A challenging Sunday hike on Veteran’s Day at Raven Rocks, along the Appalachian Trail near Bluemont, Virginia. To maximize carpooling we assembled in Vienna, and the scenic 1-hour drive up VA-50 and along the Snickersville Turnpike just served to build anticipation for the trail! The trailhead sits in Snickers Gap, one of several gaps in the Shenandoah Mountains that provide access from the Shenandoah Valley into Piedmont Virginia.

The route takes you north from the trailhead along very rocky trails, across two peaks and mountain streams and into West Virginia before reaching the summit at Raven Rocks. The combination of a very rocky trails and multiple ascents made it a challenging workout, but the rewarding payoff at the summit made it all worthwhile!