Login | Signup
(Update Current Location)
Related Pages:
Other guides in Historic Virginia Ruins and Rails
view the Historic Virginia Ruins and Rails guide bundle
Nearby Guides

How does this work?
Meadowville, Virginia, United States

Wildcat Mountain Natural Area

Solitude along with some settler houses

Wildcat Mountain Natural Area
Viewed 5675 times
    This guide contains photos
 (5 votes, 3 reviews)
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 3.0 miles / 4.8 km
Duration: 1-3 hours
Family Friendly • Dog Friendly
 
Overview: Settler house ruins and solitude make for a great day!

This hike is located right off of I-66, west of Gainesville.

starting the hike, grab a trail map from the board in the parking lot, there are some extra trails that you can add onto your hike making it longer.

The first part of the hike is strenuous as you have to climb over the 1st ridge using switchbacks, but the hike is flat after that, so given the distance of 3 miles it is being rated as moderate.

Great stone walls, wild turkey viewing, settler homes (that are intact) 3 buildings, some water views, a nice rock garden to have lunch on, and most of all..... SOLITUDE (i was the only one on this trail today!!)

no entrance fee.

have lunch in the rock gardens around points 15-17.

Tips: Some general tips

  • bring bugspray in summer, the retention pond has some bugs
  • lunch in the rock garden area is great, lots of huge rocks to sit on
  • wild turkey viewing so be quiet!

Points of Interest

Parking
map

parking lot
parking lot map and trailhead
Viewpoint
map

trail view
trail view before the only ridge climb of the hike
map

the climb of the only ridge
the climb of the only ridge, pretty steep here.

once you get past this, then its easy going, nice and flat past the ridge.
Viewpoint
map

trail view of the ridge climb
steep switchbacks, well defined trail
map

intersection marked by stone wall
this intersection is marked by a stone wall.

you can take the small loop by going to the right (counter clockwise)
Viewpoint
map

intersection, beware going wrong way
at this intersection, you goto the left (when going counter clockwise in the loop).

going to the right you can extend your hike another 1.5 miles but you must return to this intersection to complete this loop. the trail on the right does not loop.

so go left :)
Viewpoint
map

trail view
trail view showing a nice flat trail
Viewpoint
map

intersection
going counter clockwise in our loop, keep going to the right trail (straight ahead).

the left trail will simply cut the ruins portion of the hike short, and you wont see them.
Water
map

small retention pond
small retention pond, and man made waterfalls and drainage (some music to your ears!)

beware mosquitos here in the summer time.
Building
map

intact settler house and other ruins
an intact settler house (that you can go inside) and an earlier ruins of another house.

the ruins of the 2nd house include a chimney still standing.

great for exploring!
Building
map

2nd house, possibly for curing meats
2nd small house with double doors, possibly for curing meats and smoking them.

stream nearby.

Water
map

small stream waterfalls

small stream waterfalls from retention pond
Viewpoint
map

trail view
trail view, flat.
Viewpoint
map

small slope, intersection
follow the yellow trail markers, continue on a small slope.
Viewpoint
map

good lunch spots on rocks
good lunch spots with multiple rock formations
Viewpoint
map

grassy trails
grassy trails, lookout for wild turkey!

saw one today.
Viewpoint
map

the rock garden
the rock garden, 2nd possible lunch stop
Pictures in this guide taken by: indiana_jones
How does this work?
Reviews
inmytreepj
Enjoyed this hike very much....easy to find the trail head and parking lots. Unfortunately we did not have this great website until we got home.....our printed map was all.....we got a bit turned around on johns trail but it only added time to our beautiful day. Steep grades only for the very beginning of hike then mostly flats with some change....peaceful and at 8am we were the only car in the lot. Overall a peaceful hike watch for downed trees on left where johns trail intersects and take the left scrambling over the trees.....that will start you in the right directions.
Visited on Apr 01, 2012

by inmytreepj on Apr 01, 2012
gvbender
I didn't know what to expect until I got to the parking area. You'll see the welcome board with maps and notices and you can park in front of that. Just walk up the road a little ways to pick up the trailhead. The first part of the hike is the most strenuous with the switchbacks. It's not bad, I'm just out of shape (this was my first hike in quite a while). I reached the stone wall and didn't know if I should go left or right. I ended up going to the right, so I completed the trip in a counterclockwise direction. Saw some deer, but no turkeys. Thought I heard some, but that could have been the trees rubbing against each other in the wind. The hike was very relaxing and quiet and I really got a kick out of the settler buildings at the back end of the loop. I was the only person on the entire hike. Two things to note... the guide says that this hike is pet friendly, but the sign at the parking area says "No Dogs". Up to you how you choose to deal with that. Another is a posted warning on the settler house that says "Danger, do not enter". Again, up to you how you choose to deal with that. I completed the hike in about two and a half hours, but I like to stop and appreciate the sights instead of charging through. Fun hike, especially if you don't have a lot of time. I'd do it again.
Visited on Jan 16, 2012

by gvbender on Jan 16, 2012
indiana_jones
5 stars for solitude, great settler houses, and wild turkeys!
Visited on Apr 15, 2011

by indiana_jones on Apr 16, 2011

Wildcat Mountain Natural Area Trail Map


POIs: numbers | icons View large Trail Map

Have an iPhone or Android?

  • Map your route while you move
  • Add trip photos to your map instantly
  • Share trips right from your phone
  • Find and follow trips from other travelers

Available For:
iPhone | Android

About the Author

indiana_jones
indiana_jones
25 guides
view indiana_jones's profile
2 year Iraq vet / volunteer / electrical engineer / mechanic / explorer father / ex-husband / friend. my...

Wildcat Mountain Natural Area 3 Day Forecast

Extended Forecast
Other Resources
How To Get There
Get directions from:
Everytrail: Mobile Apps | About | Blog | Forum | Help | TOS | Privacy | Developer API | Advertise | Follow EveryTrail on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook
Copyright © 2013 GlobalMotion Media Inc.
Language: English | Deutsch | Français | Italiano | Nederlands