Hiking at Shenandoah National Park, VA
  • When: CANCELLED for 10/19/2024
  • Where: Shenandoah National Park ( Main Website | Map Website )
        North Entrance: ( Driving Direction )
        17157 Skyline Dr
        Front Royal, VA 22630
  • Fee: Children under 16 are free
    Standard Pass: (1 vehicle with all passengers for 7 consecutive days): $30
    Annual Pass: (pass holder + 3 adults in the same vehicle for a year): $55
  • Official maps:
    1. Current map |
    2. Previous Map (pre-2013, easier to read) |
  • Maps to be used to identify Point of Interest during our trip.
    1. North District
    2. Central District
Hiking the Hawksbill Mountain
  • Hawksbill Mountain stands at 4,051 feet, and is the highest peak in Shenandoah National Park.
  • From the Upper Hawksbill Parking Lot, take the gravely-dirt Upper Hawksbill Trail to the summit.
    This trail is void of big rocks and is reasonably wide for 2 people to hike side by side. It also provides space for hikers to pass each other easily.
  • The first .3 mile is a gradual uphill, followed by .3 mile of relatively flat and a slight downhill.
    At .65 miles, the trails turns 90 degrees to the right and the trail incline becomes steep and remains so until the tops.
  • Prior to the summit, the path passes 2 mile markers.
    The first is on the left, mile .85, marking the Salamander Trail.
    The second is on the right, at the 1 mile mark. It is at this point the Lower Hawksbill Trail merges into the Upper Hawksbill Trail.
  • Walk past the Byrds Nest 2 Shelter and turn right at the top.
    Pass the opening of the shelter and follow the path sign to the viewing platform.
  • Return to the parking area via the same route.

    See trail map and planned route at bottom of page
What to bring/wear
  • Hiking shoes or shoes with good traction.
  • Hiking stick/pole
  • Hat
  • Water
  • Pack your lunch (to eat at the Summit during our hike)
  • Compass
  • Raincoat
  • Jacket/Hoodies
Schedule
TBD
The schedule below is our best estimate.
TimeActivity
8:00am @ Liberty Middle School
8:00am - 8:15am Car pool assignment and last minute update
(15 minutes)
8:15am - 9:15am Driving to Shenandoah National Park - North Entrance. | using I-66
(1 hour, 50 miles)
9:15am @ North Entrance paying for Entrance Fee
9:15am - 9:30am Driving to Gooney Run Overlook | on Skyline Dr. , before Mile Marker #7
(15 minutes, 7 miles)
9:30am @ Gooney Run Overlook
9:30am - 10:00am First Activity: Identify 3 mountains: Buck, Long Mountain, Round Mountain
(30 minutes)
10:00am - 11:10am Driving to Upper Hawksbill Trailhead Parking | on Skyline Dr. , before Mile Markers #47
(1 hour and 10 minutes, 40 miles)
11:10am @ Upper Hawksbill Trailhead Parking Lot
11:10am - 11:45pm Second Activity: Hiking to Hawksbill Summit | on Upper Hawksbill Trail
(35 minutes , 1 mile)
11:45am @ Hawksbill Summit - Arrive
11:45am - 12:15pm Third Activity: Identify landmarks/terrains with the dial at Summit
(30 minutes, reading map and locate landmarks/terrains)
12:15pm - 12:30pm Having lunch at the summit
(15 minutes, lunch)
12:30pm @ Hawksbill Summit - Leaving
12:30pm - 1:00pm Hiking back to parking lot using the same Upper Hawksbill Trail
(30 minutes, 1 mile)
1:00pm @ Upper Hawksbill Trailhead Parking Lot
This is only an estimate. We may be finished by 2:00pm at the latest.
The drive back to Liberty Middle School , (through rt 211, then rt 15) should take about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Shenandoah National Park Map

North District (Mile Marker 0 - 35)


Central District (Mile Marker 29 - 66)


Hawksbill Area Trails


Upper Hawksbill Trail Route