After taking time to enjoy the view, continue around the boulders to follow the Appalachian Trail. At the .8-mile mark, turn left onto the Trayfoot Mountain Trail. adventures and follow local regulations. Here you’ll find drinks, snacks, gifts and restrooms. There are two route options, both are under 2 miles and are suitable for hikers of all experience levels. Follow the AT south for about a half mile to Blackrock Summit. With endless mountain views, wildflowers, and a sweeping panoramic, the Blackrock Summit Trail packs a mean punch in just 1 mile. You can begin on Skyline Drive at Blackrock Summit Parking, Dundo Picnic area or Browns Gap Road. For this hike, kids will choose a trail name, examine animal habitats and write a poem about the hike. Upon reaching the junction with the Blackrock Hut Road-Trayfoot Mountain Trail, turn left to leave the Appalachian Trail and follow the yellow-blazes back to the parking lot. Please explore responsibly! From the Blackrock Summit parking area, near mile 85 on Skyline Drive, follow the Appalachian Trail to the bouldery summit and gaze upon mountains to the north. Set in the South District of Shenandoah National Park, Blackrock Summit is one of several hikes I completed in one day that were a few short miles apart on Skyline Drive. The trail then wrapped around the talus slope. Jenkins Gap Overlook - 2355 ft. 5. In the camping area, several cars and trucks were crushed by falling trees, however, no injuries were sustained. Because of the great views and the short hike this is a VERY popular hike, and it is great for families. I have taken my two boys (1 and 4) on this hike with no problem. A talus slope (essentially a massive sloping field of large rocks) appears at the .5-mile mark. From the Blackrock Summit boulder field, this leaves a little more elevation gain to the highpoint. I started at the Blackrock Summit Parking area. Continue on the trail and take a left at the sign post just beyond the summit area to return to the parking lot. Blackrock Summit has by far the best view in the southern district of Shenandoah National Park. The parking area at milepost 84.4 is quite large, able to accommodate more than a dozen cars. Print out the dedicated adventure brochure ahead of time. Do NOT park near Blackrock Gap (you will pass this first). Heads up as there are a couple of massive downed trees (but also ways to get around them). Blackrock Summit is located off Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, and offers a short, gentle incline to incredible 180 views, and a talus slope that is fun for kids and adults alike. There are many ways to reach the summit of Blackrock, but the shortest begins at the Blackrock Summit Parking Area, near mile marker 85 on Skyline Drive. We made our way up the fire road to the Appalachian Trail and followed it a half mile to the huge boulders at the Blackrock talus slope, which one of my friends realized he had actually visited as a kid. If you park at the Blackrock parking area, it’s only a .5 mile walk to the summit. Park at Brown Gap parking lot (mm 83) on Skyline Drive & cross the road to begin the hike to the summit. From Brown Gap to the summit and back is a 5.1 mile adventure. Once the trees open up, you will be … Cross Skyline Drive and take the Appalachian Trail Northbound for about 1.3 miles. In a little less than a mile, the trail will open up and you will see a rocky talus slope (rock piles) to your right and left. A slightly longer, 1.6 mile circuit, offers 445-feet of elevation gain and a walk through a boulder field. The second hike adds steps on the Trayfoot Mountain Trail. You can find groceries and supplies there. Directions to the Blackrock Summit: Starting at the Blackrock Summit parking area (mile marker 84.4 on Skyline Drive), follow the Appalachian Trail south from the far end of the parking lot, so take a left. The second way is a 3.7 mile hike o... Moormans River Overlook is one of the few eastern facing overlooks in Shenandoah National Park’s Southern District, which makes this a prime location for watching the sun rise when in this part of the park. A mostly flat path hugs the mountain, enabling you to savor the views without a rock scramble. This area is used as a school bus turn around and should not be used for parking. The trail then wrapped around the talus slope. To the west of Skyline Drive, the area is developed, with a lodge, a restaurant, and a ranger station. Given that all these trails can be traveled in either direction, this loop can be reversed. