Hiking the Lewis Spring Falls Loop in Shenandoah NP, VA

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Hiking the Lewis Spring Falls Loop in Shenandoah NP, VA

Written by Thumper 6

First time post here and I wanted to share a few short comments on a recent hike (5 Sept) that my daughter and I did in the Shenandoah National Park. It was a nice short day hike but was a beautiful day to be out and hiking. We did the Lewis Spring Falls Loop, ended up being around 4.2 miles. I have been listening to the podcast and have really enjoyed the show so wanted to share my recent hike.

I love the outdoors but have not been able to really share the outdoors with my family because of spending most of my adult life in the Army. I recently retired and so now am enjoying living in Virginia and having access to such a beautiful part of our country. I am originally from Montana but being here in Virginia at least gives me wonderful mountain views.

My daughter and I kind of got a late start and really did not get on the hike till shortly after 12 noon on Saturday, the 5th of September. We really enjoyed the hike as we started from just short of the Tanners Ridge Overlook. This is right close to the Big Meadows area and so being labor day, there were quite a few folks in and around big meadows. We started our hike via the Lewis Springs fire road and shortly headed north on the AT. We were making our way up to Black Rock and the beautiful rock structures and outcrops made the hike truly amazing. We soon came to the Black Rock spur (I think about .8 mi from going north on the AT) and headed up to view the vistas from Black Rock. The views were truly wonderful because it was such a beautiful day on Saturday. Coming off of Black Rock and back on to the AT, we headed north to intersect with the Lewis Spring Falls Trail.

At this point, we were taking our time, enjoying the wonderful rock outcroppings and saw quite a few white tail deer. We did see the occasional hiker, mostly from the Big Meadows Lodge area, and we hit the Lewis Spring Falls Trail where we headed northwest down the trail. This part of the trail was simply amazing as it was mostly downhill. We did not really level out until we hit just shy of the Lewis Spring Falls spur and headed over to take a well deserved break at the falls to eat some late lunch. After that, we picked back up on the Lewis Spring Falls Trail and headed back up a nice ascent to back where we started from.

It was truly a beautiful day and was a wonderful opportunity for me and my daughter to leave the city behind and just focus on truly what is our Lord's creation. Although we saw several deer, we did not encounter a black bear. The last hike we did together, about a month ago, was the Rose River Loop were we did encounter a black bear and her three cubs.

Anyways, thanks for the website and for the wonderful podcasts....I truly enjoy them!!

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Up on Black Rock

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Along the Trail

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Little Fawn

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Little Bigger Smile

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Coming Down Lewis Spring Falls Trail

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Lewis Spring Falls

Here is a link to view the topo map of the route and elevation profile:

http://mapshare.delorme.com/Consumer/V.aspx?p=y58cq3qc

Thumper

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Comments (5)

Sounds like y'all had a nice time. I'm going to be in the Shenandoah National Park in October and I'm really looking forward to it. I've been playing around with some new gear this weekend and revamping some of my stuff. I think we are in for a marvelous hike and I'm hoping to capture the audio to share from the podcast. I hope it goes well and everyone enjoys it.

I troll around SNP several times a year, and the hike down to Lewis Falls is a nice one. If I'm staying in Big Meadows, I'll start on the AT just behind the amphitheater and loop back around the fire road, AT northbound and back to the campground. Last time I hiked to the falls, I was with my then-15 year-old son. For some reason, he carried down a very large can of cashews for a "snack", and we sat on that little patio viewing area just eating cashews for a while. Now, whenever I have cashews, I think of the falls! Another great hike in the Big Meadows area is the one down to Camp Hoover. You can make a great day of it starting at the campground or lodge, hike the AT south to Milam Gap and then down to the camp. It's a really interesting little place, and not a lot of folks hike down. The rangers run vans down there for programs twice a day, but not a lot of folks walk in. We got there between ranger programs and had the place to ourselves. The caretaker was very wonderful, and gave my husband and I a personal tour. History and nature are a great combination!

Thanks for the note Rylan...I love to take pictures so I try to take my camera just about anywhere I go. Here is a URL to my smugmug site: http://powersclan.smugmug.com/

Lori, Thanks for the note. I have been meaning to do the hike down to Camp Hoover but we just have not done it yet. I really do love the Big Meadows area and all it has to offer. I am really looking forward to the PBS National Parks Special on the 27th. I have spent quite alot of time in Yellowstone and also in the Big Horn Mountains on the Wyoming side as my family is from out that way. I do miss it but being here in Virginia is kind of a nice comprimise. regards, Thumper

I'm so looking forward to this, too! Did you know that SNP was the first National Park that Ken Burns visited? I saw him tell the story on one of the PBS promos. I had virtually the same experience. SNP was my first park. Entered at Front Royal, went with my parents, and had a great time way back in 1968. I really need to find those pictures! And I'm jealous that you've got a reason to be in Wyoming often! I was there for the first time last year (Yellowstone and Grand Teton), and I just about died from how beautiful everything is out west. We drove from PA. It was a fantastic trip, and I want to do it again.

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