September Hiking Adventures!

This September we are offering two specific sets of dates for Capon explorers to scratch one more thing off their bucket list: complete all six Capon trails (ranging from 2-7 miles) on your next visit!  You won’t have to do it all alone because the first and last hikes during each of these dates will be led by Capon’s experienced nature guide, Fred Viers.*

(Thanks to the plentiful rain this summer, Capon guests have recently found a treasure trove of mushrooms on every Capon trail!  Look for upcoming posts of what and where these exotic species have been discovered.)

Or if bigger adventures are your thing- Capon is an excellent base camp to explore the nearby George Washington & Jefferson National Forest. We have direct access to the Tuscarora (Big Blue) trail, which opens opportunities to approach mountain views, streams, and scenic fall foliage.  This trail passes through Capon property, past the scenic Eagle Rock view and is a wilder side trail 250 miles long off the Appalachian Trial.  You can also plan a day trip with a box lunch.  A month’s worth of daily hikes can be found within a 30 minute drive, include a docent led trip to the Nature Conservancy’s Ice Mountain.

Dates: Tuesday 9/18 til Thursday, 9/20 and again Thursday 9/27 til Saturday, 9/29
Location:  Hiking events begin and end on the Main House Front Porch.  Self-guided hikes are easily reachable from the grounds.
Time: Though the distance and terrain is moderate, plan on about 2 hours for each nature adventure to leisurely explore the natural wonders of the Capon’s WV wilderness.
Rates: $110 per person per weeknight: Tuesday & Wednesday nights (shared bath are $95 per person per night)
$160 per person per weekend night Thursday & Friday nights (shared bath are $130 per person per night)
Extend Your Stay:  Come early or stay later!  Monday dinner features a delicious BBQ chicken outdoor meal on the hill, while Thursday’s feast is filet mignon steak cookout with all the fixings.   Saturday afternoon get a rare peak inside the famous Capon Spring house with a short tour covering 200+ years of history.  Later that night, enjoy a traditional campfire singalong followed by a hot dog roast.
Add-ons: Enjoy the beauty of Capon’s 9-hole golf course or a rejuvenating visit to our Hygeia Bath House & Spa or a soaking bath and massage.

Schedule:

Tuesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 27 

Afternoon: Capon Trails Introduction: Meet Fred Viers on the Main Front porch for an overview of all the trails and general Q & A about the variety of Capon Springs area ecosystems.  Pick up a map and description of the trails.  Then enjoy a guided hike with 3-4 highlight stops.  Featured hike: Orange/White Cliff trail (@3 miles)

Highlights: Stroll by Capon’s fish pond before taking a stroll through a soft pine plantation (picture the entrance into Narnia!).  Ascend through sandstone formations to White Cliff.  Enjoy a well deserved view of the Capon property, including the golf course, as you survey the vista of future hikes.

Wednesday, September 19 and Friday, September 28 Enjoy this day to explore Capon trails on your own.

Recommended schedule:

Morning between breakfast and lunch: Red trail (@4-7 miles)
Highlights: Begin at the source of the famous Capon Springs water.  Stroll up hollows and ridges to the Pinnacle in this out and back adventure.  Turn around wherever you want to make this as challenging as you like.

Afternoon between lunch and dinner: Eagle Rock (@2 1/2 miles)
Highlights: Drive yourself 2 miles and park at the VA/WV state line.  Stroll along the Tuscarora Trail of Great North Mountain to Eagle Rock overlook.  Gaze up the Shenandoah Valley toward Strasburg, VA.  During this September time is the peak of the Broad wing hawk migration, and you might get the chance to see a large number of these and other raptors riding the thermals down the ridge at very close range.  You will look down Great North Mountain, part of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest.

Thursday, September 20 and Saturday, September 29

Morning: Capon Trails Summary.   Meet Fred Viers on the Main Front porch for a review of all the trails so far with general Q & A.  Then, enjoy a guided hike with 3-4 designated stops or continue at your own pace.  Featured hike: Blue/Yellow combo (@4miles)
Highlights: Crisscross a creek through Teaberry hollow and then stroll atop Bear Ridge with mountain views and interesting rock formations.   Pause at Wards Rock to see the entrance into Capon from a unique perspective.

*Fred Viers bio: With over a decade working as a guide for the National Park Service and another decade as Capon’s naturalist for Saturday morning walks, Fred brings a depth of knowledge that will open up to you a basic understanding of the natural world around Capon.  As a 5th generation resident of the Shenandoah Valley, Fred continues the legacy of sharing his ancestoral homeplace.