I decided to take a short hike today on my first Friday off. I was going to hike up to The Priest & Spy Rock, but changed my mind and drove up to the Swift Run Gap entrance of the SNP. At the entrance I asked the ranger to make a recommendation. She asked if I had been to Camp Rapidan? Nope, but I'm game. Wow what a good choice. The SNP never ceases to amaze me with all of the great side trails. There must be hundreds of miles of them.
This hike can be done multiple ways. Several possible loops and several out-n-backs. You can park at either Big Meadows or MilaM Gap. I parked at Milam and took the light blue blazed Mill Prong Trail to the yellow blazed Mill Prong trail. The trail follows the drainage down the mountain, about a 700 foot decent in 2 miles. Pretty gentle. The trail crosses the stream several times on the way to the camp. There are trout in the stream, but it is catch & release.
Rapidan Camp was President Hoover's Camp David. The buildings, except for the vault toilet, were all locked up for the winter and I had the whole place to myself. It's like a little park with cobblestone lined gravel paths and multiple cabins. There is even a little stone and cement swimming pool fed by a stream. I believe it is actually mostly a museum now. I had lunch on the pathway steps to the Prime Minister Cabin. Lunch was Hungry Jack Hash Browns, which came with black pepper & cheese & onions, mixed with OvaEasy eggs and diced spam. It was yummy. Desert was a snickers and a snort of Maker's Mark.
This hike can be done multiple ways. Several possible loops and several out-n-backs. You can park at either Big Meadows or MilaM Gap. I parked at Milam and took the light blue blazed Mill Prong Trail to the yellow blazed Mill Prong trail. The trail follows the drainage down the mountain, about a 700 foot decent in 2 miles. Pretty gentle. The trail crosses the stream several times on the way to the camp. There are trout in the stream, but it is catch & release.
Rapidan Camp was President Hoover's Camp David. The buildings, except for the vault toilet, were all locked up for the winter and I had the whole place to myself. It's like a little park with cobblestone lined gravel paths and multiple cabins. There is even a little stone and cement swimming pool fed by a stream. I believe it is actually mostly a museum now. I had lunch on the pathway steps to the Prime Minister Cabin. Lunch was Hungry Jack Hash Browns, which came with black pepper & cheese & onions, mixed with OvaEasy eggs and diced spam. It was yummy. Desert was a snickers and a snort of Maker's Mark.
"Dazed and Confused"
Recycle, re-use, re-purpose
Plant a tree
Take a kid hiking
Make a difference
Recycle, re-use, re-purpose
Plant a tree
Take a kid hiking
Make a difference