Roanoke Mountain Loop

 

The second most strenuous hike on my recent trip was the Roanoke Mountain Loop, which once could be driven up (indeed, I drove up to the top in 2010, as it is part of the Blue Ridge Parkway) but has been closed since 2018 due to mudslide according to multiple accounts. I looked for evidence of a slide but found none. 2 miles up and 2 miles back down the mountain was a good workout with some awesome views of the Roanoke area. Following are the pictures from this hike; to see all the hikes from my most recent trip, go here.

I often zoom in and out while shooting to get larger or wider shots, so enjoy!

The Falls of Hills Creek

The Falls of Hills Creek in West Virginia does take time with some 380-400 steps to climb down and then back up. Awesome scenery abounds here, but be careful on the wooden sections of stairs which can be wet and slippery. The top falls and middle falls out of the three different falls here are nothing fancy or spectacular, but the bottom falls (63 feet) are worth the trip. Following are the pictures from this hike; to see all the hikes from my most recent trip, go here.

Across the road from the entrance is a small pond that I found picturesque. This hike actually took place on two different days. I pulled something in my back a few hours before the first day, so wasn't in shape to actually descend and climb back up the stairs, but when we came back this way on our way to the next campground, I decided to go the whole way seeing how the first day I was rather disappointed in the first waterfall.

Here are the pictures from the second part of the hike, which are much more spectacular than the first part. I was also feeling much better which allowed for more enjoyment of the trail.