New York & the Mid-Atlantic Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

different entry points to

the various trails that

snake through this ridge-

and stream-scape.

Most hikers are

attracted to Whiteoak

Canyon for its waterfalls

• there are six in total,
  with the tallest topping
  out at 86ft high. At
  the Whiteoak parking
  area, you can make the
  4.6-mile round trip
  hike to these cascades,

but beware – it’s both a

steep climb up and back

to your car. To reach the

next set of waterfalls,

you’ll have to add 2.7

miles to the round trip

and prepare yourself

for a steep (1100ft)

elevation shift.

The Limberlost

Trail and parking

area is just south of

Whiteoak Canyon. This

is a moderately difficult

1.3-mile trek into

spruce upcountry thick

with hawks, owls and

other birds; the boggy

ground is home to many

salamanders.

The Drive » It’s about 3 miles

south of Whiteoak Canyon to the

Hawksbill area via Skyline Drive.

9 Hawksbill Area

Once you reach MP

45.6, you’ve reached

Hawksbill, the name of

both this part of Skyline

Drive and the tallest

peak in Shenandoah

National Park. Numerous

trails in this area skirt

the summits of the

mountain.

Pull into the parking

area at Hawksbill Gap

(MP 45.6). You’ve got a

TRIP HIGHLIGHT

If you’re into wildlife, one of the coolest adventures you can embark upon on the

Eastern seaboard is a Conservation Campout with the Smithsonian Conservation

Biology Institute (SCBI; %202-633-2614, 540-635-6500; http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

ActivitiesAndEvents/Activities/ConservationCampout; 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal; $125;

hJun-Aug; c) The Smithsonian Institution is a collection of museum and research

centers dedicated to ‘the increase and diffusion of knowledge;’ the SCBI is the

umbrella organization for the Smithsonian’s conservation work and research.

Based in Front Royal, the SCBI is generally closed to the public. But during the

summer months, via the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), SCBI hosts overnight

trips during the weekends that put you face to face with its conservation efforts.

You’ll be allowed (under the supervision of SCBI staff) to explore an animal habitat

area; some of the species based at the center include maned wolves, cheetahs,

black-footed ferrets and clouded leopards. Following this, you’ll camp under the

stars in four-person tents and have a continental breakfast the next day, along with

family-oriented activities throughout your stay.

This activity is aimed at families (a maximum of six people can register per

campout), but some campouts are adults only. In addition, children must be

aged six or older, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

With all that said, the experience comes highly recommended; you’re having a

wildlife encounter with trained, very knowledgeable professionals. Registration

for campouts begins in spring (check website for details); register fast, as this is a

popular event.

• Adam Karlin

SMITHSONIAN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

INSTITUTE

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE:

VIRGINIA.TRIPS.

21

(^) SKYLINE DRIVE