Life Outside Fall 2018 - 42

ON THE ROAD
Sky Meadows State Park
offers a bounty of hiking
trails.

WINCHESTER TO MIDDLEBORO

U.S. 50

From Winchester to Middleboro, U.S. 50 offers
unexpected outdoor adventures and great eats.
COURTESY OF VIRGINIA STATE PARKS

H

EADING EAST FROM THE SMALL

but fantastically revitalized
city of Winchester, U.S. 50
provides swift transport
into the rural and rolling
farmlands of northwest Virginia. Crossing
the Shenandoah River at Berrys, the road
climbs into the Blue Ridge toward the
Appalachian Trail crossing at Ashby Gap
and the exquisite Sky Meadows State Park.
Culminating in the funky-and culturerich-town of Middleboro, the 30-mile
stretch offers canoeing, kayaking, hiking,
outdoor learning opportunities, great stays,
and remarkable farm-to-table eats.

HIKE
The AT from U.S. 50 to Va. 638 in Linden,
13.7 miles. With just over 4,400 feet of
elevation change, this route is smooth and
fairly easy. Along the way, you'll cross Ashby
Gap, encounter two shelters, pass through
the 1,860-acre Sky Meadows State Park
and the 4,000-acre G. Richard Thompson
Wildlife Management Area-where you'll
find mature hardwood forests containing
hickories, oaks, white ash and more. To get
to the trailhead, heading west on U.S. 50,
take a right onto Va. 601. The small gravel
parking lot is marked by a sign and will be
on your left in about a mile.
Sky Meadows Gap Loop, 4.9 miles. Probably
the sweetest of Shenandoah National
Park's big loops, this route begins near the
visitor's center and incorporates some of
the SMSP's best trails. Start by following the
Piedmont Overlook Trail to the Ambassador
Whitehouse Trail-both of which feature
stunning eastward views. When the AWT

dead-ends at the AT, head south on the latter.
Follow the AT to the intersection with the
North Ridge Trail, turn left, and follow the
NRT to the South Ridge Trail. Follow the SRT
to its end at the Boston Mill Road, which will
carry you back to the trailhead. For maps, visit
dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/sky-meadows

collections, including the American Boxwood
Society's Memorial Garden. blandy.virginia.
edu/arboretum

EAT/DRINK
THE ASHBY INN, PARIS. Offers one of the

Berry's Ferry to Lockes, 10 miles. A long,
mostly isolated stretch of river with lots of
fun-to-run small riffles and Class I rapids.
Along the way, look out for the remnants of
American Indian fish-trap systems. Put in at
the Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries concrete ramp under the U.S. 50
bridge. You'll spot the takeout-also a VDGIF
ramp-on river left at Lockes Landing off of
state route 621. For maps, visit dgif.virginia.
gov/waterbody/shenandoah-river-main-stem

best seasonal farm-to-table menus in the
state. Sourcing ingredients from an on-site
garden and area farms, chef Tom Whitaker
dishes up options like pan-seared halibut
with morel mushrooms, peas, verjus,
rhubarb and basil. Two-course meals are
$65. ashbyinn.com
Mt. Defiance Cidery and Distillery,
Middleburg. This home-town spirits-maker
crafts six varieties of hard cider, as well as
a pommeau, a sweet vermouth, an apple
brandy, three types of rum, a slew of liqueurs
and a bourbon. The award-winning Absinthe
Supérieure steals the show. mtdefiance.com

LIVERY & SHUTTLE SERVICES

STAY

Nina's Shuttle Service, Front Royal. Well
reviewed by thru-hikers, Nina's offers shuttles
to points within 100 miles of town. Rates are
negotiable, but typically around $1 per mile.
facebook.com/NinaShuttles/
River Active, Berryville. Open every day
for single and tandem kayak rentals and
shuttles. Rentals from $15. Personal shuttles
start at $8. riveractive.com

The Ashby Inn, Paris. Dating to 1829, the
10-room inn is located in a tiny 170-person
village. Varying in size and décor, rooms
are furnished with 19th-century antiques-
including four-post beds, hand-painted
wardrobes and blanket chests. Offers free
shuttle service for hikers. From $160.
Camp at Sky Meadows State Park,
Delaplane. Just 2 miles south of Paris,
with more than 22 miles of hiking trails, 9
miles of MTB single-track, and a working
historical farm and 19th century mansion
on-site, the SMSP site can provide days of
exploration. Primitive hike-in sites are $15
a night. Facilities include pit toilets and
non-potable water.
-ERIC WALLACE

PADDLE

EDUCATION & GARDENS
STATE ARBORETUM OF VIRGINIA, BOYCE.

Occupying 172 central acres of the University
of Virginia's Blandy Experimental Farm, the
arboretum contains more than 5,000 varieties
of woody trees and shrubs from around the
world. Home to a number of fascinating
http://dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/sky-meadows http://www.ashbyinn.com http://www.mtdefiance.com http://www.facebook.com/NinaShuttles/ http://www.riveractive.com
Life Outside Fall 2018

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