In Highland County, COVID-19 social distancing and quarantine couldn’t be more entertaining given the hiking trails available in our county.

Here are three (of the many!) adventures that will get you out of the house, active, and away from coronavirus.

 

JACK MOUNTAIN

If you’re looking for an easy trail along a quiet forest road near Monterey, this is your hike. It offers a scenic overlook, a bit of history, and a route varying from three miles to 10+ miles round trip. 

If you enter the Highland Wildlife Management Area, which is located three miles up Sounding Knob Road, you should obtain an access pass. Visit the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website to purchase a pass or contact the Highland County Chamber of Commerce at (540) 468-2550 for information or to set up a visit to the reconstructed Sounding Knob Firetower, which is located along this hike. If you’d like to extend further support to DWR’s efforts, consider purchasing a Restore the Wild Membership!

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING: From Monterey, drive 1.5 miles east on U.S. 250 (Highland Turnpike) to the top of Jack Mountain where you will find Sounding Knob Road on your right. Park in the loop, or shorten your walk by driving in a bit. However, do not block road access or driveways. 

If you begin from the parking loop, you will hike uphill to the ridgetop trail, which continues mostly level through the woods. At 1.25 miles, you’ll pass the reconstructed Sounding Knob Fire Tower. 

You have the option to climb the 80’ tower for some spectacular views over Highland County and the Town of Monterey. The fire tower and the road to it were Civilian Conservation Corps (or CCC) projects built during 1934 – 1935. 

Although the tower’s primary use was to minimize forest fires, in 1934, our local newspaper, The Recorder, accurately predicted: “No doubt, some time in the future when the round-about can be cleaned and beautified it will attract thousands of people there. The altitude of the Knob is 4,400 feet, and only a few trees, not enough to obstruct the view on the immediate summit. When this road is completed, watch the Knob grow in attraction” (The Highland Recorder, May 18, 1934.)

Over many years, the tower fell into disrepair and was dismantled in 2004. In 2017, it was refurbished and reassembled, moved to its current location on private land, and is well on its way to making The Recorder’s prediction true. When the current owner rebuilt the tower, he carefully restored most of the original woodwork in the cabin level, which is complete with years of carved names and initials of visitors! 

Continuing past the fire tower, the trail comes to an open shale ridge on the left with views to the right that rival the tower’s. 

Further hiking leads to a ridgetop meadow and an old cabin on the left, which originally housed the fire warden. From there, the trail dips down and then climbs to the summit of Sounding Knob – a total journey of just over five miles. 

At that point, you can retrace your steps for a total 10+ mile hike. 

 

SHENANDOAH MOUNTAIN CONFEDERATE BREASTWORKS

As you enter Highland County at the top of Shenandoah Mountain along U.S. 250 (Highland Turnpike), in the George Washington National Forest, there is a wonderful half-mile trail – another project of the CCC. This trail provides a welcome stretch break for weary motorists and a shady, scenic stroll through history. 

According to its historical marker, the trail follows the encampment of Confederate troops under the command of Brigadier General Edward “Allegheny” Johnson at Fort Edward Johnson. The original breastworks can still be seen and are literally circling the top of the mountain. U.S. 250, also known as “The Staunton-to-Parkersburg Turnpike,” was actually built across the trench. 

Signage along the trail exhibits a series of letters from a soldier, Lt. “Shep” Pryor of Georgia, written to his wife, appropriately-named Penelope. As her 19th-century Odysseus writes, details of impending battle, the uneven spring climate, and a battle-ready mountain top emerge. The beauty of the now-peaceful woods surrounding the hiker is in stark contrast to the tree-skinned breastworks described in 1862. 

This is an easy uphill loop with stonework steps and log benches strategically placed. There are porta-potty restrooms at the parking lot, but no water. 

With a bit of extra planning, it’s also easy to extend the loop into any number of different hikes along Shenandoah Mountain. The Great Eastern Trail, a project designed to reduce traffic on the Appalachian Trail, runs for 40 miles along the top of Shenandoah Mountain on its way from Alabama to New York. Also, the proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area includes over 6,000 acres in Highland County as well. 

TRAILHEAD DIRECTIONS: Head east from Monterey on Route 250 (Highland Turnpike) for 18.5 miles to the top of Shenandoah Mountain. Park in the paved parking lot on the left, admire the view, and climb the stone stairs on the western side of the parking lot to begin the hike. There is also unpaved parking across U.S. 250 at the trailhead along the forest road there. 

 

PADDY KNOB 

This easy hike straddles Virginia and West Virginia as well as three counties (Bath and Highland in Virginia and Pocahontas in West Virginia). The old lookout tower is gone and is now represented by four foundation stones in an open meadow.

This area is surrounded by several trails, the simplest of which circles the site and ends up back on top. Scenic vistas are blocked by trees but can be glimpsed in the winter. 

The area is best known as an important birding destination. According to the Department of Wildlife Resources, Paddy Knob is home to unusual breeding species in Virginia, such as mourning warbler, yellow-bellied sapsucker, and black-billed cuckoo. Other breeding birds within these forests include dark-eyed junco, cedar waxwing, veery, American redstart, and black-throated blue and black-throated green warblers. Additionally, ruffed grouse and wild turkey are numerous throughout. In the fall, hikers could glimpse migrant raptors (especially broad-winged hawks) flying overhead in numbers. 

TRAILHEAD DIRECTIONS: From Monterey, leave town on U.S. 220 South (Jackson River Road). Drive four miles to Vanderpool. Turn right on Route 84 (Mill Gap Road), and drive 10 miles to the top of the mountain – just into West Virginia. You’ll see a sign just past the summit for Rimel Cooperative Area (see first pic, below). Turn left here onto FR 55. Continue about three miles to a yellow-topped pole on your right. A trail doubles back ¼ of a mile up a slight incline to the site of the old lookout tower, which is about three miles in from Route 84. There are also trails surrounding the tower site, and FR 55 actually continues all the way to Route 39 in Bath County (approximately 14 miles), so this hike is as long as you like. 

 

 

For more information on these trails or other hiking opportunities, contact the Highland Chamber of Commerce at (540) 468-2550 for more suggestions or information.

Also, be sure to look at Hike Highland, a Facebook page dedicated to public hiking available in Highland, Bath, and northern Augusta Counties in Virginia. (With hopes to expand into Pendleton and Pocahontas Counties in West Virginia!)

Happy hiking!