Twelve Best Hikes in Shenandoah National Park
Hiking in Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park was established in 1935. Since then, actually even before then- people have flocked here to escape their daily life to relax and explore the beautiful blue ridge mountaintops. Skyline Drive, running 105 miles north and south, is the center piece and star of the park. It will delight you with mountain views, wildlife, and of course a plethora of hiking trails.
With over 500 miles of trails in Shenandoah National Park, there is literally a hike for everyone at every skill level. I fell in love with the hiking at Shenandoah National Park on my first visit. That visit inspired me to return to the park multiple times to continue to explore and learn. My hope is that you also find reasons to come back over and over again!
My Top 12 Hikes in Shenandoah National Park
The following are my favorite hikes in Shenandoah National Park. Some are short, and some are long. I’ve featured hikes that are dog friendly, others are not. You’ll also find easy hikes and some that are really strenuous. There are a wide variety of hikes featured for all skill levels, time restraints, ages, park locations, and personal preferences. I wanted to provide a little of everything for everyone. Enjoy!
Hawksbill Mountain
Would you like to hike to the highest peak in the park? If so, put Hawksbill on your list. At 4,050 ft, this is the highest summit in the park. Therefore, this 1.6-mile hike is extremely popular with visitors. Be prepared to share the summit with other hikers. However, the busy and popular summit is worth the trip as I believe the rock formations and views are some of the bests in the park. Just make sure you’re prepared for the 672 ft elevation gain on the way up!
Insider Tip: This is a popular sunset spot in the park. Just don’t forget your headlamp for the way back down!
Old Rag
Old Rag is by far the hardest hike on my list at 9.4 miles round trip and 2,380 ft elevation gain. It’s also probably the most famous and talked about hike in the park. This is all owed to the challenging yet rewarding rock scramble to reach the summit. Which, I find to be an absolute blast to hike!
If you’re an experienced hiker, I highly recommend taking on Old Rag. Just make sure you’re prepared-start early in the am-so the rocks aren’t too hot on your hands, make sure you have your park pass and trail pass for the day, wear stable and secure shoes, and pack extra water if it’s a hot day. After all that- enjoy this breathtaking hike! It’s one of my favorites on the list.
Insider Tip: Feeling a bit apprehensive about the rock scramble, or you simply don’t want to hike 9.4 miles and take on 2,380 ft elevation?! You don’t have to miss out on these views. Try an alternative route, the Berry Hollow route for 5.4 miles.
Stony Man
This is the sunset spot of the park. Located at the north entrance of Skyland, this is an incredibly popular hike in the park. The hike is roughly 1.6 miles, and at 4,011 feet, it is the second highest peak in Shenandoah National Park. It’s important to note that, unfortunately, this hike is not dog friendly.
The hike gets its name from the supposed “stony man” summit. Meaning the stone rising from the mountainside looks like a man. If you want to try to make out the man in the stone, head to the Stony Man Overlook at mile marker 38.5 and play a little game of I Spy!
Insider Tip: Want a bit more hiking after reaching Stony Man, tack on Little Stony Man, which I have featured next of the list.
Little Stony Man
Little Stony Man is a short and rewarding hike. At .9 miles round trip, this is a trail that individuals at all hiking levels will be able to enjoy. To start the hike, park at the Little Stony Man parking lot. The parking lot is small and fills up fast, so plan this hike for a day when the park is not too crowded.
When you reach the summit, look down to the right, and you’ll actually be able to see Skyline Drive. It’s a cool experience to see where you came from.
Insider Tip: If you’re traveling with your dog, Little Stony Man can be a great alternative to Stony Man.
Bearfence Mountain
This is absolutely my favorite hike in Shenandoah National Park. I love that it’s a short hike, under 1 mile. But my favorite part is the rock scramble to the summit. It’s an absolute blast, and you’re rewarded with 360-degree views of a few ridges at the summit (Jones, Piedmont, and Massanutten Mountain). In my opinion these are some of the best views in the park. If you enjoy the scramble at Old Rag, you’ll love this hike.
Insider Tip: This trail is not pet friendly!
Compton Peak
At some point on your Shenandoah visit, you might want a hike that offers something different than summit views. Compton Peak is a great choice because you’ll still get the gorgeous summit views, but you also get to check out some awesome rock formations on the trail.
On this 2.4-mile hike, you have the opportunity to check out a really interesting geological formation known as columnar jointing. The formation looks like giant rocks being stacked in columns. These basalt columns are actually formed the cooling of flowing lava. When the lava cools off, it contracts and starts to crack, which forms these interesting columns. It’s really an amazing site on the trail. It just reminds me how old these mountains really are! I really enjoy getting an up-close view of these amazing rock formations.
