First Blackberry Ice Cream Hike (and Splash) of 2025

Summer is here, and the heat has truly arrived! Lucky for us, so has our annual summer indulgence of the blackberry ice cream in Shenandoah National Park. Today's adventure is another variation on our popular summertime series of treks that are focused not just on the hiking but also on the yummy treats we'll indulge in afterwards.

Today's itinerary will begin with a descent from Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park just north of Stony Man Mountain down to the historic (and still frequently visited) Corbin Cabin. Then we'll follow the Nicholson Hollow Trail until we reach the point where the trail crosses the Hughes River. Here we shall Lollygag Dynamically (TM) a short while by cooling off in a pool more than suitable for sitting, wading, splashing, and maybe even swimming (but don't count on that).

After we Lollygag, we'll hike along different trails to get back to our cars. Then it's on to the Skyland Lodge Mountain Taproom for their better-than-ever blackberry ice cream or whatever else you fancy to chase away the summer heat.

The total length of our moderately strenuous semi-circuit will be about 7.7 miles, with 1600 feet of elevation gain on the return leg, none of it especially steep or rocky, but may be challenging for an unconditioned person.

Bring plenty of beverages, lunch, bug spray, sunscreen, swimsuit and towel, about $26 ($13 for the carpool, $5 Adventuring fee, $8 for park admission++, and whatever you wish to spend at the Skyland Resort.) We'll also make our usual pitstop on the way to the trailhead to pick up any last minute snacking/lunch needs.

We'll carpool at 8:30 a.m. from the East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot (to your right as you walk out of the station) and might not be back before dark. The RSVPs will open 2 weeks ahead of the trip and close at 7 pm the day before the trip to allow for logistical coordination.

Trip Note: In case you're meeting our group at the trailhead, make sure you navigate to the parking lot at Stony Man Overlook at 10:30am. The overlook parking is located at milepost 38.5 on Skyline Drive and should not be confused to the similarly-named hiking trailhead.

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++We can often pay the park admission fee by using a park pass, as someone in each car will usually have a National Park Service Annual Park Pass.