There is a yellow marker on a tree to your left as you reach the trail signs – look for it and head left if you wish to extend your hike beyond the Observatory. Harder to see is the Allegheny Trail, which receives considerably less use after the second turnoff to the Observatory. There is a small sign on a signpost indicating the side trail, and another sign on a nearby tree. When you have finished these views, head back down the observatory steps and take a right on the blue blazed trail. Views to the east are of Potts Mountain and the West Virginia/Virginia border. Views to the south include Peters Mountain, where the Allegheny Trail ends at an intersection with the Appalachian Trail just outside of the Peters Mountain Wilderness and Wind Rock along the Appalachian Trail. You can also check out information on the types of birds observed from this viewpoint. There is a log book for human visitors to leave a record of their visit. Inside the building, recent raptor counts are logged on a white board. The tower was rebuilt after vandals set fire to it in 1996. The tower was restored by birders, as this has been a popular raptor count location dating back to at least the early 1950’s. The views – wow! This tower was originally built in 1956 as a fire tower, but was closed in 1972 and the land on which the tower sits was purchased by the United States Forest Service in 1983. M ile 1.0 – Reach the Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory, elevation 3812. A nearby sign states, “You can either turn left here and take the short very steep rocky climb up to the Observatory or continue along the Allegheny Trail another 200 yards or so passing below the Observatory then turning left on the opposite end of the blue blazed loop trail, taking a much less steep and rocky route to the Observatory.” Of course, this description is taking the “ short very steep rocky” option. Mile 0.9 – A trail sign signals a blue blazed trail on the left. Mile 0.5 – Begin the big climb of this hike, a relatively mild 280 feet over nearly a half mile. Mile 0.2 – After an initial ascent of 130 feet, the trail starts a descent. The trail follows the yellow blazed Allegheny Trail, starting in the back end of the parking lot, heading uphill. Finding the trailhead parking lot may be the hardest thing about this hike! Fortunately, you can find the trailhead in Google Maps labeled as “Hanging Rock Observatory Trailhead/Allegheny Trail,” but do not let your GPS take you on Fire Tower Road – stay on Limestone Hill Road until you reach a sign for the parking lot. Mile 0.0 – Start the hike at the Hanging Rock Observatory Parking Lot, with space for about 15 vehicles. Be sure to wear blaze orange during the hunting season so hunters can see you from a long way away! The entire hike is pretty easy, as the parking lot is located on the crest of the ridge of Peters Mountain. The second, on the Allegheny Trail past the Observatory to a second overlook, sees much less activity. The first, between the trailhead and the Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory, is locally very popular – the trailhead parking lot frequently fills up early on autumn weekends. Park at the Hanging Rock Observatory Parking area.
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