Sky Meadows State Park

Unless your name is Bear Grylls, brushing up on camping skills probably isn't a bad idea. Join Sky Meadows staff for the Primitive Camping Series workshops starting May 8th.

As day-hike destinations within a one hour drive of Washington DC go, three parks rise above (literally) the rest: Catoctin Mountain Park, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Virginia's Sky Meadows State Park. From a terrain and scenery perspective, Catoctin and Sugarloaf are relatively similar. Sky Meadows, however, stands alone.

The magic of Sky Meadows is in its unique blend of pastures, high meadows, and hardwood forests. The setting is conducive to scenic vistas overlooking rolling hills, farmland, and small towns (Paris, Virginia). The trails themselves feel tame and manageable, but the hills are not an illusion (1000 foot ascent in under two miles). The only illusion is the seclusion: the bright city lights of DC are just 50 miles due east.

The Appalachian Trail and Ambassador Whitehouse Trail intersection in Sky Meadows State Park

Hiking Trails

Ask five different people for their favorite Sky Meadows day-hike route and you're bound to receive five different answers. Two routes, detailed below, have been published (in print and online, respectively).

60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Washington, DC: Paul Elliott's 10.3 mile hike includes a full out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail portion of Sky Meadows.

Out: Access trail > Gap Run Trail (Orange) > South Ridge Trail (Yellow) > Left on North Ridge Trail (Blue) > Right on Appalachian Trail (White) to Ashby Gap (Route 50)
Back: Retrace route on Appalachian Trail (White) > Left on North Ridge Trail (Blue) > Left on Piedmont Overlook Trail

Hiking Upward: With his 8.4 mile route, Tony Van Vugt hits more trails and avoids back-tracking.

Access trail > Snowden Interpretative Trail (Silver) > Gap Run Trail (Orange) > South Ridge Trail (Yellow) > Left on North Ridge Trail (Blue) > Right on Appalachian Trail (White) > Left on Old Trail (Purple) > Right on Appalachian Trail (White) > Ambassador Whitehouse Trail (Light Blue) > Left on North Ridge Trail (Blue) > Left on Piedmont Overlook Trail (Red)

Neither route will leave you disappointed, but if you're the vista-type, we recommend including the Ambassador Whitehouse Trail and the Piedmont Overlook Trail. When time is short, trek up the South Ridge Trail and down the North Ridge/Piedmont Overlook Trail for a hilly 3.5 miles.

Regrettably absent from most Sky Meadows hiker write-ups (including this one) is the bridle trail section of the park east of Route 17. We intend to change that; keep your eyes peeled for Sky Meadows: Part Deux. 

Sky Meadows State Park hiker on the Ambassador Whitehouse Trail

Events and Activities

Besides hiking, Sky Meadows is best known for two things: astronomy and strawberries.

• Astronomy: Monthly "astronomy nights," featuring expert presentations and ample star-gazing, dot the Sky Meadows calendar. 
• Strawberries: The Delaplane Strawberry Festival , a Memorial Day weekend tradition, may be better known than the park itself. Interestingly enough, very few strawberries are commercially grown in Virginia.

When to Go

Due to the distinctive setting, the Sky Meadows experience changes dramatically in accordance with the seasons.

• Spring/Summer: Wildflower season and green pastures as far as the eye can see
• Fall: Spectacular foliage on the nearby hills
• Winter: Stark high meadows and open vistas on the ridge

In truth, any month of the year offers a top three experience for day-hikers. When the sun is shining and the breeze is blowing, this Virginia state park makes a strong push for #1.

Location / Directions: Delaplane, VA
Park Size / Trail Distance: 1862 acres; 14+ miles
Surface / Difficulty: Natural; Difficult
Trail Map: Sky Meadows State Park Guide

In typical We Love DC fashion, Donna C. highlights a bakery and a winery to accompany your visit. The Delaplane/Paris area is a hotbed of wineries, but we're partial to Naked Mountain.

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