Virginia trails · Nicholson Hollow Trail
A 11.4-mile loop in Virginia, with 2,177 ft of climbing. Reaches Hughes River Gap and other pass/spring destinations. Managed by the National Park Service.
Most of the climbing sits in the final third — 59% of the ascent, between mile 7.6 and mile 11.4. It gives back about 2,155 ft along the way, so it rolls rather than climbing steadily.
Crusher Ridge Trail access. 38.61323, -78.36009 · directions
On August 31, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 6:14 a.m., the sun rises at 6:41 a.m. and sets at 7:45 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 8:12 p.m. (EDT) — 13 h 04 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 11.4-mile route takes roughly 5 h 19 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 12:00 p.m. — 7 h 45 min before sunset.