2021 The Channels Natural Area Preserve (Day Hike)

20210904 Channels of Virginia Day Hike (Trip Sheet)

Carpool(!) and leave CHPC by 8:15 am.  Follow I-81 north and exit just past Abingdon at Exit 24 (VA 80).  Drive about 14 miles on VA 80 to Hyder Gap parking lot on left.  9:45 -10:00 AM rally at the trailhead after parking details are sorted. Hike about 3.3 miles in (mostly uphill rated moderate) over mostly dirt and gravel trails. 12:30 PM eat lunch at the top near the Channel Maze entrance. Explore the Channels maze (for roughly an hour) by squeezing through unusual, (~20 acre in size) ancient stone formations (USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM).  For more details and photos, look up Channels of Virginia on the Internet. 2:00 PM rally for the return hike reversing the same 3.3 miles back. Arrive at the trailhead parking lot 3:45 PM and depart for CHPC shortly thereafter.

This hike will now be by invitation as the Virginia Department of Conservation and Resources has posted this warning:  the parking area is limited to 10 vehicles. If the parking area is full when you arrive, please come back another time. Parking along Highway 80 is not permitted, and violators will be ticketed.