Douthat State Park-Blue Suck Falls Hike-9.4 miles-Strenuous

Starting Point - Douthat State Park Campground Entrance

Ending Point - Douthat State Park Campground Entrance

Hike Distance/Rating - 9.4 miles/Strenuous

PLEASE NOTE - Since this hike is rated as a strenuous hike, all hikers are going to start on the wait list for this hike until I can verify the hiking experience of all hikers on the wait list. Those who have not hiked a strenuous hike with me have 3 days to answer the following vetting questions.

1. How often do you hike?
2. What strenuous hikes have you done?
3. When and what was the last strenuous hike that you completed?

Failure to answer the vetting questions within 3 days will move those hikers to NOT GOING. The answers to the above questions need to be emailed to me [email protected].

Trailhead GPS Coordinates - 37.89536, -79.80179

Hike Highlights - Tobacco Ridge Trail, Blue Suck Falls Trail, Blue Suck Falls, Overlook Rock, Multiple Vista Points, Stony Run Trail, Beards Gap Hollow Trail

Hike Details - This hike has started to become an annual tradition as we get closer to Christmas. We are going to go down to Douthat State Park and hike the Blue Suck Falls Circuit Hike. This hike features multiple vista points and the Blue Suck Waterfalls. From the parking area just outside the campground, we will walk to the Tobacco Ridge Trail. We will steeply climb for about a half mile before reaching a viewpoint of the lake. We will then descend downhill to the junction with the Blue Suck Falls Trail. We will turn left and make our way to the Blue Suck Waterfalls. After the waterfalls, we will start climbing via the Blue Suck Trail up to the ridgeline. We will turn left on the Tuscarora Overlook Trail and hike to the best viewpoint of the hike and a small cabin. After soaking in the views, we will retrace our steps back to the Stony Run Trail. We will descend from the highpoint of the hike to the Locust Gap Trail. We will turn left on the Locust Gap Trail and continue to descend to the Beards Gap Hollow Trail. We will descend to a gravel road and return to the trailhead. There will be an optional post hike following the hike.

What to Bring - Broken in Hiking Boots, Trekking Poles, Lunch/Snacks, 3 to 5 Liters of Water, First Aid Kit, Good Day Pack, Camera, Money for Your Driver & Park Fee, Layers of Clothing for colder fall and winter hiking, Beanies/Gloves