Beecher Ridge / Overall Run (Shenandoah NP) July 2014

This hike is supposed to have fantastic waterfalls and springs, etc.  Pro tip: if you go in the summer, none of these things will be true.

Despite the above, I enjoyed this hike for the solitude (with one exception-- a stretch of about a mile that goes really close by Mathews Campground, so there are a lot of people going out to the overlooks).  My main complaint about SNP in general is how crowded some of the trails can be, because I'm cranky, so this one was really nice and quiet for almost the entire thing.  Unfortunately, the group of people I was with was quite spirited, so our chances of seeing a bear went down quite a bit.  

The trail itself is well-maintained, and most of the hike is in a forest.  You get one really nice view once you get up the ridge, and you continue to be able to have somewhat nice views from the trees because you walk along the ridge for a bit.  This trail also has some steep sections but nowhere near as crazy as White Oak Canyon.  I hear this hike is even nicer when the waterfalls are flowing.

We used the directions from hikingupward (http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/OverallRunBeecherRidge/).  It gets really confusing at a few points, and we had to backtrack a few times, adding on a few miles to our day.  We got a crazy early start so we were totally fine with this, but definitely bring a good trail map and directions-- and even so, build in extra time.  There are a ton of different trails that wind in and out in this part of the park.  

You also don't have to pay anything if you park where we did, in the small area down Thompson Hollow Rd (take Route 613 to 630 and you'll come to it).  Which is always a plus if you don't have an annual parks pass (even though you should).  We kept expecting to see a ranger station, but we didn't.

Trail name: Beecher Ridge / Overall Run
Distance (RT): 8.5 miles
Elevation change: 2,000 ft.
Time: 4-4.5 hours (probably around 5 if you get lost like us)

White Oak Canyon / Cedar Run (Shenandoah NP) June/July 2014

I actually did this hike twice this summer-- the first time, we did the up-and-back White Oak Canyon route.  That route is about 5 miles round trip (we were pressed for time).  It was a nice hike but I hate hikes that start off going downhill (the parking area if you do the out-and-back is at the top of the waterfalls), so the way back was sort of brutal-- plus we were rushing to get back to DC, so that wasn't that pleasant.  The second time we hiked this, we did the 8-mile loop which I enjoyed a lot more.  You can find detailed directions to the trailhead here: http://www.hikingupward.com/snp/WhiteOakCedarRun/

However you decide to do the hike, the waterfalls are amazing.  And I'm not usually a huge waterfall fan-- I feel like, you've seen one, you've seen them all.  But they're pretty great.

For the 8-mile loop (recommended), you start on the blue-blazed trail (WOC trail) and stay with it past two sets of great falls, til you get to the top.  It's pretty self-explanatory.  The trail is super steep at points, and it's a really popular family trail so there will inevitably be some slow parts.  The last stretch is incredibly steep, then you get to an overlook of the main falls, and cross over to take the yellow trail back down (this is a horse trail/fire road).  In about 2ish miles you'll intersect back with the blue blazed trail you started on.

This is a really gorgeous hike, and the trail is super well-marked, which is good for people like me who constantly get lost.  It's a bit crowded, so go early.  Probably my favorite hike in SNP so far, with Old Rag a close second.

Also this hike has a special place in my heart because I saw a black bear driving to the trailhead the second time I did this one.

Trail name: White Oak / Cedar Run (or you can do the White Oak Canyon out-and-back for a 5 mile hike-- the parking area is at the top of the falls)
Distance (RT): 7.9 miles
Elevation change: 2,500 ft.
Time: 5-5.5 hrs