Near Rock Castle Gorge, this hike is a perfect choice if you want the ambiance of the 10.8 mile hike without the length or elevation changes. It's about 3 miles, and takes you through wooded areas, alongside and through pastures, and past one of the pull-off vistas on the blue ridge parkway. Despite not being an "up a mountain" kind of hike, it has turned into one of my favorites. You do go through a cow pasture, so bring a leash if you bring your dog. We parked at the visitor center and did the loop counterclockwise. We took the very short yellow connector from the backside of the parking lot to the blue trail. To be honest, I can't remember if there were even any yellow blazes at first, but we just walked through what looked like an obvious trail off of the back of the parking lot until we reached the sign for the blue trail. Once there, the trail is easy to follow EXCEPT that right before you reach this giant blueish house with a 5 car garage and gorgeous vistas, you have to turn left onto a trail that will eventually lead you to cross the Blue Ridge Parkway and go into the cow pasture. If you don't turn and keep going the wrong way, the grassy road that you are following turns into a gravelly road and you pass another smaller house on your right.
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| Honey at the Blue Ridge Parkway pulloff |
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| Casey climbing a downed tree along the trail |
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| Cow pasture views |
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| Into the cow pasture we go! |
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| Pretty grassy trail |
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| Someone made a happy monster |
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| Momma cow was watching us. |
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| Well deserved water and dog treats |
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