Hiking Trails on the Skyline Drive

Hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy stunning scenery found in the Virginia Shenandoah Valley. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail both traverse through the area creating some great hiking trails, all of which are well maintained and marked. Filled with waterfalls and pristine mountain streams, the hiking trails in Virginia are some of the most beautiful in the southeast. The Parkway offers hikers of all skill levels the opportunity to explore more than 100 varied and intriguing trails in North Carolina and Virginia. Meandering alongside and crossing the scenic motor road, the trails provide a close-up look at some of the most beautiful wilderness in the country. Many trails wind their way through unique biological and geological environments.

 Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Some trails lead to a waterfall or viewpoint; others penetrate deep into the forest and wilderness. Whenever you hike be sure to wear sturdy shoes and take plenty of water.


Skyline Drive Hiking Trails

Milepost
Trail 
Mileage*
0.1
Dickey Ridge Trail (Overgrown fields, small stream)
2.7
4.6
Fox Hollow Trail (2 homesites, cemetery. Self-guiding, loop hike.)
1.2
5.1
Snead Farm (Orchard, barn)
1.6
9.2
Lands Run Gap to Hickerson Hollow (Homesites)
2.2
9.2
Lands Run Gap Road (series of small cascades)
1.3
10.4
Compton Gap to Fort Windham Rocks (geology)
0.8
10.4
Compton Gap to Indian Run Spring (solitude)
1.0
10.4
Compton Gap to Indian Run Spring & Fort Windham Rocks (Loop hike)
2.6
10.4
Compton Gap to Compton Peak (Views, geology-columnar jointing)
2.4
14.2
Jenkins Gap/Mt. Marshall/Bluff Trail (Outstanding views, loop hike)
12.8
15.9
North Marshall (Views)
1.3
15.9
South Marshall (Views)
1.6
17.6
Gravel Springs Hut (Loop hike)
0.8
17.6
Big Devils Stairs (Spectacular canyon, stream, cascades)
5.7
19.4
Keyser Run Road/Piney Branch/A.T. (Views, loop hike)
6.8
19.4
Keyser Run Road/Little Devils Stairs (Canyon, stream, cascades)
4.8
19.4
Keyser Run/Little Devils Stairs (Canyon, stream, cascades, cemetery, loop)
7.7
20.4
Hogback Summit (Views, loop hike.)
1.0
20.9
Hogback Overlook/A.T.  (Views, loop hike)
0.7
20.9
Hogback Summit from Hogback Overlook (views)
0.4
21.1
Overall Run Falls (Semi-loop to highest waterfall in park, views)
6.5
22.1
Piney Ridge/Piney Branch (Cemetery, homesite, stream, falls, loop hike)
8.3
22.2
Traces Nature Trail (Old homesteads. Self-guiding loop hike.)
1.7
22.2
Knob Mountain/Elkwallow (Loop hike)
5.8
22.2
Mathews Arm Campground to Overall Run Falls (93-foot falls)
3.8
24.1
Knob Mountain/Jeremys Run (Stream, cascades, falls, loop hike.)
11.7
24.1
Jeremys Run/Neighbor Mountain/A.T. (Stream, falls, loop hike.)
14.0
28.2
Byrds Nest Shelter No. 4. (Views)
0.7
28.5
Beahms Gap/A.T. (Loop hike)
0.4
30.1
Pass Mountain Overlook (View, loop hike)
0.25
31.6
Panorama to Pass Mountain A.T. Hut (Loop hike)
3.4
31.6
Panorama to Marys Rock (Views)
3.7
33.5
Buck Hollow Trail (Stream)
6.2
33.5
Hazel Mountain Trail (falls, small natural amphitheater)
5.3
33.5
Marys Rock via Meadow Spring Trail (Views)
2.9
35.1
Hannah Run/Nicholson Hollow (Mountaineer cabin ruins, stream)
11.4
35.1
Hannah Run/Hot-Short/Catlett Mtn (Mountaineer cabin ruins, stream, loop hike)
9.1
36.4
Jewel Hollow Overlook to The Pinnacle (Views)
2.1
36.4
Jewel Hollow Overlook to Panorama via The Pinnacle & Marys Rock (Views)
10.6
37.9
Corbin Cabin (Mountaineer cabins, cemetery)
2.9
37.9
Corbin Cabin/A.T. (Mountaineer cabins, cemetery, loop hike)
4.3
38.4
Nicholson Hollow (Mountaineer cabin ruins, stream, cascades, pools)
11.6
39.1
Little Stony Man (Panoramic views, geology)
0.9
39.1
Stony Man (Panoramic views, geology)
4.0
41.7
Stony Man Nature Trail (Views, self-guided loop hike)
1.6
41.7
Passamaquoddy Trail/A.T. to Stony Man (Views, loop hike)
3.5
