I actually did this hike last Tuesday, but I've been too lazy/busy to write anything until now.
In the interest of full disclosure, I guess I should get this out of the way: I cheated a little on this segment. I took a route away from the road from the beginning of the hike at the visitor center to park headquarters around mile 3. Instead of following the road, I took a longer route along a low ridge, the Rock Creek trail. It added a mile or so to my total distance, but the views I got as a result of climbing some 400 feet up were worth it.
 |
| To the south |
 |
| And to the north |
