Trails in Skyland, Virginia
Located near the top of one of the tallest mountains in Virginia, Skyland is a part of the Shenandoah National Park. At one point in time it had it’s own U.S. Post Office, but now it is Skyland, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Located in the Northern Section of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, it is just 90 miles from Washington, D.C. but it is a million miles from stress, strain and the everyday pressures of life. As one travels along the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Shenandoah Valley, Skyland can be found just off mile 41.7.
The outdoor life is what it offers even the greenest citified tenderfoot. Horseback riding, hiking trails from easy to overnight difficult, bird watching, and waterfall gazing are all part of the attractions. The world famous Luray Caverns in Luray, Virginia is just nine miles, or twenty minutes, down the road, with down being the operative word, from Skyland. Here, even an inexperienced spelunker can marvel at the gigantic drooping stalactites hanging from the roof and majestic stalagmites rising from the cavern floor.
The Blue Ridge Mountains, which run from Georgia to Pennsylvania, get their name from the blue haze that envelopes the peaks when viewed from a distance. It has been said that this bluish phenomenon occurs because of the isoprene gas released by the trees. These mountains are literally covered with trees, both hardwood and fir. The views are absolutely breathtaking. Picturesque, panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain scenery around every bend in the road and on every horizon await the world traveler and the weekend escape vacationer.
One of the hiking trails at Skyland is to White Oak Canyon. This cut in between the mountains has no less than six waterfalls ranging in height from 50 feet to more than 100 feet down the 1200 foot trail. Another trail goes up instead of down. Stony Man Mountain Trail takes the hiker to what is called Stony Man Overlook. From here the Shenandoah Valley spreads out below in all its superb glory. Stony Man Mountain is just over 4,000 feet tall making it the second highest mountain in the State of Virginia. Of course, for really avid hikers, the Appalachian Trail also runs through this part of Virginia and can be accessed easily from Skyland. No games, no flashing neon lights, no hassles, just uninterrupted natural beauty is what Skyland offers the discriminating nature lover.
Author is a freelance writer. For more information on skyland trail please visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Skyland-Trail/102070506421.
