The Little Stony National Recreation Trail in Scott County, Virginia was one of the most beautiful places we have visited. The trail wound through a steep walled gorge that was lined with thick rhododendron. Never far from the Little Stony Creek, the gorge reflected and amplified the sounds of the water. Large boulders lay strewn along the trail as is tossed by giants in some long forgotten battle. The trail lay undisturbed. We felt like explorers trekking through new territory.
The journey began from Lize’s house in Weber City, Virginia. We headed north in my little Kia Rio with Ryder and cameras in tow. After getting a little turned around in Gate City, it was smooth sailing after we got on the Veterans Memorial Highway. The trip to the trailhead was only 28 miles, but the winding roads make the trip feel longer.
Along the way we discovered the roads namesake. As the road drops steeply down towards the Clinch River, we found a war memorial on the right side of the road. I almost wrecked the car when I saw the M60 tank perched on the hillside. It was such a strange place for a war memorial. I couldn’t help but wonder who constructed it in such a remote area. We decided to stop to look on the way home.
As the road passed through Fort Blackmore, it became narrow and winding. Farms and homes are scattered along the river valley. Nestled along the southern border of the Jefferson National Forest, Dungannon, Virginia seemed isolated from the rushing, global technosphere. Just a few miles outside of Dungannon, we drove into the dense woods of Jefferson National Forest.
The sign for the Hanging Rock Recreation Area was hard to miss as we approach a hair pin turn in the road. Shortly after exiting Hwy 72, we came upon a closed gate. The gate was apparently closed for the winter months. Instead we found a parking spot on the shoulder of the road. The shoulder dropped off steeply, and right beside the car was a beautiful falls with a massive hanging rock shadowing it’s drop. With the entrance displaying such beauty, we knew we were in for a treat.
From the car it was a short walk to the trailhead. A large sign marked the entrance declaring the falls to be only 2.6 miles away. We would soon discover that those were a long 2.6 miles. The trail was covered with resent leaf litter, which made it difficult to find. Fortunately the trail is well blazed with bright yellow.
The trail descended quickly to creek level, and we got our first glimpses at the gorge floor. Large boulders lay across the trail. Many fallen trees from recent storms lay scattered along the path. I was reminded how truly small I am amidst such powerful forces of nature that could toss boulders and trees around like those.
We quickly got distracted with photographing all the beautiful views around us. It was difficult to make good time on the trail, because every twist of the trail revealed a new spectacle. Cascades and flora kept grabbing our attention. I can only imagine how amazing it would look when the rhododendron blooms.
With so many sights along the trail, it was easy to forget to look up. Perched high above us were the cliffs that overlook the gorge. Great outcroppings of rock hung precariously. It was as if the slightest provocation would send the rocks tumbling down towards us. I slowed my breathing so not to make too much noise.
Lower hanging rocks fence the trail close to the creek. I am reminded that the bluffs above probably started just like these lower rocks. The small creek at our feet had carved this deep gorge with slow and inevitable force. I was overwhelmed by awe at the time it must have taken.
We crossed the first bridge about a half mile into the hike. The bridge spans a interesting whirlpool, and we got a good view by climbing under the bridge. Later we would stop back under the bridge for Lize’s requisite selfie. As we continued we stopped to take photos of all the beautiful flora. The gorge is filled with rich biodiversity.
Mature hemlocks, maples, and beech surrounded the trail. The air was permeated with the fresh aroma of evergreen and the loamy smell of soil eroding around us. The trail is primarily level and easy to navigate, so our eyes and cameras were free to explore the natural beauty.
About a mile and half in, we crossed the second bridge. At this point we were starting to feel our lack of preparation. Normally we pack snacks and extra water, but we had only packed a single bottle of water. It wasn’t particularly hot, but our snail’s pace had started to add up to a longer hike. Constantly getting off the trail to photograph new sights and wonders was even starting to wear on Ryder — who has boundless energy. A number of trees across the trail also made navigating more difficult.
Shortly after crossing the second bridge, we crossed a small, tributary stream. The stream was a wonder in and of itself. Water trickled slowly over a small precipice and along roots that spanned the vertical drop. The water was not deep, but the route down to it was tricky while carrying a dog and camera. Lize was not wearing hiking boots either, so the crossing proved to be more difficult than it probably should be.
A quarter of a mile later, our trail ended. After climbing under several trees the trail, the trail turned to the right and dropped away. The creek was around 30 feet below the trail via a steep grade. The trail has washed out leaving little foot or hand holds to cross. Leaving Lize and Ryder at the top, I scrambled down to try to find another way across, but the rocks were slick and several house sized boulders blocked the way upstream.
I’m sure that if we were properly motivated we would have found a way around, but daylight was fading quickly in the gorge and we decided to turn around. We had hike about 2 miles at this point. The waterfalls would have to wait for another day. While we took the lower trailhead through the Hanging Rock Recreation area, the upper trailhead provides a short hike to the upper falls. We decided that we could take that trailhead another day to complete the hike.
On the way back, we put away the cameras, so we could move a bit faster. As we started back across the tributary stream, we ran into a local hiker and his dog. We asked him about the falls, and he told us the road to that would take us around. He also told us how to drive to some overlooks of the gorge. He seemed comfortable with the failing light, but we were ready to be back in the car for the day.
The hike back went fairly quickly without being distracted by photographing everything along the way. As we strolled back into the recreation area, we paused to reflect on the trail. While we never made it to the main attraction — the falls, the trail was full of beautiful surprises. The trail packs some stunning views along the short 2 miles we were able to hike. We decided we had to visit again soon.
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