Little did we know when we were there enjoying a warm cobbler ala mode at the Lakeview Restaurant while looking out upon the quaint Douthat Lake that this view awaited us from the top of these mountains.

This scenery from this hike is equivalent to Molly's Knob Trail at Hungry Mother State Park and Rhododendron Trail at Grayson Highlands State Park, in other words it is so beautiful it will knock your socks off.

Featured Hike: Tuscarora Overlook

Plenty of switchbacks make this hike interesting and the scenery from the top will blow you away. If you are fit and start early enough to make a safe hike out of it, I recommend this hike up to the Tuscarora Overlook at Douthat State Park in Virginia. To get to this trail you will need to travel a few miles on other trails, like Blue Suck Falls (rated difficult), and/or Middle Mountain Trail. There are a few ways to tackle the trails at this park, which exceed 40 miles total.

Hikers and Mountain Bikers call Douthat State Park one of Virginia's jewels and it is hard to argue with that sentiment.

Tuck your pants into your hiking boots and DEET up before you hike

You can see forever from Tuscarora Overlook at Douthat State Park in Virginia

The Alleghany Highlands are a real treat when you see them from this perspective

Seeing the forest through the trees is the swimming beach (and Lakeview Restaurant)

The trees are not very old along the trails 

It is just too hard to escape the beauty at Douthat State Park 

There is a fire cabin at the top at Tuscarora Overlook. It is for day and emergency use only, and outside that there are a couple of benches to take in the scenic view and enjoy creation. You can look to the left and see Beard's Mountain, which is the highest peak in the park.

By the way there is a lodge at Beard's Mountain called Douthat Lodge that is really set apart from the rest of the park cabins and is CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) early 1940's built. I hope to stay there one day, and just sit outside with a steamy morning mug of coffee enjoying the fresh mountain air.

Here is a trail guide (PDF) to check out the 43 miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding and walking trails at Douthat State Park, many of them built by the CCC back in the late 1930's to early 1940's.

Douthat State Park is near Clifton Forge Virginia, and a short drive down the road to Covington. Click here for a Google map. The park has fantastic campgrounds and cabins and even the CCC built restaurant (open seasonal hours) is worth the time to visit if you aren't staying overnight. Douthat State Park is adjacent to the Jefferson National Forest, which is ideal for mountain biking and horseback riding and general exploring.

This is just a little treat along the way called Blue Suck Falls

Make sure you wear socks on this hiking trail so you can experience having them get knocked off, that is no exaggeration, because the views along the Tuscarora Overlook Trail will really knock your socks off. 

Warning: hold onto your socks at Douthat State Park