Insider Tip: Do a bit of research on basalt columns before you take on the hike, and you’ll better appreciate these rock formations. A lot of people opt out of seeing the columns or simply don’t appreciate them. I truly believe that’s a missed opportunity. Why not learn a little geology of the area while you’re out hiking?
Mary’s Rock
If you’re visiting the park on a busy weekend day, Marys Rock might be an excellent choice due to the large parking lot with trail access at Thorton Gap. This is also a very popular hike due to its close proximity to the park entrance to Shenandoah National Park at Thorton Gap (South), so you’ll most likely be sharing the summit with others. It’s a bit longer than others on the list at 3.7 miles but check out my insider tip below as there is a way to make this hike shorter.
Insider Tip: There are a couple of different ways to get to Marys Rock, so make sure to do a bit of research to determine your preferred way. A way I like, that is also a shorter way- is to start your hike from the Meadow Springs parking lot. Make sure to carefully cross Skyline Drive and walk about 30 ft south to access the trail. Look for the Meadow Springs trail. It’s a relatively small parking lot, so get there early!
Millers Head
Millers Head is a fantastic hike for those staying at Skyland as you can basically walk out your door straight to the trailhead! This is also a lesser-known hike since it’s not straight off Skyline Drive and it doesn’t have its own parking area. All of this means you’ll most likely have the trail to yourself.
The trailhead is located close to the Skyland Amphitheater on the paved road. Look for the trail post that says Millers Head. The hike itself is 1.6 miles out and back. The hike alternates from going uphill and downhill throughout. Rewarding you at the end is an observation platform where you can enjoy the stunning mountain views.
Insider Tip: If you’re not staying at Skyland and don’t have access to simply walk to the trail you can park at the Skyland Ampitheater to access the trail.
Rapidan Camp
If you enjoy history and nature, this National Historic Landmark is a must on your hiking list. President Herbert Hoover and first Lady Lou Henry Hoover established Rapidan Camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains as a place to relax and retreat from daily life and you can visit the camp yourself! “Camp Hoover” was used by the president not just for recreational purposes with his family but also to hold important meetings as a government retreat. Here is information from the National Park on the 4-mile hike to the historical camp. The hike is rather peaceful, and I’ve spotted deer a few times on the trails. It’s always a very interesting piece of history so I encourage you to explore.
Insider Tip: If you don’t want to hike to Rapidan Camp you may have the option of taking a shuttle from the Byrd Visitor Center (depending on the time of year that you visit). You can also tour inside the Brown House and the Prime Minister’s Cabin on this ranger-led tour. Check out more information on the Rapidan Camp tour.
Hightop Mountain
This is a great hike if you’re entering Shenandoah National Park from the Swift Run Gap Entrance as it’s roughly 2 miles south of the entrance at Mile Marker 6t’s on my list. If you want a good workout, blue ridge views, but a bit of solitude this is your hike. 3-mile out and back, 912 feet elevation gain, and those breathtaking views, climb Hightop!
Insider Tip: At 3,587 ft this is the highest summit south of the Swift Run Gap entrance. Therefore, if you’re only visiting the southern park of Shenandoah National Park, this might be another reason to put this hike on your list.
Blackrock-Big Meadow Lodge
I would call this a bit more of a walk than a hike at 0.2 miles to reach the viewpoint, but it still makes the list because it provides great views and non-hikers are sure to be able to complete this! It’s great for families with small children, individuals limited on time, people who aren’t hikers, and those staying at Big Meadow Lodge since it’s only a 10-minute walk from the Lodge.
The payout is big for the minimal effort and time you’ll have to put in. You’ll enjoy views of Hawksbill and Stony Man, as well as the town of Luray below. The elevation gain is only 60 feet, and this is the highest point on Big Meadow. So why not explore?!
Insider Tip: There is another hike, further south at mile 84.8, which is also called Blackrock (it’s also next on the list). Make sure you select the right one. This one is at Big Meadow Lodge.
Blackrock-Mile 84.8
If you’re entering Shenandoah National Park from the southern entrance this is a great hike to start with as it’s in the southern district of the park. The views are beautiful and you’re only covering 1.8 miles on the loop trail. A lot of people rate this as one of the best short hikes in the park. I’ve seen multiple families with small children on this hike.
Insider Tip: One of the most impressive things at the summit is the giant pile of rocks! These rocks look black because they are covered in a type of lichen that is a grayish blackish color (rock tripe). Really cool, but make sure not to walk on the lichen rocks so you don’t disturb the growth.
Additional Resources
- Are you exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway too? Check out the park resources.
- Plan on staying in the park. Check out the park lodging options.
- Best Hikes in another pet friendly National Park- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- From National Geographics-Everything to Know About Shenandoah National Park
- Learn about the history of Shenandoah National Park, especially how families were displaced to create the park.
Get out there a hike Shenandoah National Park. Adventure Awaits!