Sky Meadows State Park (10.13.2025)

 Sky Meadows State Park

Today we visited Sky Meadows State Park. 11012 Edmonds Ln., Delaplane, VA 20144; Phone: 540-592-3556; Email: SkyMeadows@dcr.virginia.gov  We arrived at the park at noon and went straight to the Visitor Center and talked with Ranger Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn was very helpful in helping us pick out a trail to hike and with general information about the park.

Right next to the Visitor Center is the Mount Bleak House and we came in on the end of a tour being given by Ranger Mike. The house we were able to tour is the original home of the owners and is built from stone. There is an addition that was added in later years built with lumber and siding, this is used as office space. 

Ranger Mike was very knowledgeable about the house, it history and was kind enough to take us on a short tour. A lot of the furniture was similar to some that my grandparents used to have.

We were fascinated with the hidden drawers under each window. They built these to hide valuables from invading soldiers during the Civil War. 

 

 

 

 

Here are some more pictures of the inside of the house.

Our Hike

After a lunch, we started on our hike. We took the Boston Mill Road to the North Ridge Trail. This was an uphill hike to the top of the overlook. We had to stop a few times, but we made it up the incline. 

I don't know if you can tell how steep this is from the picture, but for two hikers that are out of practice, it was tough. At the top we took the Piedmont Overlook Trail to the Upper Overlook and below are some pictures, but they cannot do the view justice.

A Panoramic View

Looks like the sky and meadows just go on forever. We back tracked to the North Ridge Trail and kept on it until we came to Gap Run Trail. We followed it down the hill and through the woods. 

 

 

We kept seeing these shrubs with the red berries on them and wondered what they were. They are Japanese Barberry and is an invasive shrub.

 

These green pods on the ground was something else we wondered about. They are Osage Orange Tree Seeds. The mushrooms were all over this side of the tree pictured above.

We enjoyed our hike and it was 2.47 miles and for our first hike of the week, a good one.

Notes about the Park 

Time

This is a day park with no RV sites for camping. Please visit website for updated times.

Camping

Only primitive camping is allowed and it is a 1 hour hike to the campsite from the parking lot. You must hike in your equipment, you cannot drive in.

Trails

There are 22 miles of trails and we just saw 10% of that. The Appalachian Trail is accessible from the park. 10.5 miles of bridle trails and 9 miles of bike trails.

Places of Interest

If you are going to Sky Meadows, chances are you will pass the Apple House. I would be remiss if I did not encourage you to stop and shop but be sure to pick up some of their Apple Butter Cinnamon Donuts. These are delicious beyond words.