National Children's Forest

For years we've seen the sign on Rt 18 near Boiling Spring that points to the "National Children's Forest", but we've never tried to find it or find out much about it. Yesterday we decided to check it out.

There are three Children's Forests in the U.S.: one each in California, Missouri, and Virginia. All three started with forest fires in the early 1970s that were replanted by children.

Across the road from a large parking area is an amphitheater-style monument. Almost 1,200 acres was destroyed by a forest fire in April 1971. On Arbor Day, April 28, 1972, over a thousand children from Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland planted pines. The timing was set to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Arbor Day (April 12, 1872). The work was sponsored by the US Forest Service and Hunt-Wesson foods (now part of ConAgra).

There are several trails in this area. As you leave the monument you are on the short (0.3 mile) Children's Forest Trail that is "universally accessible".

The Children's Forest Long Loop leaves the short trail and travels 2.8 miles through the forest. It is lightly traveled, and although the Forest Service site says that it is not blazed, it is well-marked, which was very useful at times! While not a difficult trail, it does rise a bit over 600 ft in a mile.

At the highest point, the Long Loop joins an old logging road that is now designated a horse trail. After about a half-mile, the trail leaves the road and has a steep descent to Spice Run.

Spice Run was the only stream that was flowing. After crossing Spice Run, the horse trail leaves the Long Loop, which returns to the short loop just before ending back at the monument.

Returning to the monument. Total hike was 3.0 miles.

Blue Ridge Tunnel

The Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail in Nelson and Augusta Counties (Virginia) opened just before Thanksgiving 2020, and has seen a steady stream of visitors ever since. Even on a mid-week Thursday, the parking lots were short on space.

The tunnel was built in the 1850s (specifically, 1849 to 1858) with Irish immigrant and slave labor. It was designed by noted engineer Claudius Crozet and was unusual in that work began at both ends and met in the middle - a notable engineering challenge. At the time it opened, it was the longest railroad tunnel in North America. It was used until the 1944 opening of a more modern tunnel accommodating larger locomotives built adjacent to it.

The tunnel goes beneath Rockfish Gap on Afton Mountain. Rockfish Gap is a busy place. I-64 and US-250 go over the Blue Ridge here. It is also where Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park ends and the Blue Ridge Parkway begins. The Appalachian Trail also passes through here.

We started at the West Trailhead, then hiked 0.8 miles downhill to the West Portal. The 4375 ft long tunnel is straight, not curved, so the other end is visible the entire time That doesn't mean that you don't need to bring illumination (headlamp, flashlight, cell phone) to make your way through the tunnel! The tunnel also has an unusual elliptical shape.

The western side of the tunnel is lined with bricks. Most of the rest of the tunnel is rough-cut rock.

Lon and Dakota approach the East Portal.

Looking back at the East Portal.

Just outside the East Portal is a cascade/waterfall. There are two other waterfalls near the east end of the tunnel, as well as numerous dripping spots along the way. We've been in wetter tunnels, but this one definitely has its wet spots!

The trail on the east side of the tunnel has gentle slopes (ADA compliant), and it is only about 1/2 mile to the east side parking lot. It runs along CSX tracks. The trail from the West Portal to the west side parking lot is quite different. It rises 175 ft from the tunnel to the parking lot. The west side has a lot more parking, but is not as popular!

Further information:

Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel Foundation

Nelson County Tourism