Shenandoah National Park: Mary's Rock

Twice we've attempted to reach the summit of Mary's Rock.  My dad has done it a couple of times on his own but Evan and I had two failed attempts on our track record.  Today, third time was the charm.  It was the perfect day weather-wise, sunny with a slight, refreshing breeze and it was a great opportunity to spend quality time with my dad on Father's Day.  We had so much fun!

It's 3.7 miles roundtrip and while I was doing some huffing and puffing for part of the way up, it's really very doable.  We saw people of all different sizes and ages do it, too.  It does take some finesse because the pathways are very craggy and there are lots of loose rocks but it's still a great starter hike.  I highly recommend it.  The view at the top makes it all worth it.

The pictorial highlights:

At the summit:

We sat up on Mary's Rock and had some refreshing snacks before making our way back down to the car.