of the hike
Hike 3. Devil's Ditch Falls - Slaughter Trail - Bearfence Mountain
Club: Jack's traces
Date: 11/18/2006
Parking: official road shoulder parking
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: DevilsDitchFalls_SlaughterTr_BearfenceMtn_GPS20061118JThorsen.tpo; DevilsDitchFalls_SlaughterTr_GPS20060218Merged_JThorsen.tpo
Universal GPX format from Topo!: DevilsDitchFalls_SlaughterTr_BearfenceMtn_GPS20061118JThorsen_tpo.gpx; DevilsDitchFalls_SlaughterTr_GPS20060218Merged_JThorsen_tpo.gpx
Notes: Waterfalls were not very impressive. Pre-park history is interesting. Bearfence Mtn is a good overlook.
Warnings: I didn't particular like road walking near private property with dogs and the deep wading at the beginning of the hike. Steep climb. Bushwhacking.
Hike 4. Hikes Including Slaughter Trail - AT - Pocosin Hollow Trail
Club: Jack's Trace; Chris Nolen and the Tuesday Group Hikers; my scouting
Date: 05/30/2006; 07/16/2003; 05/28/2004; 07/11/2004
Parking: official road shoulder parking
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: SlaughterTr_AT_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20060530JThorsen.tpo; SlaughterTr_AT_SouthRiverFallsTr_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20030716CNolen.tpo; SlaughterTr_AT_SouthRiverFallsTr_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20040528CNolen.tpo; SlaughterTr_DevilsDitchFalls_AT_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20040711.tpo
Universal GPX format from Topo!: SlaughterTr_AT_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20060530JThorsen_tpo.gpx; SlaughterTr_AT_SouthRiverFallsTr_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20030716CNolen_tpo.gpx; SlaughterTr_AT_SouthRiverFallsTr_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20040528CNolen_tpo.gpx; SlaughterTr_DevilsDitchFalls_AT_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20040711_tpo.gpx
Description File: laughterTr_DevilsDitchFalls_AT_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20040711.doc
GPS TrackMaker Trace: SlaughterTr_DevilsDitchFalls_AT_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20040711.gtm
Photo Album: LewisMtnTr_DevilsDitch_GPS20041121; SlaughterTr_DevilsDitch_PocosinHollowTr_GPS20040711
Warnings: I didn't particular like road walking near private property with dogs and the deep wading at the beginning of the hike. Steep climb.
Hike 5. Pocosin Hollow Trail
Club: Jack's trace
Date: 02/04/2006
Parking: good
Topo! Mid-Atlantic Trace: PocosinHollowTr_GPS20060204JThorsen.tpo
Universal GPX format from Topo!: PocosinHollowTr_GPS20060204JThorsen_tpo.gpx