Big Schloss

Woodstock, VA area (VA/WV Line near Wolf Gap and Trout Pond)

Kid Friendly: Mostly, some steep grades, average of 11-12% during steeper climbs.
Dog Friendly: Yes, top may be challenging depending on how far out they go on the summit.
Baby-Wearing Friendly: Yes, no major obstacles
Will my kids whine?: Probably for the first mile, and the last half mile before the summit.

Big Schloss is a breathtaking, 4.5 mile hike that will get your blood pumping with a steep incline during the first mile and leave you with easy ridgeline for the majority of the remainder (one exception…)

Summer storms are absolute magic at the top.

You’ll start at Wolf Gap Recreation Center. This is a neat little place for you to pull up and camp if you’re so inclined to do so, otherwise you’ll find the Mill Mountain trailhead by a bench on the far side (away from the entrance) of the camp area.

The incline starts immediately and continues for the fist .90 miles. If you’re taking the kids, you get the whining over with ahead of time so they can enjoy the rest of the hike. To help you curb the whining, here’s a photo of me 37 weeks pregnant and trekking along just fine.

This has to be one of my all time favorite ridgeline trails. The level of spiritual satisfaction I get simply walking along it any time of day, but particularly when the sun is low in the sky. If its just me and my pup, I’ll sit for a few and just be grateful for my experience.

Moving down the trail, the forest starts to get a bit more dense and you feel yourself move away a bit from the open air of the last half mile or so.

At approximately the 2 mile mark , on the right there will be a white blaze. You’ll want to turn right here and head up the hill (the one exception I listed earlier to an otherwise easy ridgeline)

After another half mile, you’ll reach a few campsites along the ridge and left side of the trail (the one on the right has a pretty snazzy view.

Continue past those and you’ll see a bridge,  travel across, pick your rock and take it in. 

This has to be one of my favorite summits in the area. It’s generally quiet, and there’s entry of room at the top to play around and space out depending on your comfort level with heights.

Since this is an out-and-back simply return the way, you came.