Great Woodland Adventure Hike

At A Glance

TODO: #32 Boilerplate

0.6 mi round-trip

Difficulty Rating: 0.74
Climb: Climbs Gently
Tread Condition: Graveled
Highest Elevation: 1570 ft
Climb Total: 90 ft
Configuration: Loop
Starting Point: The Meadow, Grady’s Animal Discovery Den

The Great Woodland Adventure trail is quite a unique experience, providing kids with such a variety of play and learning opportunities, like a half-mile long learning playground. You'll look for a variety of forest creatures of all shapes and sizes, represented by well-placed figures which might require a little hunting to locate, giving the little ones motivation to keep going to see what's next.

There are 12 main discovery stations along the trail, each spotlighting a particular creature or habitat for kids to explore. On easy-to-read signs, Grady the Groundhog, the Park’s mascot, illustrates how his forest friends live, including chipmunks, frogs, owls and butterflies, spiders, turtles and birds of prey. Larger-than-life wood and metal sculptures lie along the trail and in the woods, bringing an extra dimension of discovery to the path.

The trail's literature - both the brochures you can bring with you as well as signs strategically placed along the trail - is filled with interesting information, proving that Grady the Groundhog, the park's famouse February prognosticator, knows more about the natural world he lives in than just when Spring will arrive.

Starting at the upper end of the Meadows, beside the Grady’s Groundhog Animal Discovery Den, the trail is marked by a big arch entrance sign. On the deck of the Discovery Den, stop and pick up the current TRACK Trails brochures that help kids learn more about the Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains while on the trail. The trail is easy to follow, with only a few steps and a bridge or two in places. Plus, it's short enough that even if the little ones conk out, adults can safely carry them back to the car without too much trouble.

Don't forget to check out Grady’s Animal Discovery Den after hiking the trail! Grady’s Den is home to lots of forest friends, like reptiles and amphibians. There’s plenty of information available to learn about them inside the Den. And finally, the enclosures out back are home to Greta the Groundhog and her pal Fionna, a Virginia Opossum. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

For those with older children looking for a bit more of a hike, you can take the Four Seasons trail across the street up to the main Chimney area instead of driving. Trails in that area link with all others on this side of the park.