Four Fields Farm
Vacation Home at Old Rag Mountain
There are over 500 miles of well-maintained and beautiful hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park (SNP). We provide a three-ring binder in the home with copies of all trail maps. There's a library of hiking books and a map of Madison County on the wall to help with charting your adventures. SNP is a long and narrow park. Nearby trailheads start at lower elevations, while many more hikes are accessed from Skyline Drive.
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Relatively Easy Hikes
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Our favorite easy hike is the Hazel River trail. The gentle trail follows the Hazel River, is never crowded, and beautiful year-round. There are driving directions, parking instructions, and how to locate the Hazel River trailhead linked here and in the three-ring binder. This trail includes stream crossings and usually there are well-placed rocks across Hazel River. The trailhead is a 10-minute drive from Four Fields Farm.
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Rose River Fire Road Trailhead at Syria
The Rose River trail is along a fire road and follows the Rose River. It is a gentle stroll and never crowded. To located the trailhead, drive to Syria, then past Graves Mountain Lodge to the small parking lot at the end of the road. The trailhead is a 15-minute drive from Four Fields Farm.
The Old Rag Fire Road is a gentle hike. Park at the new lot at Old Rag, hike up Nethers Road, and walk the fire road. On weekends, the new parking lot can fill up early. Either arrive early or late afternoon on a weekend. There is ample parking on weekdays. The parking lot is located about 5-minutes from the house.
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This is a walk down a gravel road with stunning views of Old Rag and the Shenandoah National Park. From Four Fields, take a right on Champe Plain Rd, a right on Route 231, and then the next left on Church Hill Road. Travel to the end of Church Hill Road, park on the side of the road (avoid ditch), and walk left on Hughes River Road. It is a three-minute drive from Four Fields Farm.
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The first segment of the White Oak Canyon trail is a moderate hike, and the first fall is an impressive 90’ drop. There are several other impressive falls in White Oak Canyon if you decide to gain additional elevation. On weekends, the parking lot can fill up by 8:00 or 9:00 am. Either arrive early or late afternoon on a weekend. There is ample parking on weekdays. The trailhead is about a ten-minute drive from Four Fields Farm.
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The Limberlost Trail is paved and is an easy stroll. You must enter SNP at the Thornton Gap entrance and head South. This trail is wheelchair accessible, and is about a 45-minute drive from the home.
More Difficult Hikes
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The most popular hike in Virginia is to the summit of Old Rag Mountain. It features an adventurous rock scramble, with arrival on the summit, a 360-degree view. Hiking to the summit is physically demanding. It is a 9.4 circuit hike, and takes approximately 4-5 hours. The elevation gain is around 2,300’. The trailhead is a five-minute drive from Four Fields Farm.
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Another very popular hiking area in SNP. Both segments, White Oak and Cedar Run, feature many waterfalls, with a 2,400 gain in elevation, with an 8-mile circuit. Or hike to a few waterfalls and return. The trailhead is about a 10-minute drive from the home.
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The trailhead is located at the Thornton Gap entrance off Route 211 on Skyline Drive, with a large parking lot at Panorama, with modern bathrooms. This is a 3.7-mile round trip hike, with a 1200’ elevation gain, and takes about four hours. It has stunning views from the top. The trailhead is about a 30-minute drive from Four Fields Farm.
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This is a difficult hike up a streambed with significant elevation gain. This hike acquires its name from the way the rocks form a staircase at various spots. A great adventure. It is a 5.6 mile loop, with an elevation gain of 1,500’, and takes about 5 hours. The trailhead is past Sperryville, and is a 20-minute drive from Four Fields Farm.