This one is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the little town of Staunton, VA. Casey and I have found Staunton to be a great place to visit. It's close to a mid-point between our two homes and such a cute little town. Before we did this trip, we spent the night in the Old Staunton Inn, an adorable bed and breakfast within walking distance of a winery and some fun places to eat. Once we had filled up on warm breakfast after our evening about town, we hit the road for this hike.
Elliot knob is a longer day hike, but more than doable in a day for a adult or child of average fitness. Where it lacks in rock scrambling, it makes up for in a variety of sights. The hike boasts small waterfalls, a few creek crossings, some scenic views, and a neat old watch tower that at least when we were there had a wide-open gate and no signs labeling it as off-limits to climb.
Even more, on our particular journey up the mountain, we met a redbone coonhound whom we named Staunton and then later, his friend, a treeing-walker coonhound whom we named Barkley. Barkley and Staunton were clearly well-loved hunting dogs with GPS transmitters, so we left them to do their thing on the mountain, but they made for some excellent hiking buddies.
 |
| Me at Old Staunton Inn |
 |
| First meeting Staunton, the redbone |
 |
| Staunton decided that he would join us on our hike up the mountain |
 |
| Staunton surveys the trail as we head to check out the waterfall |
 |
| Mr. Staunton at the waterfall boasting lots of GPS collars |
 |
| Staunton decided to join us at the waterfall. |
 |
| And then there were two. Barkley joined us for a short while before both dogs loped off into the woods after a scent. |
 |
| View on the trail up |
 |
| Terrifying stairs up the watch tower |
 |
| View from the watch tower |
 |
| Even more terrifying stairs back down from the watch tower |
 |
| The watch tower from the safety of the ground |
