A week in the park

[Ronnen]

We have spent a week in SNP - last week of June.

Here are some conclusions:
The camping sites were OK. Not busy during weekdays.
The hotels - Skymane and Big meadows lodge were VERY BAD value for money. I don't recommend them.
Waysides and campstores were OK and the milkshakes were good.

We saw a bear 5 times and countless deers.

Old Rag hike was one of the best hikes I ever did. Don't miss it!

Don't bother with mount Knob / Jeremy's run trail:
Mount Knob trail is poorly maintained with lots of ticks.
Jeremy's run is nice but you can't reach the water because
of hundreds of elephant size flies.

Cedar run / Whiteoak trail was vey nice and not too crowded.

Each of these 3 hikes is about 9 hours of hiking, if you are not running.

Little Stonyman / Stonytman hike is nice and easy.
Blackrock trail (south of Loft mountain) is very nice and very easy.
I recommend both.

Don't go to Pocosin ruins - nothing to see there!

[wilconow]

Thanks for the report

[NICKTHEGREEK]

We have spent a week in SNP - last week of June.

Here are some conclusions:
The camping sites were OK. Not busy during weekdays.
The hotels - Skymane and Big meadows lodge were VERY BAD value for money. I don't recommend them.
Waysides and campstores were OK and the milkshakes were good.

We saw a bear 5 times and countless deers.

Old Rag hike was one of the best hikes I ever did. Don't miss it!

Don't bother with mount Knob / Jeremy's run trail:
Mount Knob trail is poorly maintained with lots of ticks.
Jeremy's run is nice but you can't reach the water because
of hundreds of elephant size flies.

Cedar run / Whiteoak trail was vey nice and not too crowded.

Each of these 3 hikes is about 9 hours of hiking, if you are not running.

Little Stonyman / Stonytman hike is nice and easy.
Blackrock trail (south of Loft mountain) is very nice and very easy.
I recommend both.

Don't go to Pocosin ruins - nothing to see there!
Hope your visit to the USA was enjoyable come back soon.

[Cookerhiker]

Thanks for your report - on the whole, it sounds like you had an enjoyable experience. I concur in your assessment of Old Rag & White Oak Canyon.

It's unfortunate you couldn't experience Jeremy's Run under more palatable conditions. It's one of my favorite trails in the Park and is especially fun in early Spring.

[Just Plain Jim]

How do you know that it was the same bear?:-?

[Ronnen]

I don't :).