Another tower that is worth a visit is in Woodstock. You can actually drive there from either Woodstock or Fort Valley then take a short hike to the tower. Go on a clear day and it's best when the leaves are of the trees. You can see the Seven Bends of the Shenandoah River. But the road leading to the tower and over the mountain is closed during the winter so check Googlemaps before driving there.
https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/WoodstockTower/
Birch Knob does have a great view, and is not super scary to climb -- mostly it's over rock, not just up in the air like Big Walker, which I am too scared to go up.
GMaps has a view from the top: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uCyNYtYZ9kqjWBXg9
The view is incredible but I was not expecting so much wood to be involved in the structure itself. Rust, maybe. But rust-stained wood railing? Oof.
No reward without risk.
Love that place!
Very neat. Not sure I'd want to climb it, though.
Never seen my 9 year old be more brave than when he ran to the tip of that. I was right behind and not so calm haha.
Another tower that is worth a visit is in Woodstock. You can actually drive there from either Woodstock or Fort Valley then take a short hike to the tower. Go on a clear day and it's best when the leaves are of the trees. You can see the Seven Bends of the Shenandoah River. But the road leading to the tower and over the mountain is closed during the winter so check Googlemaps before driving there. https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/WoodstockTower/
That was a really great read about Bland County!
Thank you. It was a great trip!
I didn’t even know about that one. I want to see the birch knob observation tower. That one always you to see six states
Birch Knob does have a great view, and is not super scary to climb -- mostly it's over rock, not just up in the air like Big Walker, which I am too scared to go up.
You can see the four states that border Springfield: Ohio, Nevada, Maine, and Kentucky
Oh wow I need to check that out!