Stony Man and Little Stony Man
Details
The fall colors should be turning up this weekend (http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fall/) in the Shenandoah Mountains, so let's go take a look!
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/4/4/4/600_299142052.jpeg
The route: From the meetup point in the Stony Man parking area, we’ll ascend Stony Man to the overlook, backtrack slightly to pick up the trail for Little Stony Man, and continue to Little Stony Man. After enjoying the view at Little Stony Man we’ll retrace our steps to the parking area.
This is a modified out-and-back 2.9-mile round trip hike. Stony Man, at 4,011 feet, is the second-highest peak in the park, and offers a fairly easy hike with interesting plants and geological features. Little Stony Man is not quite as high, at 3,560 feet, and the trail is also fairly easy, although a little rugged in places.
• Google map here (https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zTy9tqTph5fw.kQQplYwBWeMY).
How to get there:
• Meetup for carpooling: Vienna Metro Station is on the Orange Line. The north parking lot, is just south of the intersection of Virginia Center Blvd & Centerboro Dr, Oakton, Fairfax, Virginia 22181, GPS = 38.879554,-77.271582.
• Driving directions from Vienna Metro to SNP: The drive is 77 miles and should take about 1 hour, 37 minutes, each way. From the exit of the Vienna Metro North parking lot, head east on Virginia Center Blvd, take the ramp onto I-66 W, and drive 19 miles west. Take exit 43A onto US-29 S/Lee Hwy and drive 11.5 miles. Turn slightly right onto US-15 Business S/US-29 Business S and drive 2.1 miles. Turn right onto US-211 W/Frost Ave/Lee Hwy and drive west along US-211 W for 33.9 miles. Take the exit for Skyline Dr, stop for park entry tollbooth, and keep left at the fork to merge onto Skyline Dr heading south. Follow Skyline Drive 10.5 miles southwest to the entrance to Skyland and turn right. The Stony Man parking area is on the right at approximately GPS = 38.593072, -78.375629
Weather: The forecast is clear and a high of 59 degrees. Updates here (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Sperryville%2C+VA).
What to bring: Water and comfy shoes. Sorry, pets are not allowed on the trail. Sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a sack lunch/light snacks are good accessories. Have a look at the weather forecast and consider a light jacket or the layered look.
Advisory: As a reminder, this is an adult group, and you are ultimately responsible for your own safety and well-being during events. Check the SNP website (http://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm) for park alerts in effect. This is a kids-free zone, no one under 18 years of age is permitted.
Cost: Entry fee to SNP is $15 per car, payable at the Thorton Gap tollbooth, plus contributions for gas to car drivers as needed for the trip.
Administrative stuff: Skyland, in SNP near the Stony Man parking area, has restrooms and drinking fountains. A recommended pit stop along your drive to and from SNP is in Warrenton, which has a Sheetz, a McDonald’s, and a Burger King. See the Google map (https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zTy9tqTph5fw.kQQplYwBWeMY).
Notes:
• SNP whole park map (http://tinyurl.com/3dr59y)
• SNP hiking maps (http://tinyurl.com/6m7gys)
• SNP fee information (http://tinyurl.com/pbbudrb)
• SNP webcams (http://www.nps.gov/shen/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm)
• TopoQuest map (http://tinyurl.com/len6qzo)
• Thornton River Grill (http://www.thorntonrivergrille.com/), 3710 Sperryville Pike, Sperryville, VA 22740, 540-987-8790