Annapolis Rock is a 5.1 mile out and back trail located near Boonsboro, Maryland. It is part of the Appalachian trail and its one of the most popular hikes in Maryland. The views from the lookouts are spectacular on a clear day and you can see Greenbrier Lake from the southeast. The trail is primarily used for hiking and rock climbing and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Bearfence at Shenandoah Valley National Park
The Bearfence trail leads up to a steep slope that eventually turns to a rock scramble to the summit of Bearfence Mountain. It is one of only three summits in the park that has a 360 degree view. Most of the section of the trail includes scrambling up and down on the ridge of the mountain before returning back to a regular hiking trail. The trail is parallel to the Appalachian trail (AT), so you can take the AT trail to loop back down the mountain to Skyline Drive. The scramble and view makes this trail very unique in Shenandoah.
If you are reasonably fit and flexible should be able to handle the scramble to the summit. There is an exposed section and sheer drop before the summit, so beware if you have an issue with heights. This is also definitely not the trail for pets and small kids that might have difficulty scrambling up the rocks.
Whiteoak Canyon Hike
Whiteoak Canyon is one of the best waterfall hikes in Shenandoah Valley National Park. There are six waterfalls ranging from 35 to 86 feet and many smaller cascades along the Whiteoak Canyon Trail, making this trail one of the most popular places to hike in Shenandoah. During the warmer months, the swimming holes along the way are great places to cool off, but expect lots of company. Being one of the most popular hikes in the park, it can be very busy in the peak seasons of spring and fall.
Big Meadows Hike
I couldn’t make to Stony Man, so I made detour to Big Meadows near Skyland Drive. It is located near the center of the park and the largest developed area of Shenandoah National Park (SNP). It is near the park’s Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center, as is a lodge, camp store, and camping area. A wildlife and plant observation log is kept at the Byrd Visitor Center desk, you are encouraged to add your sightings to the list.
Big Meadows was the site of the dedication of Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936. The meadows area has the highest concentration of rare plants in SNP. Big Meadows is also the most visible and studied wetland at SNP. It also supports an abundance of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects, some of which are not found elsewhere in the Park. A state listed snake, a rare insect, and several salamander and bird species are among the animals that occupy the Big Meadows wetland areas.