Tuesday May 12 Vigorous Hike - Cacapon State Park

[Andrew Heron]

Tuesday, May 12 - Cacapon State Park, Berkeley Springs, WV.  8:30am. 39.50047, -78.30171, PATC Map L. Starting at the Nature Center we will climb Cacapon Mountain via the Laurel and Ziler trails, then do a counter-clockwise loop around the mountaintop on the Ziler Loop, making another ascent.  We will then head south (left) on the mountaintop fire road for three miles to the mountain overlook (splendid view with expected ideal weather) for lunch.  We will then head downhill for three miles on the gravel road to Batt Picnic area, where we will pick up the Central Trail across the mountain, then take the Tower Trail and Piney Ridge trail down to the lodge, then back to the cars.  About 17 miles, 3400 feet of elevation gain. 

I have attached an old map (thanks, Ed et al) that is still valid, but am working on an updated version. Note that the Ziler loop will be the opposite direction from shown on the map.

NOTE - CARPOOL OPTIONS!

OPTION 1: It is difficult to leave Centreville / Stone Rd at 7:00 in time for an 8:30 start, so I am proposing that we have a Sterling carpool option. We have used this in the (distant?) past. On Google Maps, the lot is now called Sterling/Pacific Boulevard Washington & Old Dominion Trail Parking Lot (39.014944, -77.437500). Please let me know if you plan to meet me there. It is pretty easy to get to from the Dulles Toll Rd. 

From Va-7 drive about a mile south on Va-28.

Take Nokes Blvd west.

Turn left on Pacific Blvd.

Turn right on parking lot access road just before the W&OD overpass.

From I-66 or Dulles Toll Road:

Go 2.9 miles north of the Dulles Toll Road on Va-28.

Take Waxpool Road west (left exit)

Turn right on Pacific Blvd.

Pass over W&OD on bridge  and turn left on parking lot access road.

OPTION 2: If you would like to meet others at Centreville / Stone Rd to set out a little earlier, reply to me and I will inform everyone who requests that so they can form a separate carpool. 

To the trailhead:

Take Va-28 north to Va-7

Take Va‑7 west to I‑81.

Take I‑81 north to US‑11 (exit 317).

Take Va‑37 to US 522 north, crossing WV state line.  

Park is on the left, four miles north of the state line. Take park entrance road, bear left at tennis courts to get to nature center.

Please let me know if you are going to meet the group at the trailhead.

--

Andrew Heron

[Andrew Heron]

I received a couple of requests for Alltrails maps for tomorrow's hike. I don't use Alltrails, but here are a couple of things that may be helpful. The first is the URL of the official current map of the park:
https://wvstateparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2024.04.12_WVSP_Cacapon_Map_FINAL.pdf

The second is an attached gpx file containing the hike route. My personal preference is to import it into Garmin, but I imagine it would be useful with other software too. 

I will have hard copies of the map available, but in black and white and a little tough to read. If you have a color printer and want something better, I recommend you print your own copy.

Carpool info - we currently have four of us meeting in Sterling. Please let me know ASAP if you plan to join us and haven't already replied.

Additionally, let me know if you have further questions.

Andrew Heron (301-526-9372)