White Oak Canyon Trail   This was the first winter hike for the ''Stanley Adventure Hiking Team'' Conditions at the White Oak Canyon Trail head parking lot: 12 degrees, 3 inches of fresh snow. Wind: none (thankfully) White Oak canyon is pretty consistent uphill trek. The conditions made it MUCH less than ideal. The snow and ice cover required every step to be planned in the rough areas. The falls in the winter are a site to see. Ice covering everywhere the water was splashing,     freezing things in place. We took a lunch break near upper falls where the where the bridge crosses the stream (Robinson River) Caution, there are two trails at this point, The White Oak Canyon trail, and the White Oak Fire Road. The published White Oak Canyon-Cedar Run hike requires you to take the left at this intersection onto the fire road. (Don’t ask us how we know this, we won’t tell) The fire road is wide and much better suited for a winter hike than the rocky trail. You continue to gain elevation until you come within view on Skyline drive, where you turn south onto the Cedar Run trail. At the 5 hour mark we start the downhill leg of the hike. At times the trail is   VERY narrow and in the winter conditions, trekking poles are a must. A number of times, the poles were the only thing that stopped a slide in to the icy waters of Cedar Run. It’s surprising how few pictures you take when you are worried about taking an unwanted winter swim. To say it was adventure coming down is an understatement. There are two stream crossings, and you study every step you are going to take, because mistakes here are unforgiving. We averaged 1. 1 mph for the entire hike with rest breaks and lunch. Could we have done it faster, sure, but safety was more of a concern, rather than speed. I can’t wait to take this hike again in the spring. Would I do it again in the winter??? I think so, but my brain may have frozen a little too! Says Bill (aka Juanvaldz) BIGGER SIZE PICTURE HERE            Map Map Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near White Oak Canyon Trail.   Trails Near White Oak Canyon Trail: Crusher Ridge Trail, Page County , 3 miles away Hannah Run Trail, Rappahannock County , 5 miles away Staunton River Trail, Madison County , 7 miles away   Camp Grounds Near White Oak Canyon Trail: Country waye RV Resort, Luray , 8 miles away The Country Place Campground, Luray , 10 miles away Camp OutBack, Luray , 10 miles away Lewis Mountain Campground, Greene County , 10 miles away Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp, Luray , 11 miles away   Whitewater Near White Oak Canyon Trail: Rose River, Madison County , 4 miles away, Class III - 2 miles long (Two miles to Robinson River) Robinson River, Madison County , 6 miles away, Class II+ - 19 miles long (Syria to Locust Dale) Rapidan River, Greene/Madison County , 8 miles away, Class II-IV - 15 miles long (Shenandoah National Park to Route 29) White Oak Run, Madison County , 9 miles away, Class V+ - 3 miles long (White Oak Fire Road to Lower White Oak Canyon Parking Lot) Shenandoah River - South Fork, Page/ Warren County , 10 miles away, Class I-II - 27.5 miles long (Route 675 to Bentonville)   Public Lands Near White Oak Canyon Trail: Shenandoah National Park, Luray - VA , 6 miles away Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Harpers Ferry - WV , 58 miles away Shenandoah River Andy Guest State Park, Virginia , 15 miles away Sky Meadows State Park, Virginia , 36 miles away   Hotels Near White Oak Canyon Trail: Days Inn Luray Shenandoah, Luray , 6 miles away Cardinal Inn By Silver Star, Luray , 6 miles away Mayneview B&B, Luray , 7 miles away Big Meadows Lodge, Luray , 7 miles away Skyland Resort, Luray , 7 miles away   Lakes Near White Oak Canyon Trail Lake Arrowhead, Page County , 3 miles away Woodstock Reservoir, Shenandoah County , 16 miles away