Shenandoah Mountain to Sapsuckers, a Photo Trip Through Highland Maple Syrup Country
[Editor’s note: Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17, are the last days of the 2024 Highland County Maple Festival that is held annually on the second and third weekends of March. Here’s a look back at photos from the 2017 festival.]
The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon Saturday morning when we left our house in western Augusta County on the annual trek to Highland County’s Maple Festival. The air was cold, and we had experienced a wintry mix of rain, sleet, and snow the previous night. Our destination had snow on the ground before more fell on Friday so we were hopeful there would be plenty of photo ops since the last time I had photographed the festival in snow was 2013. Road trip!
I clicked a photo of the sunrise from the road, and then we turned west onto Route 250, traveling toward the Appalachians. By the time we reached Deerfield in western Augusta County, the ground was covered in snow and from that point on we were in snow until we returned home. The temperature was hovering just above freezing, and we still had to cross four mountains before reaching Monterey.
Driving up Shenandoah Mountain, the fog set in, snow was deeper on the sides of the road, and snowplows passed going in the other direction. Mr. Mitchell, who had worked for VDOT while in high school, gave a wave to the drivers we passed. Thanks to them, we were about to make this trek on clear roads. The top of Shenandoah Mountain was socked in with fog and the historical overlook was empty — no view to be seen in all that fog.
At the bottom of Shenandoah Mountain we passed through sleepy Headwaters. The little general store, a popular stop for many over the years, is closed and for sale. Fog lifted for a bit at the lower elevation …
… and then we crossed the second mountain and dropped down into McDowell, an historic little crossroads that presents the first location (coming from the east) to find a pancake breakfast and crafts and maple products, and the fried pies mentioned on the sign in the photo.
The famous Civil War Battle of McDowell took place on the hill overlooking the town, a place where history still lingers in the woods and across the fields. Read about the battle and how Shenandoah Mountain and Staunton played into it.
Those pies were being cooked with this outdoor setup but we didn’t stop.
Two more mountains and then we were in Monterey, and it was only 8:00. The quiet street shows how early we were — perfect! Vendors were shoveling the sidewalk in front of their stands while others set up for the day.
The Highland Inn was pretty in the snowy landscape. Their dining room was open to the public for the festival. [NOTE: The Highland Inn is closed for renovations.]
Our usual parking lot was almost vacant and covered in snow when we parked. There was no line for the famous Mill Gap Ruritans maple donuts, a wait that would last 45 minutes to an hour later in the day. No wait but the donuts were not hot off the press like the ones that are fresh and warm and melt in your mouth.
The non-existent donut line early Saturday morning. I had emailed ahead of time to be sure the folks from Back Creek were going to be in Court Square so we could buy our usual case of maple syrup for friends and family all over the Commonwealth.
Next stop: Duff’s Sugar House south of Monterey. We turned on Rt. 220 for the short drive to Rt. 84 and drove alongside a mountain stream to Tim and Terri Duff’s “Fair Lawn Farm” where they process sugar water the old fashioned way with authentic, antique evaporation equipment. It is an experience to listen to Tim explain the process and to watch the steam rise and escape out the roof vent.
This year Fair Lawn Farm has a new covered outdoor area at the door to the sugaring house, and a new parking area gets visitors off the busy Rt. 84. There’s Clancey, the big white farm dog, greeting visitors. Check out their Facebook page.
Fair Lawn Farm
Fog rising from the Jackson River.
We backtracked to Monterey past the LOVE sign, and turned west on Rt. 250.
Monterey’s snowy side streets became slush as the day went on.
Heading west, we drove to Hightown and the Blue Grass Valley where Rexrode’s and Puffenbarger’s sugaring houses were located, then up the mountain out to Laurel Fork Sapsuckers, the newest of the camps that opened about five years ago, located almost on the West Virginia state line.
I love seeing the sheep of Highland County so forgive me for all the sheep photos.
This photo cracks me up. It looks as if they are surveying the south forty, as the saying goes.
I would have liked to sit and have a conversation with this guy. He watched as I took photos, occasionally chewing but never moving from his stand. The other two were all laid back … everyone was on Sunday afternoon mode.
These fellas or ladies were across from the entrance to Rexrode’s Sugar House in Hightown.
Meadowdale Road
Sapsuckers! Highest sugar camp in Highland County, they had 10 inches of snow earlier in the week. Their road to the camp often requires four-wheel drive, and they had the tractor and wagon in the parking lot on Rt. 250 for riders to park and ride. Open for seven years, this is the newest of the sugar camps in Highland. It is a fun place for the kids … a trail through the woods to the sugaring house, food at the lunch counter, plus maple products. Check out their Facebook page. This was my blog post when Mr. Mitchell and I visited them in 2014.
The turn-in to the parking lot at Sapsuckers was cleared but dicey. From a previous visit to this unique place: “Okay, these guys get the prize for best view … and that’s saying a lot in Highland County where it’s impossible to find a bad view. Located on top of Alleghany Mountain that straddles the Virginia-West Virginia line ten miles west of Monterey, Laurel Fork Sapsuckers has the highest elevation of the seven sugar camps.
“How high? Try 4,400 feet. The breath-takingly spectacular scenery alone is worth the drive. They are also the newest camp. The land has been in the family for four generations but the camp has been operating only since 2010 and features eighteen acres of sugar maples. This was our first visit but it won’t be our last.” Read the entire post here.
Back Creek Road was snow-covered as we passed on Rt. 250 which was the reason we didn’t take that way, a usual route, from Duff’s Sugar House to Hightown. It is a higher elevation and shady which makes the snow stick around.
This wetlands area between Hightown and Sapsuckers was frozen over, a winter wonderland that is in its waning days of winter 2016-17.
This is my usual spot overlooking Hightown where I have taken many autumn pics, a perfect perch to capture the flaming reds, oranges, and yellows of the trees below.
Route 250 above Hightown heading east away from Sapsuckers.
Dugspur Road, Hightown
As we approached Monterey from the west at mid-morning, thick fog had settled over the town.
Monterey was bustling — the courthouse lawn was full of vendors and lookers, and the sidewalks on the main street were busy. As we left town to drive back to Staunton, vehicles were steadily coming down the mountain as they approached Monterey. It was a beautiful drive and we were back home by noon with our maple donuts, maple syrup, and a camera full of memories. Highland Maple Festival 2017 is now stored in the book of journeys.
Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
Highland Maple Festival
March 18, 2017