Roaring Run Furnace

Monday, we checked out of a hotel for the last time of the trip and drove north on US-220 into Jefferson National Forest and parked at Roaring Run Day Use Area.  The Roaring Run Loop Trail (#264) soon came to a split and we went left on the Streamside Trail that stayed close to the creek.

At a bridge crossing, there was a nice little water slide.

Not long after that was another really nice slide that might be considered a waterfall.

In under half a mile, we came to another split and went left on Roaring Run Falls Trail (#264A).  There was another nice water slide on the creek here.

Right above that was a narrow chute falls, but this still wasn't the actual waterfall.

The spur trail ended at the beautiful Roaring Run Falls.

I was really impressed with this one.

Just downstream was yet another slide.

From here we turned around and finished up the loop.  Roaring Run Furnace was near the end.

This 19th century furnace was used to produce iron that was shipped down the James River.

It was a really great little area that packed a lot of scenery into a short hike.

We wanted to get in one more hike on the way home and headed towards Roanoke.  We got on the Mill Mountain Parkway, a spur of the Blue Ridge Parkway and parked at Cedar Ridge Trailhead in the Roanoke Valley area.  Cedar Ridge Trail is a 5-mile loop around the area.

It was mostly forested, but there were a few open areas with views.

A lot of thistle was blooming and the pollinators were out.

The hike was about 2 hours for the loop.

From here, it was just another 3 hours to drive home after a long two weeks with more than 100 waterfalls in 11 states.