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. This article was originally published on Mathprofhiker’s Hiking Blog . We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. This alternative loop option tops out at 1.8 miles. Range View Overlook - 2810 ft. 8. In a row, I did Turk Mountain (milepost 93.5, 2.5 miles), Calvary & Chimney Rocks (milepost 90, 3.2 miles) and Blackrock Summit (milepost 84.4, 1.8 miles). For the short trail, park at Blackrock Summit Parking (milepost 84.8), which is very near the summit, and trek 1/2 mile and about 200 feet to the rocky summit. Whether you come on vacation or as a Virginia native, in the off-season or at the height of vacation season, a visit to Shenandoah National Park offers a special treat. Big Meadows itself is a wide meadow east of Skyline Drive at an elevation of about 3500'. Parking at MP 84.4 on the Skyline Drive. I think you’ll agree that the views, which now include Trayfoot Mountain, are even more spectacular than those at Blackrock Summit. Here you can treat yourself to wide-reaching views across the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain. The other two are Limberlost Trail and Fox Hollow Trail. As the chain and this trail’s wide path give away, this section of trail doubles as a fire road. The parking area is located just before US276 makes a hard left to make its steep ascent of the Blue Ridge. When this trail meets the AT at the 1.2-mile mark, it becomes the Blackfoot Hut Road-Trayfoot Mountain Trail. This hilltop consists of a rocky, talus slope with vistas of the southwest. The adventure brochure also includes a trail map for the 1.0-mile loop hike, which follows along the Appalachian Trail and Blackrock Hut Road-Trayfoot Mountain Trail. Make sure you are parking at the Blackrock Summit parking area and not Blackrock Gap (which you will pass right before Blackrock Summit). Shenandoah Overlook. An informative display is located at the end of the parking area with the AT just a few yards further west. Upon reaching the summit via the Appalachian Trail, as described above, rather than continuing around the boulders at the summit, turn right at the trail post to continue on the Blackrock Spur Trail. 31 visitors have checked in at Blackrock Summit Parking Area. Continue through the boulder field until you reach the junction with Trayfoot Mountain Trail, then turn left and follow the yellow-blazes back to the parking lot. Great, short hike, with a great view. Thorofare Mountain Overlook - 3595 ft. 4. Drive North on the Skyline Drive for about 15-20 minutes to the Blackrock Summit Parking area at milepost 85. Also, picnic tables. 10. This little known waterfall is located close to the more popular waterfall, Doyles River Falls. For the longer trail, the trailhead is at milepost 87.4 at Blackrock Gap (Elevation 2,320 feet). I told you it was a short and sweet hike. ... From the parking lot at MP 81.1 on the Skyline Drive, take the trailhead to the left of the sign with the trail map. Immediately you'll cross over the Appalachian Trail-stay straight on the blue-blazed trail to Doyles Falls. For a trail map, visit here. It’s impressive to see such a tall jumble of rocks! Alternatively, for those (me) who want a second pass across Blackrock Summit, turn left onto the Appalachian Trail for big rocks and booming views in another .1-mile. Blackrock Summit Parking Area - Skyline Drive in Shenandoah. The trail is straight forward and simple, with beautiful views at the peak. Thorofare Mountain Overlook - 3595 ft. 4. Continue ahead on the blue trail, which crosses Ben's Bridge (a wooden footbridge) and climbs along a picturesque stream, with cascades and waterfalls, following an old woods road. The shortest option, a 1-mile circuit, follows the Appalachian Trail from the Blackrock Summit parking area, which is just north of mile marker 85 on Skyline Drive. In about half a mile, the red trail ends at a junction with the blue-blazed Reservoir Trail. Trailhead at Blackrock Summit parking area This hike starts on the Trayfoot Mountain Trail, which leaves the southeast corner of the parking area at an information board and yellow chain that blocks vehicle access. Blackrock is one of our long time favorite trails in this section of the park. Continue around the mass of boulders to find equally awe-inspiring views to the south. The 1.8-mile loop hike took me just over 45 minutes to complete, including time spent ogling the glorious mountain and valley vistas. From Brown Gap to the summit and back is a 5.1 mile adventure. 7. To pick up Blackrock Trail #447 take a look at the info kiosk's map or the one you printed here. This mile marker is … ...to the Blackrock Summit parking area A Shenandoah National Park entry fee of $20 per vehicle, $15 per motorcycle or $10 per person is valid for seven consecutive days. This 270 degree view is a great spot in the park to watch both sunrises and sunsets. Following the Appalachian Trail route, this trail is located in Shenandoah National Park. If you do Blackrock Summit, I also suggest the Trayfoot Mountain add-on. Thankfully, it’s also a plain easy hike, and one that wows with a massive field of – yes, black rocks – and wide-open views. This short, easy hike in the valley at the cul-de-sac here continue. Of Shenandoah National park up the at at the cul-de-sac here or continue on Trayfoot!, the trail is an blackrock summit parking area walk to the Summit and back is a mile... 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