Nrge- Sunday Am Hike- Overlook Sandstone Falls, Sandstone Falls,Island Loop, Rend Trail

OVERVIEW

Let’s start bright and early and fit in one additional hike before heading back to Charlottesville. For right now, it may be either a hike that we may not have gotten to on Friday or perhaps another easy/moderate hike. We will aim to leave at 8:30AM from the campsite so that we are back around lunch to head back to Charlottesville.

Potential Sunday’s itinerary could include:
Overlook Sandstone Falls (.1 miles) Moderate
Sandstone Falls Boardwalk (.2 miles) Easy
Island Loop (.5 miles) Easy
Rend Trail (3.4 Miles)

Overlook Sandstone Falls
See all of Sandstone Falls at this scenic overlook, 600 feet above the river. This short, gravel walkway descends briefly from the parking lot to the viewpoint. The total distance is only 1/10 mile.

Sandstone Falls Boardwalk
Sandstone Falls is a sight that should not be missed. This is the largest waterfall on the New River spanning 1500 feet across. Divided by islands, the falls drop from 10 to 25 feet. A ¼ mile, handicapped accessible boardwalk crosses two bridges leading to islands and observation decks offering fantastic views of the falls and access to fishing areas. The boardwalk passes through the Appalachian riverside flatrock community, which contains a rare assemblage of plants found in only a few places along several high-energy Appalachian rivers. The flatrock community contains many plants that grow nowhere else in New River Gorge.

Island Loop
The Island Loop Trail is an easy ½ mile trail that loops around the largest island below Sandstone Falls. The island was once farmed, grazed, and timbered, and a grist mill once operated here. Today, hikers can observe the natural succession as the old fields transition back to forest.

This trail starts and ends on the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk.
Further details are included in the following sites:
http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/upload/Trail-newsletter-2012-FINAL.pdf
http://www.newriverwv.com/Recreation_Hiking_Trails.php
http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-new-river-gorge-national-river-mountain-biking-west-virginia-sidwcmdev_068867.html

Please keep in mind that you are responsible for you own safety and the activities you choose to participate in while on the hike.
We will then arrive back at lunch time to head back to Charlottesville.

Fees:
For now I am putting down $20 as a base trip fee to make sure everything gets covered (you may have additional fees depending on the potential separate adventure you might choose; this is the same $20 as I set in the “Base Camp” adventure, NOT in addition to). The bill can get pretty hefty with a huge group traveling, camping, and chowing. I don’t want this trip to put too large of a dent in the club’s checking account, but may be able to reduce the fee. The club’s officers are currently working on getting some outside (Ha! No pun intended!) funding to help subsidize this trip. I’ll know more as the date draws near and will let you know. Whatever the case, your trip fee goes toward lodging fees, food, ga$, and camping gear rental (we had such a huge turnout last year that we had to rent several tents!)

Departure Times:
We will leave around 8:30am from the camp site and head over to the trail head.
Right now, I am setting the group to 4 however if we have another driver I will extend the hike to more folks.

You should bring:
For Hikes: Lots of water, comfortable sturdy shoes, sunscreen, a camera, food/snacks, flashlight, toiletries, money, bug spray, hiking backpack, rain gear, layers such as a fleece or light jacket

Withdrawing from Base Camp Trip
If you signed up for my NRGE “Base Camp” trip please withdraw from that AFTER you are confirmed for this trip or another adventure’s trip list which will host your camping gear, food, and transportation needs. Stay on the Base Camp’s trip list if you do not get off this waitlist, or onto another adventure, and you still want to go to the Extravaganza.

Look forward to seeing everyone during the New River Gorge Extravaganza weekengd!

Andrea