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1. Hawksbill Summit
Stand on the top of the highest summit in Shenandoah National Park! Get ready for stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley from 4,050 feet above sea level.
What You Need to Know
There are several different ways to reach the top of this peak, and I recommend hiking the Hawksbill Summit Loop route if you can. This loop is 2.9 miles roundtrip and gains about 860 feet in elevation. You’ll hike on the Appalachian Trail for a little while, enjoy some mountain views along the way, and see more varied terrain.
If you’d like to shorten your hike, consider taking the Upper Hawksbill Trail instead. This one is 2.1 miles roundtrip, gains about 520 feet of elevation, and is completely in the trees until you reach the summit.
I don’t recommend hiking up the Lower Hawksbill Trail because it’s quite steep, and I feel that the other trails mentioned offer a better experience reaching the mountaintop.
Take a look at this brochure for more information about these trails.
Getting Here
The Hawksbill Summit Loop begins at the Hawksbill Gap parking area, mile 45.6 on Skyline Drive. From Skyland, drive 3.2 miles south on Skyline Drive and look for the parking area on your right. To find the beginning of the trail, walk to the north end of the parking lot and follow the short spur trail to the Appalachian Trail. Turn left when you reach the Appalachian Trail and start hiking! It’s easy to take a wrong turn up here, so you’ll definitely want to take a map with you.
2. Range View Overlook
Soak in the park’s impressive and iconic Blue Ridge mountain views! At this overlook, the thick forests give way to stunning peaks that fade into the horizon.
What You Need to Know
Skyline Drive (the famous 105-mile road that runs through the park) has 70 different viewpoints, making it a little difficult to narrow down the pullouts you don’t want to miss!
The Range View Overlook is fabulous because it highlights the natural beauty of the area. You won’t see many buildings/towns from this viewpoint, and the mountains seem to go on forever.
Getting Here
This overlook is located in the northern part of the park at mile 17.1 along Skyline Drive. From the Front Royal Entrance Station, drive south on Skyline Drive for 17 miles until you see the pullout on your left.
While driving this route, you’ll also find a few pullouts that have views of the Shenandoah River if that interests you!
3. Byrd Visitor Center
Shenandoah was the first park to benefit from the men who were part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal after the Great Depression. Take a minute to learn about an important piece of history that has impacted America’s national parks in so many ways!
What You Need to Know
Visitor centers don’t usually make the can’t-miss list, but this one has an awesome exhibit on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that’s worth checking out!
The CCC built much of the national park infrastructure that we enjoy today. These young men constructed roads, trails, shelters, campgrounds, and picnic areas at parks all over the country. If you’ve been to a national park, you’ve likely seen the fruits of their labor in some form!
Because of its proximity to Washington D.C., Shenandoah was the first park to host the CCC and benefit from their work. A walk through the exhibit at the Byrd Visitor Center here is a fascinating experience and will enhance your future visits to many national parks.
Getting Here
The Byrd Visitor Center is located in the Big Meadows area of the park at mile 51 on the Skyline Drive.
4. Stony Man Mountain
Enjoy a charming stroll through the forest to reach the summit of Shenandoah’s second-highest peak. Scan the sky for falcons while you’re up here — they like to hang out among the high cliffs!
What You Need to Know
This trail is 1.6 miles and gains about 450 feet of elevation. Grab a trail guide as you begin your hike to better appreciate what you see along the way.
No pets are allowed on this one, but it’s perfect for hikers of all ages and abilities.
Getting Here
Stony Man is located in the Skyland area of the park. While driving along Skyline Drive, turn in at the north entrance to Skyland. The trailhead is on the right immediately after turning off Skyline Drive at mile marker 41.7.
The trail begins by following the Appalachian Trail for 0.4 miles but branches off after that. A map will be helpful!
Click NEXT to see sights 5-8 (including an adventurous rock scramble!)
Hi! Any suggestions for hikes that would be appropriate for a 5yr old? (AKA not somewhere they may fall off a cliff)
We take our young kids to all of the parks with us, and they’ve completely all of these activities without a problem. I suggest just working your way through the list and holding your 5 yr old’s hand as you hike!
Hello! How would you compare the views/experience between Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway? I am planning to drive through them perhaps all the way to Smoky but not sure if I could get tired of all these mountain views… they are more than 600 miles combined right?
They are pretty similar! I would choose one or the other, or smaller sections of both. I personally would not try to drive all of everything…it would start to feel a little monotonous I think :)
What hikes do you recommend for older adults—in pretty good shape (walk/run 12 miles a week) but still a little concerned about steep up and down hikes.
Anything on this list should be ok!
What area would you recommend at base camp if we are planning 2 full days in Shenandoah N.P.
I like staying somewhere near either Luray, Skyland, or Big Meadows!
How many days should someone spend if they want to do all this + old rag mountain
2-3 days!