Our planned trip to James River State Park to stay in a cabin for four nights over the kids break was canceled an hour before we supposed to leave due to the park closing for the foreseeable future.  We acted fast and found that Douthat State Park was about to have us for two nights and we spent the first two in Charlottesville. We went apple picking at Carter’s Mountain Orchard and then hiked the Jefferson Trails on Saturday. Sunday we drove to Dauthat and hiked 2.5 miles on Beard’s Gap Trail to the top of the mountain before checking in. The next day we hiked Ross Camp Trail to Mountain Top Trail again to the top of the mountain past the overlook of Douthat lake and back again (mileage unknown). Then we relaxed around the cabin before having another fire outside at night and having to head back Tuesday morning. We enjoyed our time in the mountains!