42.5
Millers Head (Views from observation platform)
1.6
42.6
White Oak Canyon (Spectacular gorge, stream, 86-foot waterfall)
4.6
43.0
Limberlost Trail (Loop hike)
1.3
43.0
Old Rag Fire Road to Robertson Mountain (Views from 3296-foot summit)
6.2
44.4
Limberlost via Crescent Rock Trail (Semi-loop hike)
3.3
44.4
Limberlost/A.T./Crescent Rock Trail (Loop hike)
4.6
45.6
Cedar Run Falls (rocky gorge, 34-foot falls)
3.5
45.6
Cedar Run/White Oak Canyon (2 rugged canyons, 9 waterfalls, loop hike)
7.3
45.6
Hawksbill Summit via Lower Hawksbill Trail (Views from highest point in park)
1.7
45.6
Hawksbill Summit via A.T. (Outstanding views, loop hike)
2.9
46.7
Hawksbill Summit (Outstanding views)
2.1
46.7
Skyland-Big Meadows/AT/Hawksbill Summit (Homesite, falls, views, loop hike)
9.7
49.4
A.T. below Fishers Gap Overlook (Loop hike)
0.3
49.4
Fishers Gap to Rose River Falls (67-foot waterfall)
2.7
49.4
Rose River Falls/Dark Hollow/Hogcamp Branch (67-foot falls, loop hike)
4.0
49.4
Fishers Gap to Davids Spring (Homesite)
1.8
50.7
Dark Hollow Falls (71-foot high waterfall)
1.4
51.0
Big Meadows (Beautiful meadow, wildflowers)
5.0
51.0
Story of the Forest Nature Trail (Self-guiding loop hike)
1.8
51.2
Big Meadows Lodge to Blackrock (Views)
0.4
51.2
Big Meadows Amphitheater to Lewis Falls (falls, views, loop hike)
3.3
51.4
Lewis Falls (81-foot high falls, views)
2.5
52.8
Rapidan Camp via Mill Prong Trail (Historic site, stream, cascades)
4.1
52.8
Rapidan Camp/Laurel Prong/Hazeltop (Cascades, historic site, loop hike)
7.4
56.4
Bearfence Summit (Rock scramble, geology, views)
0.8
56.4
Bearfence Summit (Views, loop hike)
1.2
59.5
Upper Pocosin Mission (ruins)
1.9
59.5
Pocosin Mission/South River/A.T. (ruins, cemetery, falls, loop hike)
8.5
62.8
South River Falls (83-foot waterfall)
2.6
62.8
South River Falls/fire road/A.T. (Loop hike)
3.3
66.7
Hightop Summit (Outstanding views from 3585-foot summit)
3.0
68.6
Hightop Summit (Outstanding views from 3585-foot summit)
3.7
76.2
Rocky Mount Summit (Views)
6.9
76.2
Rocky Mount/Gap Run Trail (Views, loop hike)
9.8
76.9
Rocky Mountain saddle (Views)
3.9
76.9
Big Run Portal via Brown Mountain (Views, stream, loop hike)
9.9
77.5
Ivy Creek Overlook to Ivy Creek (View, stream)
2.8
77.5
Ivy Creek Overlook to Loft Mountain summit (Stream, views)
6.4
79.4
Deadening Nature (Spectacular overlook)
1.3
79.5
Frazier Discovery Trail (Self-guided loop hike)
1.4
79.5
Loft Mountain Wayside: Loft Mountain summit via A.T. (Views, loop hike)
2.7
79.5
Loft Mountain Summit from Campstore (Views)
3.5
79.5
Loft Mountain Amphitheater; Big Flat Mountain Hike (Views. Loop hike)
1.8
79.5
Loft Mountain Amphitheater to viewpoint on A.T. (Views)
1.5
81.1
Doyles River (upper falls)
2.7
81.1
Doyles River/Jones Run Trail (Three waterfalls)
9.6
81.1
Doyles River/Jones Run/A.T. (Three waterfalls – loop hike)
7.8
81.2
Head of Big Run (open forest hike)
4.4
81.2
Big Run Loop Trail/A.T. (Loop hike)
5.8
83.0
Browns Gap/Doyles River Upper Falls/A.T. (Waterfalls, loop hike)
5.3
83.0
Browns Gap/fire road/Doyles River/A.T. (3 waterfalls. Loop hike)
6.5
83.0
Browns Gap/Rockytop/Big Run Portal (Views, loop hike)
14.6
84.1
Jones Run Falls (42-foot waterfall)
3.6
84.8
Blackrock Summit (Views)
1.0
87.4
Blackrock Springs (Historic site)
2.2
90.0
Chimney Rock (Views)
3.4
90.0
Chimney Rock/Riprap Hollow/Wildcat Ridge (Views, stream, cascades, pool)
14.2
90.0
Chimney Rock/Riprap Hollow/Wildcat Ridge/A.T. (Views, cascades, loop hike)
9.8
92.1
Wildcat Ridge/ Riprap Hollow (Stream, cascades, pool)
6.8
94.1
Turk Mountain Summit (Views from 2,981-foot peak)
2.2
96.8
Jarman Gap (Loop hike)
0.5
96.8
Jarman Gap to Beagle Gap (Views, meadow)
5.4
99.5
Beagle Gap to Calf Mountain summit (Views, meadow)
2.1
99.5
Beagle Gap to Bear Den Mountain summit (Views, meadow)
1.2

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