In the Thousand Islands region between Ontario and New York , there are over 1800 islands. To qualify as an island, there must be at least one square foot (0.93m squared) above water, 365 days per year, and the landmass must support at least 2 living trees.
I particularly liked this island, with its Jack Pine standing proud.
Shot on sony a6700
No matter how many times I lay eyes on the Blue Ridge Mountains, its vastness and splendor never ceases to amaze me. I have been hiking this range for over 20 years, and it has always been a place where I can realign myself, clear the mind, and recharge the soul. When I was younger, during tough years of schooling, I remember coming up to this place to help me navigate difficult crossroads and decisions. I always found the crisp, mountain air and the rigor of a tough hike, rejuvenating and it never failed to bring me clarity.
We found a perfect weekend in May to bring the whole family to enjoy the mountain air in the Wintergreen Mountain area of Virginia. We took a platoon of young children and found a very relaxing and peaceful trail called Paul’s Creek Trail. The trail is an easy 1.2 mile in and out trek through a gentle cascading creek. During times of heavy rain fall it serves as a natural water slide as well with a couple of good wading areas.
It’s certainly nice to get off the busier hikes in Virginia (Old Rag Mountain, Dragon’s Tooth, McAffee’s Knob) once in a while. The distance was appropriate for young toddlers and the elevation change was only 328ft.
We encountered alot of wild life during our time in the mountains. May to June is typically when the white tailed deer give birth to new fawns. The month of May is also a big one for migratory birds making their way back up north. The Blue Ridge was alive. We spent the days watching the sun light up the valleys, and listened to the sounds of the mountain range. Virginia is a beautiful place.
Photos taken on a Sony A6700 with a Tamron lens 28-75mm.
Date: 10/24/25-10/26/2025, Temperature: Highs of approx 60F Lows approx 33F, mostly sunny.
“Virginia State Parks are a tonic for the mind, body and spirit”. This creedo is printed on Virginia State Park trail guides, and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve heard so many great things about the Virginia State Park cabins but I have never actually stayed in one. They are also known to book up very quickly so I reserved a cabin at Douthat State Park about a year in advance. Situated near the Virginia and West Virginia border, Douthat, is one of Virginia’s oldest state parks, featuring miles of fishing streams, a 50 acre lake and loads of trails.
The jewel of Douthat State Park is a clear, 50 acre mountain lake. The lake is fed by a Wilson Creek, a park of the mighty Jackson River watershed. We brought along our Nova Craft Prospector canoe to paddle the glassy waters. It’s remarkable how noisy day to day life can be. You don’t really notice such a thing, until you sit on an empty lake, hearing a woodpecker rap on a tree, miles away. I do think such experiences are important to our soul and nervous system, to help reset and get away from the bustle of day to day life. As someone who sees dozens of patients per day, it is such a welcoming feeling.
The kids particularly loved the trout fishing streams at Douthat State Park. They are stocked with rainbow trout, and the kids spent hours just casting and reeling. The leaves were at peak color change, the wind was sharp and crisp and the falling leaves around us made for such a mesmerizing backdrop. It hadn’t rained in several days so the water was particularly clear. The slim outline of the trout were visible underneath the shadows cast but moving leaves. This perpetuated the excitement of the children.
We spent time exploring the trails, bike trails, cabins, and the well stocked camp stores. The kids also loved the cabin as well. Douthat State park was thoughtful enough to provide a bundle of firewood waiting for us at the cabin. I suspect that most visitors don’t use all of their wood, because there was an accumulation of it at our cabin. We put it to good use, especially when it dipped near freezing at night. I brought my old Wetterlings axe to split it into kindling. I can’t believe I’ve had that axe now for over 15 years. Still working just as good.
The cabins do not have wireless internet or cellular service, and this is a great thing. We filled our time, reading, painting, photographing the landscapes, enjoying the wood burning fireplace and playing board games.
Exploring small towns in the Virginia mountains, is always time worth well spent. Douthat State Park is only 15 minutes away from Clifton Forge where we had lunch at Jack Mason’s tavern and picked up some local provisions. Their warm food and dark ales were especially welcoming on a chilly fall day. On the way home, we stopped in Lexington, Virginia for coffee and picked up some books at the “The Bookers”. THis quaint book store is like a scene out of Harry Potter, the books were stacked up to the ceiling and in every which direction. Very cool book store.
Douthat State Park is simply beautiful. The park is well laid out, the facilities are accessible and clean and the cabin was stellar. There are plethora of activities to partake, trails to hike, streams to fish, paths to bike, a lake to paddle, not to mention the excellent visitor center and camp stores and structured activities – an outdoor enthusiast could easily spend a week here. Thank you to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and to all the staff at Douthat State Park.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season ahead!
Photos taken with Sony a6700 (tamron 17-28mm lens)
Visit the Douthat State Park Website here: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/douthat
David Hartman is one of my favorite film makers. Based out of Ontario, Canada, his messages and themes hit close to home for me. His filming style is thoughtful, well-paced, beautiful and a breath of fresh air compared to the overstimulating films and movies of today. I came across “The Mini Forest” and thought I would share. The film speaks to sustainability, growth, and how our individual actions can have profound effects on the earth. It has certainly got me thinking about my own lawn…
“Terrell Wong is about to plant 100 trees in her small Toronto backyard, a dense mini forest based on the Miyawaki Method. What at first seems like a simple act soon evolves into a complex story about dirt, lawns, fungus, wildlife, native species, and finally the human brain. An anti-lawn anthem from director David Hartman, The Mini Forest explores this innovative form of afforestation and the importance of restoring the native woodlands that once covered so much of Canada and the World.”
see more of David Hartman’s work here: https://davidhartman.ca/
When things get busy, stressful and hectic…..go for a hike. This was footage from one year ago, we did a short loop hike in Lake Anna State Park on a mild winter day.
Filmed on Sony a6700
I hope everyone is having a safe and happy holiday season. Things can be especially busy and hectic this time of year so don’t forget to take some chill time, relax, go outside, or watch a canoe documentary. I found this one recently online and it’s pretty awesome. This one features 6 friends who spend 2 months in the Yukon and Peel watershed. Happy Holidays everyone.
“This documentary is a captivating documentary chronicling the 1,500-kilometer, two-month canoeing expedition of six adventurers through the pristine wilderness of Canada’s Yukon and Peel Watershed. This thrilling journey traverses six rivers in three canoes, capturing not only breathtaking landscapes but also the profound cultural and ecological significance of the area. A chance encounter with a First Nations family transforms their adventure into a mission to spotlight the urgent need to protect this fragile and unique ecosystem from industrial development. The film blends the grit of exploration with a heartfelt environmental message, showcasing the resilience of nature and the enduring traditions of those who call the North home.”
Earth Day 2024, we took our parents on a canoe trip to the Allegheny Highlands of Virginia at Lake Moomaw. My mom had just recovered from an acute cardiac condition known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy. 2 months later she was out paddling with us…we are more than grateful for this time together. I hope you guys enjoy it.
I hope everyone had an amazing summer. We closed the season off with a paddle around Swift Creek Lake in Pocahontas State Park. This particular location is one of our favorite spots to paddle with the kids. The water is shallow, there is plenty of wildlife and it is very quiet and peaceful. This is where they learned how to paddle and this is where my son used his homemade canoe paddle for the first time. Thanks for everything summer 2024 you’ve been a great one. Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and happy fall. Load up on your vitamin D before winter!
In April we went to Westmoreland State Park, in the Norther Neck of Virginia to look for shark teeth. This is a short video of our trip! Have a safe and relaxing memorial day weekend everyone.
