Backpacker

54 10.2017EXPERIENCE LUXURY OFFTHE APPALACHIAN TRAILDOYLES RIVER CABINSHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, VIRGINIA``````You’ll feel like you’ve walked into a Thomas Kinkade paintingwhen you visit this rustic, stone-chimney cabin in mid-October, when Shenandoah’s legendary fall foliage paints theslopes. The 1930s hut—complete with wood-burning stoveand outdoor fireplace—nestles in a grove of hardwoods at thehead of the Doyles River. From there, you’re just 500 yards``````from the Appalachian Trail. Or, simply continue on the DoylesRiver Trail: It passes through corridors of yellow poplar andskirts several seasonal cascades on a 9.2-mile out-and-back.Back at the cabin, toast the day’s adventures with s’moresaround the large, covered fireplace on the porch.Get to the cabin via the Doyles River Trail. In summer, it’sjust a .6-mile walk from Skyline Drive (near mile marker 81),but in winter, you’ll have to park back at the road closure,turning it into a 4.3-mile trek with 1,700 feet of gain.``````Trailhead Doyles River Season Year-round (snowshoe inwinter) Amenities Bunks with mattresses; wood-burningstove Reservation $30/night; reserve online Contact patc.netVIEW WITH A ROOMPHOTOS BY (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) SARAH OLIVER; GUOQIANG XUE / 500PX; HARRY LICHTMAN PHOTOGRAPHY; WWW.FROSTMOUNTAINYURTS.COM