Stream-side loft/guest house in lovely forest setting and steps away from trailhead to George Washington National Forest. Peaceful and private, this new, large 720 sq ft (24 by 30) studio is a charming, comfy and secluded getaway. During the day go hiking or just relax. At night open the windows and let the babbling stream and soothing forest sounds lull you to sleep. Just 7/10th of a mile off rt 33 and 11 miles from Harrisonburg. Internet, Netflix. A meditative retreat and home base from which to explore the area.
This newly constructed, secluded, second story Loft (garage below) is about 200' from the main house. It is accessed by a flight of stairs leading to a very small deck overlooking the beautiful stream and woods. At the base of the stairs is a small patio seating area with a gas grill. The loft is equipped with 2 burner hotplate, sink, microwave, fridge, coffee maker, toaster and necessaries for making and serving basic meals. Internet connected. Netflix on smart TV. Bathroom with stall shower. Smoke-free both inside the loft and on the grounds. Sorry, no pets of any kind. The space is set up to sleep two: Individuals and couples only for overnight stays IMPORTANT: Be sure to print off the detailed directions provided further below before you come, as you may lose cell phone coverage in the area (depending on carrier) and your GPS will probably not bring you all the way to the property.
DIRECTIONS: From Harrisonburg take rt. 33 West for approximately 10 miles. Turn left on Rawley Springs rd. Follow this hard surface road for 7/10 mile. At 7/10 of a mile you will come to a small bridge on your right that crosses the stream. There will be a sign that says “Highlands of Rawley Springs” - Don’t go over the bridge! Rather, go straight onto the gravel road. The Loft is first building on right. Go past the loft and park in the TWO-CAR gravel space in front of the big house. Be sure to leave space for a second car. (You are welcome to unload in the parking area by the loft). Welcome!
The Place:
Rawley Springs is a lovely little community of houses and cabins. Our guesthouse is surrounded by forest and therefore apart from the cabins - quite secluded. In the 1800's there was a destination resort hotel here that was renowned for the "healing waters" emerging from the many springs in the area. At the foot of the Allegheny range, and adjacent to hundreds of thousands of acres of GW National Forest, the loft feels a world away from the hustle and bustle. The grounds are planted with azaleas, rhododendrons and day lilies that are spectacular in the spring. Summer is five to ten degrees cooler than Harrisonburg due to the higher elevation, the tree canopy and stream. Great for hiking. Fall foliage is magnificent and is a week ahead of lower elevations in the Shenandoah Valley. Winter is a magical time when the trees are snow covered and the air crisp and clear. The gravel road dead-ends just past the property at a trailhead for the National forest. From the trailhead one could walk for 20 miles into West Virginia and not see another structure (you may have to get your feet wet crossing if the stream is up).
Guest access
Guests are welcome to wander the grounds and garden areas and access the woods and stream for relaxing, meditating, wading, painting, writing or whatever nourishes your spirit. To get down to the stream follow the footpath at the base of the loft stairs along the hillside toward the big house and find the stairs cut into the hillside on your right. Follow the path down along the stream. The path goes back up toward the loft and then back around- perfect for a walking meditation. (Deck off of the back of the main house is reserved for owners).
Guest interaction
We send booked guests a code for accessing the loft on their own. We often do not see our guests unless they contact us in the nearby house if they wish. There are times, however, when we may be traveling ourselves - you can always text with any issues or concerns.
Neighborhood overview
ENJOYING RAWLEY SPRINGS THE PROPERTY: Feel free to wander around the property or hang out in the garden and have a picnic on the grass. In the spring everything is blooming and green, and in the fall all the ground plants are turning brown as the leaves come into full color. Please leave the large back deck off the main house for the use of the owners when they are on the property (we inform guests when we will be away). Otherwise, you are welcome to access the deck at your pleasure. THE STREAM: The stream flows directly out of George Washington National forest. To access the stream, find the path at the bottom of the loft stairs that runs along the embankment toward the big house. Just before the deck of the big house to your right by the woodpile you will find stairs cut into the hillside leading to the lower area and the stream. The stream might be a trickling brook if it’s been dry, or a raging river if there has been a big storm. Most often it is somewhere in between, but be careful – the rocks are always slippery. It’s fun to hang out on the big flat rocks in the middle of the stream directly across from the deck of the loft and have a picnic. If the steam is high enough you may wish to wade or lounge in the pools by the large rocks across from the loft. If you are a fly-fisher, the stream is home to native brook trout (about 6”max). Catch and release please. The path that runs along the stream climbs back up the bank and forms an elliptical walking circuit back along the flat section – great for walking meditation circuit. There are chairs and a bench scattered about for those who just wish to relax in the healing embrace of nature.
GW NATIONAL FOREST: If you face the gravel road and go right, you will quickly come to the end of the road and the beginning of GW National forest. Go straight past the end of the cul-de-sac and you are at the trail head. There is a beautiful little wading pool just steps down from the road, and miles and miles of trails begin just across from the stream. Just over the stream and to the left is a beautiful little picnic spot on the rocks across from a steep rock wall. A really great hang-out spot. The trail into the forest is marked on the trees by yellow squares, and pretty much follows the stream, sometimes crossing over. You can’t get lost if you remember that the stream flows towards home – it will bring you back to the cul-de-sac. The trail presents some really lovely and intimate views and goes for miles and miles. Remember to be back before dark!
JULIET'S TOWER: Also at the end of the cul-de-sac, immediately to the left of the metal bar which marks the head of the trail, will be a path that goes up the side of the steep hill. About 200’ above the road you can hunt around to find the path that runs to your right and eventually to a long, tall, granite wall and on to “Juliet’s Tower" a vertical rock spire. You have to be a good rock climber to get up on the 25' tower itself, but the path along the rock wall is pretty cool too with a nice view. Well worth the effort.
LOWER RAWLEY: If you face the gravel road and turn left you will walk out the way you drove in. It’s a nice walk into the little neighborhood of “Lower Rawley” (see drawing). (By the way - You will pass a bridge over the stream with a sign for “Highlands of Rawley Springs” that is just down from the loft. You can go to the middle of the bridge to get a view, but please don’t go all the way over the bridge and up into that neighborhood- a troll lives under that bridge. There are “residents and guests” only postings, and it’s not worth the hassle anyway to walk up that big hill). Further on down the road, there is a hard-to-see path that is on the left side of the road, just past and above the first big newer house on the left, that leads down into Lower Rawley. Go down that path into Lower Rawley. If you miss it, no worries, just keep going past the mailboxes and little stone spring house and down the hill. Take a hairpin left on Gum Run Trail which brings you into Lower Rawley from the other end. In the 1920’s locals began building cabins in Lower Rawley and you are our guest and therefore free to walk around the troll-free neighborhood and enjoy this pretty area. Gum Run Trail dead-ends at the aforementioned newer house, and the path you missed is now on your left and runs along the fenced-in yard with the chicken coop and big black dog that barks a lot but is harmless. There may be goats in that yard as well. You can pet them. Follow the path up to the paved road and turn right to get back to the loft. In the 1800’s Rawley Springs was a retreat renowned for its “healing waters.". Fires twice destroyed the main hotels that were built – as you walk around you can still see the stone foundations of the hotels above the mailboxes next the small stone springhouse.