Winter Hikes You’ll Love
Enjoy these teasers of some hikes you’ll love to trek this winter in Giles! Click the links to hear from hikers and learn more about these adventures.
Rice Fields as it is a relatively easy hike with a fantastic view from the top. From Route 460 West, turn right onto Clendenin Road for about 2 miles until you see a brown sign that says Pocahontas Road on the left. There is a parking area just passed the turnoff large enough for 3 or 4 vehicles, or if you turn onto Pocahontas Road, you will find another small parking area about 100 yards in, just passed the trailhead on the left. Rice Fields is part of the Appalachian Trail and as such is marked with a white blaze. The entire hike was just over 6 miles and took us approximately 3 1/2 hours. There is a water source located on this hike if you have the proper purifying equipment. As a day hiker, I usually just pack mine in. Parts of this trail traverse private property please so stay on the trail and always practice the Leave No Trace principles.
Without question, Cascade Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Virginia and possibly on the entire East Coast. Little Stony Creek falls over a vertical cliff in several different streams. Several streams cascade a couple times on the way down while others fall the whole distance of the falls. The 69 ft. falls crash into a large pool surrounded by two hundred foot cliff walls from which large ice formations hang in the winter. The scene is both breathtaking and peaceful as the falls combine both power and beauty. The 4 mile, round-trip loop takes about 3 hours to hike.
As you travel Main Street in Narrows, turn beside the funeral home onto Northview Street, go all the way to the end of the paved road and continue straight up the dirt road until you see the parking lot on the left. Round trip to the first waterfall is about 3 miles and took us about 2 hours at a leisurely pace. While it’s not unusual to meet other people and pets on the many trails of Mill Creek, it is usually not crowded either. A great place for dogs and humans alike.
The Pearis Cemetery trailhead is located at the intersection of Route 100 and Thomas Drive, just outside the town of Pearisburg. There’s a large sign at the entrance to the parking lot and room for several cars. The path to the cemetery is a half mile section of the Appalachian Trail. It’s a fairly level walk along a mostly gravel path with a couple of benches if you need a rest. You may find a thru hiker taking a nap on one of the benches from time to time or share the trail with a rabbit or two. Round trip is an hour or less unless you get caught up in the history, and then you might want to spend the afternoon.
