Vigorous Hike for January 6, 2026: Mary's Rock, Buck Hollow/Ridge (13 miles, 3000 feet)

[HUNT LOFTIN]

Happy New Year and hope you are ready for our first Tuesday hike of the year. We start at the Panorama Parking lot in SNP which is adjacent to Route 211.

The hike will proceed from the Panorama parking lot up (to the left, south) on the AT to Mary's Rock overlook. We then return from Mary's Rock to the AT and continue south (turning right from the Mary's Rock acces trail). Turn left onto Meadow Spring trail and cross Skyline Drive. Take a left from the Hazel Mountain trail immediately after crossing the parking lot to descend the Buck Hollow trail. At the bottom of Buck Hollow take a right to ascend the Buck Ridge trail. Turn right onto the Hazel Mountain trail, cross Skyline Drive, and return to the cars by ascending Meadow Spring trail, turning right onto the AT, passing the Mary's Rock access trail, and descending the AT to the Panorama Parking lot. 

This hike has a lollipop shape with the loop being the Buck Hollow/ Buck Ridge traverse. The remainder of the hike is an out and back so that hikers can shorten the hike if they choose to not do the Buck Ridge/Hollow loop.  

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. Please let me know if you will meet at the carpool lot so we can coordinate to have enough drivers. (See: 
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GAoVyStoa8FsNbNy9

Park and Ride - Centreville (Stone Road) | Connector
Fairfax County, Virginia

The hike will start at the Panorama Parking lot which is on the south side of Route 211 near the Thornton Gap entrance to SNP.  The trailhead is at https://maps.app.goo.gl/hasfEiMdkb5XyF1z9

Please email me if you plan to join us. Let me know if you will meet at the trailhead or Centreville Park and Ride. It’s about a 75 minute ride to the trailhead from the Centreville P&R. The hike will start at 8:30 AM. There are two river crossings along the Buck Hollow trail but the rocks were high and dry last weekend and these crossings showed no difficulties even in the cold weather. 
Hike Leader: Hunt Loftin, hlo...@verizon.net, 571.319.9362

Custom route on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/custom-route-f82ea09?p=-1&sh=fjn3fe&utm_medium=map_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

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