Summary:
Climb Beards Mountain and glimpse distant views of forested ridges.

It only takes a few minutes of gentle climbing through the woods to complete one half of the short Buck Lick Trail and reach the junction with Buck Hollow. In late fall, the Buck Hollow Trail can be completely obscured by leaves, but it is still pretty easy to follow (plus there are the blazes to rely on). It is marked as strenuous on the map but it is not that bad, just gently undulating terrain with some steeper climbs in places. The trail follows a gully and ahead through the trees you can see Beards Mountain.

After a few minutes, pass a spur on the right (20 minute round-trip) that leads up to an overlook. It is a nice view over Douthat Lake and the hills beyond, particularly pretty with the autumnal leaf colors, but is really only a taster for the views later on.

Back on the main trail, you round the head of the gully and continue along the other side. Soon the trail starts to switchback up the hillside. In places the narrow path is all but eroded away as you traverse the sloping hillside, and tiny gravel makes the footing more difficult. The gradient though is generally very easy, steep only at the apex of each switchback.

After four switchbacks, the trail curves right, around the head of the gully once more. Through the trees you can glimpse the lake as you continue the steady climb. 45 minutes or so into the hike, the Buck Hollow Trail ends at the top of the tree-covered escarpment, where there is a four-way trail junction.

Turn left for the Mountain Top and Mountain Side Trails, which together form a loop around Beards Mountain, and immediately take the right fork for Mountain Top. There are lovely views through the trees as you climb, of forested slopes (stunning leaf color in early October) and distant mountain ridges. For about 25 minutes, the trail climbs steeply through the trees as it snakes up the hillside to the top of the ridge. It is then a 10 minute, mainly level walk along the ridge to the tree-shrouded summit, marked by a concrete post.

From this high-point, it is a descent of 30 minutes or so to Mountain Side. First, the trail veers to the left, downhill through the pretty forest. After traversing the hillside, you pass a break in the trees offering a wonderful view over the lake, with rolling mountain ridges stretching away into the distance. The vast expanse of forested hills are even more spectacular when the leaf colors peak in October. Then the trail switchbacks down before continuing to traverse the hill. It is now a very easy gradient, just a gentle descent, to the trail junction.

Turn left onto Mountain Side Trail, with another open view not long after. As you continue along the easy trail, look out for wildlife – we heard a loud rustling in the undergrowth and, soon after, a wild turkey flapped in front of us and quickly disappeared into the trees.

There is another view over the lake before Mountain Side Trail terminates at the four-way trail junction, completing the loop around the mountain. (The trail map describes Mountain Side as strenuous, but we found this short, 30 minute trail to be very easy and enjoyable).

Turn right to return along Buck Hollow Trail to the Buck Lick Loop and the trailhead.

Directions: I-64 exit 27 at Clifton Forge, then Route 629 north for 4 miles to the Park entrance.

Trailhead: Start at the Buck Lick trailhead. Continue on Route 629 north to the Lakeview restaurant – the trailhead is across the road from the parking area.

Length: 6 miles / 9.6 km

Trail Type: Loop

Elevation Change: 1,070 ft / 326 m

Duration: 3 hours

Trail Condition: Maintained and easy to follow. May be obscured by fallen leaves in late autumn, but marked by blazes – Buck Lick, red; Buck Hollow, blue; Mountain Top, yellow; Mountain Side, white.

Features: Forest (leaf color in autumn), wooded escarpments, rolling mountain views.

Climate: Hiking possible year-round, although winter snow may cover the trails. Spring (wildflowers) and autumn (leaf colors) recommended.

Accommodation: Lodge, cabins (seasonal), tent and RV sites inside the Park. Motels off I-64 exit 16 near Covington.

Trail Notes: Trail maps available at the seasonal visitor center (just beyond the fee station), and year-round from a box at Camp Malone picnic area, just before the lake on the left side of Route 629.