Devil's Bathtub

For Labour Day weekend, we were going to Mammoth Cave National Park. I had read about Devil's Bathtub in a 5 hidden gems of Virginia article. Devil's Bathtub was on the way to Mammoth Cave National Park and it was a perfect place to explore on Friday.

Devil's Bathtub (+36.81768, -82.62490) is in Scott County. When looking it up online, the articles talk about how it isn't a typical hike, lots of scaling rocks and boulders, water crossing and not a well marked path. This is all true, but if you pay attention, you can stay on the path. We went off course once, but not very far, before we realised there were no more markers or a path, we turned around, crossed a bed and were on our way. It was a lot of fun navigating the course, looking for the markers, step stoning and exploring! :)

This is the marker you want to look out for, yellow rectangles on trees:

We were lucky that it had been dry for a few days before our hike. The water crossings didn't have too much water and were fairly easily to cross. From what I read online, one should be prepared to get their feet wet. We didn't have to worry about that much.

Crossing 1

Crossing 2

Crossing 3

Crossing 4

Crossing 5

Crossing 6

Crossing 7

Crossing 8

Crossing 9

Crossing 10

Crossing 11

The path was not necessarily obvious at all times, but there was generally a semblance of a trail. This is the first time we have hiked in the US on a trail like this. It felt more outdoorsy than previous experiences...

 

You know you are on the trail when you see tree trunks chopped away for you like this :)

And after, walking 2 miles, you get treated with this! :)

The water is frigid! We both went in, but to be fully in the water and swim around was difficult and not really possible for too long! I jumped it, and the cold just took my breath away, I swam out so fast!!!! The good thing was that it was so warm outside, that as soon as I was out I was comfortable. I went back and jumped 4 more times. It was hard to resist! 

So much more comfortable being in the water like this than fully submerged! Brrrr

After we enjoyed the pool, we climbed behind and found Devil's Bathtub!!!!

There were a few people there, so it took a while for me to get the photos I wanted. Until then, this was a good spot! :)

Devil's bathtub was so beautiful! Nature has an amazing way of creating the unexpected!