Dobie Mountain Albright Loop incl. Glass Hollow Overlook and Paul Wolfe Shelter
Details
We will start this hike at the VISITOR CENTER PARKING lot and then walk through the farmstead before accessing the trail at the other parking lot.
This is a moderately strenuous hike.
~7 miles `1400' elevation gain
The following description of the hike is taken from "My Hikes," formerly Hiking Upward.
The blue-blazed trail begins to the right of the picnic table and directly in front of the first parking spot, do not take the well signed Albright Loop Trail to the left of the picnic table or you will miss the Glass Hollow Overlook. There is no sign for this trail, it is the Old Howardsville Turnpike and will take you to the A.T. intersection in 0.3 miles. At the intersection take a sharp left onto the white blazed A.T. heading north. Continue 0.8 miles to reach the spur trail to the Glass Hollow Overlook. Take a right on the blue-blazed spur trail reaching the overlook in 0.2 miles for some great views of Rockfish Valley.
Return to the A.T. and take a right heading north. In 0.3 miles you will pass the first intersection of the Albright Loop trail, go another 0.1 miles to reach the second intersection of the Albright Loop Trail. .., bear right staying on the A.T. going north.
The next 1.4 miles down to the shelter is a fairly gentle series of switchbacks, dropping 700 ft. At the 0.5 mile mark there is an overlook with views of Scott Mountain and Bear Den Mountain in Shenandoah National Park to the north. I-64 will also be visible. Just before the shelter you will cross over Mill Creek. The ODATC maintained shelter is one of the nicest on the A.T. in VA.
After lunch, head back south on the A.T. and at the first intersection you arrive at take a right onto the blue-blazed Albright Loop Trail.
Go about 0.7 miles and after the second switchback look uphill to the South for plane wreckage that is visible from the trail. Mr. Henri Weems provided information that it is a Beechcraft that crashed in 1964 and was found a year later by ginseng hunters, no flight plan had been filed. Please respect this site and adhere to the Leave No Trace principle "Leave what you find".
Continue on the Albright Loop trail, passing the intersection of the east portion of the Albright Loop trail, arriving at the Humpback Rocks Parking area in 1.3 miles.
From here we will walk back through the farmstead to our cars at the visitor center.
https://myhikes.org/trails/dobie-mountain-hike
Please bring water, layers, lunch, hiking poles and whatever constitutes a safe and happy hiking experience for you!!
Please NO DOGS on this hike.
There will likely be some after hike shenanigans (brewery or some such) for anyone interested.
We are here to help facilitate an awesome time in nature...we are not professional guides....so you are participating at your own risk.
If weather looks like it will pose a problem, we will let you know in the comment section by 8am
PS....I bet the colors are gonna be awesome out there!!!