Category Archives: Hiking

The 5 State Parks McDonnell Would Like to Close

McDonnell’s proposed budget calls for the temporary closure of:

* [Caledon Natural Area](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/cal.shtml) in King George County
* [Mason Neck State Park](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/mas.shtml) in Fairfax County
* [False Cape State Park](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fal.shtml) in Virginia Beach
* [Twin Lakes State Park](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/twi.shtml) in Prince Edward County
* [Staunton River Battlefield Park](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/stb.shtml) in Halifax and Charlotte counties.

Caledon encompasses 2,579 acres along the Potomac, with dense forest and prime habitat for eagles and other wildlife.

Twin Lakes is Virginia’s most historically significant park for African-Americans.

False Cape is one of the most pristine five miles on the eastern seaboard.

If the budget is approved as proposed, the parks would close to the public, but a skeleton crew would remain on hand as caretakers until the budget situation improves.

Last year, according to the National Association of State Park Directors, Virginia ranked 46th in parks spending per capita and 47th in percentage of state general funds devoted to parks.

[Read](http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/022010/02182010/528781 “Read the Article”) (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

*How will this affect [Biscuit Run](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuit_Run_State_Park), the new state park in Albemarle County that was purchased by the state last month?*

Skyline Drive Reels From Freakish Storms

It’s quiet up on Skyline Drive. There’s the occasional hum of chain saws, the beep of a bucket truck backing up, and the ominous thunder of falling trees, but there aren’t many cars or hikers, and even fewer campers.

A sign at the Thornton Gap Entrance Station announces in bold, capitalized and underlined type: “Skyline Drive is only partially open.” Two weeks ago, ice storms in the Shenandoah National Park closed the drive, trapping campers and hikers over Thanksgiving weekend. More than 50 miles of the Skyline Drive (half of the central district and the entire southern district) remains closed. It could be weeks or months until the rest is reopened.

[Read](http://www.dailynews-record.com/news_details.php?AID=7687&CHID=1 “Read the Story”) (Harrisonburg Daily News Record)

Hiking Mill Mountain’s Star Trail

Rest Time
Rest Time

I took B., A., and her friend E. hiking Saturday. We hiked the Star Trail, which runs from Riverland Drive across from the Roanoke River to the Star on the Top of Mill Mountain. The hike was uphill the whole way up, but the kids made it without any complaints.

[Photoset of our Hike](http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevejenkins/sets/72157594236973885/ “Flickr”) (Flickr)