By Ray West
Much to the disappointment of my parents, I did not exchange vows at Blackrock recently and am still single as a pringle. I did however see a lovely couple getting married at the summit, which brings me to my first point. If you’re ever in the mood for a short, easy hike with a high payoff, Blackrock is here for you. This hike is so easy and brief one could do it in a wedding dress and emerge relatively unscathed.
Blackrock Summit is about a mile in length, and is a dog-friendly, rocky loop trail to a talus slope. It’s a popular hike, but I find going in the evening or very early in the morning yields a decent level of solitude and this goes for most trails in Shenandoah National Park, which is where this trail is located (near Grottoes). That means there’s an entrance fee, or if you have a park pass it’s “free.” Parking is rather plentiful, but like most hikes in Shenandoah National Park, the lot fills up quickly so time your hike wisely.
This hike is good for all ages and skill levels – I often see toddlers here toddling after their parents. The rock scramble at the end is the most difficult part, but it’s optional as you still get stellar views without climbing it. Be wary of your surroundings and watch your step! A rather large rattlesnake was chilling at the top, which makes sense. If I were a rattlesnake, the summit of Blackrock would be my hangout place too.
Recently, I had a hankering to hike something close, short, remote, and new. Generally, I only solo hike trails I’m already familiar with (this is mostly for my parents’ peace of mind). However, this particular weekend I was dog sitting a friend’s pup named Cash and decided to be adventurous. A brief online search yielded a nearby hiking area I’d never been to before, so off I went hoping to hike a mile or two of a new trail!
However, I made a rookie mistake by not ensuring I knew where the trailhead was, or even what trail I was going to hike. Consequently, I arrived at Boones Run East Parking Area to find no parking lot, no trail, and no human folk around to point me in the right direction. Lacking cell service and with the road full or large ruts likely created by the recent storm, I turned around (much to the disappointment of Cash) and headed to a favorite hike of mine, Blackrock. Needless to say, don’t be like me. Do your research before visiting an unfamiliar area for the first time. If I’d done even a modicum of research, I would’ve known that I’ve indeed hiked in this area before from another entrance being that it’s an entrance to Fridley’s Gap!
Hiking Blackrock turned out to be a great idea being that it wasn’t too crowded on a Sunday evening. When I reached the top, there was a couple exchanging vows by the summit. In a somewhat funny turn of events, Cash’s owner recently had her vow renewal at Blackrock. So, if you’re looking for a place to exchange vows, or just a short, easy hike to do, this is the one for you.
Happy hiking!
