Adventuring's 47th Anniversary Hike to Hoover Camp in Shenandoah NP

This is a moderate circuit hike of 7.6 miles with 1320 feet of elevation gain on trails rich in both history and scenery.

Adventuring's very first hike occurred 47 years ago this month, as our Founders ventured out in 1979 to Hoover Camp in the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. It's an exceptionally scenic spot, where two modest streams (Mill Prong and Laurel Prong) merge to create the Rapidan River. Hoover Camp was originally built by President and Mrs. Herbert Hoover as a mountain hideaway and fishing retreat, a precursor to today's Camp David. Though many of the original structures have disappeared, the President's House (a.k.a. the Brown House) and the Prime Minister's Cabin survive to this day.
Our hike will begin at Milam Gap, just south of Big Meadows. We'll have one stream crossing at Big Rock Falls before we reach Hoover Camp, where we'll lunch on or near the porch of the Brown House and then explore the rest of the site. Our return route will first use the Laurel Prong Trail and then the Cat Knob Trail to reach the Appalachian Trail, which will take us back to our cars at Milam Gap.

We will decide at the end of the hike whether to enjoy refreshments at the charming New Market Taproom in Big Meadows Lodge or somewhere on the drive home.
Total length of this moderate circuit hike will be 7.6 miles with 1320 feet of elevation gain on the return leg. Bring plenty of beverages, lunch, sunscreen, sturdy boots, and $5 for the Adventuring trip fee. On the way to the hike, we'll stop at Sheetz in Warrenton so folks can pick up snacks or lunch. Carpool passengers should pay their drivers $20 (assuming each car has at least one rider with a Park Pass, which is usually the case).
Meet at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning May 23 in the Kiss & Ride Lot of the East Falls Church Metro Station at North Sycamore and 19th Streets, to your right as Metro riders leave the station's only exit.

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