Tuesday Vigorous Hike: September 23, Buck Ridge, Sam's Ridge (16 miles, 3800 feet of ascent)
HUNT LOFTIN
Welcome to the first hike of fall 2025. I hope you will join us as the temperatures moderate and fall colors are just beginning.We have done this hike many times. This is a copy of the 9/17/2023 hike email. The Hazel River crossings were altered by the May floods but crossings at Nicholson and other trails have been repaired so hopefully the Hazel River crossings have also been repaired. Regardless, several of us hiked the route after the early May floods and got across without getting wet. There are numerous shortcuts if you like to avoid deeper Hazel River crossings and make the hike shorter.
Hike Description
Starting at the Buck Ridge trailhead parking on Rt 211 near the SNP east entrance, we will hike the following trails:
1. Up Buck Ridge
2. Turn left onto Hazel Mtn
3. Turn left onto White Rocks, there is a Hazel River crossing near the end of the trail over shallow water
4. Turn left on Hazel River, several river crossings will occur on this trail
5. Turn right to climb up Sam’s Ridge
6. Turn right to eventually return to Hazel Mtn
7. Turn right immediately before Skyline Drive onto Buck Hollow which you follow back to the parking area
This is about 16 miles and around 3800 feet of ascent. It is requested that hikers maintain a minimum 2.5 mile per hour pace or take advantage of the shortcut to skip numerous stream crossings and the Sam’s Ridge climb.
There are numerous stream crossings of Hazel River that involve the use of large rocks or fallen trees. The crossing of Hazel River at the base of White Rocks is usually accomplished by walking through the low water or crossing a fallen tree. The water level has been low this late summer because of reduced rain so the crossings should be easier than typically.We will depart the Rt 211 parking area to begin the hike at 8:30 AM.
Buck Ridge, White Rocks, Sams Ridge, Hazel Mountain and Buck Hollow
Check out this map I created on AllTrails.
PDFs are attached: of the AllTrails map (dated for a previous hike), and the PATC map developed by Gene.To carpool: Hikers wishing to carpool should meet at the Centreville Park and Ride off I-66, exit 52, Centreville. Arrive early enough so that drivers can depart the lot no later than 7:00 AM. Go west on Rt 29 taking the 2nd right into the park and ride lot, then immediately turn left to the corner of the lot where our group gathers. I can take up to three passengers. Please let me know if you will meet at the carpool lot so we can coordinate to have enough drivers. (See: Park and Ride - Centreville (Stone Road) | Connector
)Please email me if you plan to join us. Let me know if you will meet at the trailhead or the Centreville Park and Ride.
Hike Leader: Hunt Loftin, hlo...@verizon.net, 571.319.9362
Josh Silverman
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2025 9:00:48 PM
To: Vigorous Hikers <vigorou...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Tuesday Vigorous Hike: September 23, Buck Ridge, Sam's Ridge (16 miles, 3800 feet of ascent)
--
You are subscribed to the "Vigorous Hikers" email group. Information on the weekly Tuesday hikes and any updates are sent to this group by the hike leaders every week. If you need further information, a response to a message will go to the hike leader who will get back to you. Additional information about our group and our Hike Schedule of future hikes is at http://vigoroushikers.org/.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Vigorous Tuesday Hikers" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to vigorous-hike...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vigorous-hikers/1786211476.6104331.1758502848808%40mail.yahoo.com.