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Published: September 22nd 2007
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There are many beautiful vistas along the Skyline Drive
An information sign told us that on a clear day, like today it is 48 miles to the mountains on the far side of this photo We left the house as soon as we could, heading to the Shenandoah National Park to hike in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. As we drove we decided to hike down Doyles Run, but changed our mind at the restaurant-service station that is located at milepost 81. The lady working behind the counter said neither falls currently had any water flowing over them but she liked the hike down to the Jones Run waterfall. She said to her it is a more beautiful hike since you are walking under an overhanging canopy of trees. Also we had read that this hike is not as difficult on the return up the mountain as Doyles Run. It has been a very dry summer and we were not surprised to hear that no water was flowing over the falls.
We hiked Doyles Run a few years ago. Near the Skyline Drive there is a short path to one side that leads to an old cabin. The front yard of the cabin ends at the edge of a cliff with a wonderful flat topped rock on which to sit and see a beautiful view. That was the primary reason we had decided on Doyles
Run.
However, after talking with the lady at the gift shop we changed our mind and drove on to Jones Run. It is about three miles further at Mile Post 84. The day was very beautiful, nice and clear.
It is 1.7 miles from the parking area to the base of the waterfalls. The trail is a fairly easy one to hike. It winds down the mountain through a beautiful forest. There are many hickory and oak trees. Though we did not see any squirrels there was evidence that they are about as we found the cracked shells of hickory nuts and acorns scattered under trees. About a quarter of a mile down the trail we had to cross the stream. This was easy today as there was only a trickle of water making its way down the mountain. From there until we neared the falls the creek bed was not in sight. We knew we were getting close to the falls when the huge rocks began appearing alongside the trail and then the trail and Jones Run came together again. We stopped, sitting on a large flat rock and ate our lunch, a sandwich we'd bought before
Nancy beside one of the rocks
The trail makes a U trun around this rock. leaving Harrisonburg. The rock we Nancy sat on had water running out from under it. Apparently there is a small spring under the rock. That was beautiful!
Then we proceeded to the base of the waterfalls. Bill realized we had hiked this trail years ago when we approached a huge rock around which the trail made a U turn. That time there was a lot of water flowing over the waterfall. This time there was only a trickle, but regardless of whether there is a little or a lot of water, the falls is beautiful. Nancy is still not sure Bill is right since she never recalled any part of the trail. We will have to look in our old journals and check for sure.
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