One sunny day, my friend and I were bee-bopping around town looking for something to do. Being early May, it was prime hiking weather, and we decided to visit Shrine Mont. Neither of us had been there before and it was on her list of possible venues to get married at (spoiler: she did not get married here). Not knowing there was anything there except the church and retreat center, we were delighted to discover a number of hiking trails in that area, including a short hike to a cross.
Shrine Mont is located in Orkney Springs, Virginia. The hike to the cross takes about one-third of a mile to get there and it’s fairly moderate in difficulty, albeit rocky and steep. The start of the trail can be hard to find – it’s close to the Shrine and a sign marks where you begin your ascent into the heavens. The trail itself is relatively easy to follow and marked with signs. Pets are not allowed here, so leave the furry friends at home.
Shrine Mont is actually a retreat center, so it’s important to take heed of any no trespassing signs. For that reason, you probably won’t find a ton of solitude here. That said, while we saw several people walking in the area, we had the trail itself to ourselves. Parking is rather easy to find.
This hike is very much quintessential Virgnina: hiking through a tunnel of trees until reaching the end. That said, the reward at the end is a little platform with a cross. Depending on the time of year, the trees might obscure most of the surrounding mountains but the cross alone is cool to see. In addition to the hikes, there’s a Labyrinth and the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration. There are a number of other trails in this area as well, so you can extend your hike, or not depending on your mood.
Reflecting on the cross, it’s a nice reminder that as we’re celebrating the holidays with gifts, good food, and time with family, that the main reason we celebrate is because of Jesus.
Happy hiking!
