Try saying Lower Hoop Hole Loop five times really fast. It sounds like a tongue twister, but
Lower Hoop Hole Loop is not where you pick a peck of peppers. It’s a roughly 4-mile loop hike that’s part of the longer Hoop Hole Loop (which is about 9 miles). For added fun, there’s also an Upper Hoop Hole – trying saying all three names in quick succession, then add loop to the end. It’s quite the mouthful.
Lower Hoop Hole Loop is close to Covington, Virginia so if you’re in the area you can stop at Kanawha Cafe on your way there or back, which not only had a delicious gluten-free almond bar for those of us with the misfortune of being unable to eat gluten, but great coffee as well. But be warned. If you visit Covington on Labor Day you may inadvertently end up as part of a parade.
This hike is dog friendly and located in Jefferson/George Washington National Park, so there’s no entry fee and you can bring your pups along. This is a nice hike for some solitude, it’s fairly moderate in difficulty, and well-marked. Make sure to wear bug spray and pay attention to the signs, so you don’t inadvertently end up on the wrong trail.
Your reward for all your hiking will be a lot of mushrooms! I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an abundance of fungi on a hike. There are a few river crossings (and plenty of places to chill by the water too), but the plethora of rocks make crossing without wetting your feet easy.
Keeping with our water theme, after hiking Lower Hoop Hole Loop my friend and I stopped by Falling Spring Falls, which I’ve been to a few times before but most recently in 2017. In 2017, one could hike to the base of the falls and to the top. Admittedly my memory of the legality of hiking to the top is murky, so I am in no way condoning trespassing. But I do remember there being some trails/walking paths that gave you a closer view of the waterfall. So, imagine my surprise upon reaching the overlook and finding the waterfall fenced in with no trespassing signs and no visible trail in sight!
A friendly dude snapping some pics at the overlook told us apparently people were base jumping from the top of the falls, so it was fenced in for safety reasons. That’s when I learned that Falling Spring Falls once stood at 200 feet but was relocated by a mining company and now stands at a mere 80 feet. It’s still impressive, but at over twice its current height it’d be a beauty to behold.
Any who, Lower Hoop Hole Loop is a great hike to close out the summer with. It’s got shade, water, mushrooms, and solitude. What more do you need?
Happy hiking!
