Hazel Mountain rises 2,878 feet north of Nicholson Hollow proper, between Short Mountains and Catlett. It is not distinguished in any way and has no trail to the top and no unrestricted views from the summit. On the summit, there are only a few small glades and no signs of people ever passing through. And that solitude is the best reason to go up Hazel Mountain, exploring the true wilderness only 1.5 hours from the main metropolitan centers. However, this is not a mountain for the uninitiated and inexperienced. There are two possible routes to the top, both requiring off-trail scrambling and bushwhacking through a lot of thorny undergrowth. For that reason, it is better to hike in the winter when the bushes are less dense. From Skyline Drive, you can take the 7.5-mile White Rocks-Hazel Mountain Loop, and from outside the park, the 6-mile Hazel River-Sam's Ridge Loop. Watch out for snakes and poison ivy.

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