5. In another few steps (.05-mile), there’s another opening to a viewing area on the left-hand side of the trail. Continue to the right to stay on the path to the summit. Instead, you’ll notice a mild ascent, then a flat section, then a mild ascent (repeat, repeat). I started my hike just before sunrise and I had the trail to myself. However, it’s worth noting that there are three routes to the top, and the shortest is not necessarily the least challenging. I imagine this is because it’s just .8 mile to the reach the top on the summit hike, but 1.95 miles to the top on the loop hike. 3. Nearby Attractions: Luray-Hawksbill Greenway; Big Meadows Lodge; New Market Battlefield State Historical Park; Endless Caverns —STONY MAN LOOP— Length: 3.7-mile loop. Hawksbill Gap Parking is at the trailhead between mileposts 45 and 46. Hawksbill mountain is the highest mountain in Shenandoah National Park, 4051' higher than the only other 4,000' mountain in the park, Stony Man 4,011'. Savor the views from several different areas of Hawksbill Summit, including the Hawksbill Viewing Platform. parking area at mile 46.7 - 2.1 miles round trip, easy to moderate hike to a gorgeous view. At the .7-mile mark, you’ll see a trail marker, but stay to the right to continue on to the summit. Of course, the loop hike was longer both in distance and time hiked (it took me 1 hr, 20 mins to hike – the other two hikes each took me 50 minutes), but I liked that the elevation gains were more moderate and the scenery was more varied. The Hawksbill Mountain is the largest peak in the park and the 360° views at the top are some of the best to be found in the park. Both ways begin with the well-maintained trail on the left, which is the trail used for the out-and-back version of the hike. In some sections, you can definitely feel the burn. It is 1.7 mi and 690' in gain. As a bonus, I had four bars with AT&T at the summit (I had no service on the hike to the top). At the top, there’s plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the views. Just stick with the blue trail. From the Upper Hawksbill parking area (a much larger parking area than the Hawksbill Gap parking area, by the way), ascend along the shaded 2.1-mile out-and-back trail. Hawksbill Gap parking area on Skyline Drive: A Shenandoah National Park entry fee of $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person is valid for seven consecutive days. ÖTp)¡ö²Ï9ù[÷ÑÂİõö×p³(úø"Ä=å®_«§ßpñø§Í§PÂÓğ¼ì|J{yÃËğ™Å¿/§Q(ò”�B+¶ÏQs¸z¿iêıÆxÖpH{oX±—. Turn left and Byrds Nest Shelter #2 comes into view. From the Thornton Gap entrance, take Skyline Drive south for 15.2 miles to reach the parking area, on your right. The hike. Beagle Gap Overlook - 2490 ft. 4. Both are good warm-ups for the main attraction. This blue-blazed hike is more rocky to start and begins with a mild descent. Shortly, a trail marker appears as the trail intersection with the Appalachian Trail. The shortest route is just .8 miles to the top for magnificent wide-reaching views. Immediately, Byrds Nest Shelter #2 comes into view. Turn left here to pick up the southbound route. The boulder field is very cool and it’s nice to be able to see the mountains through the forest on the loop hike. It’s a very short drive from both parking areas. This is where the trail connects with the Lower Hawksbill Trail for the final ascent to the summit. We chose to do a 2.9 mile loop, recommended by the park website. My guess is that it’s because it’s the fastest way to the top. It’s just right for scrambling to a higher view. Hawksbill Summit Loop – Shenandoah National Park Jarod Goenner August 30, 2015 Hiking , Outdoor , Shenandoah National Park We parked at Hawksbill Gap parking and headed up Lower Hawksbill … If you are entering on foot, horse, or bike the fee is $15 per person. In a few more steps you’ll reach a second open boulder field, then a third section of mid-size rocks. This basically skirts around the edge of the mountain to the other side. This is a day-use shelter with a picnic table inside. I measured an elevation gain of 669 feet, but it felt like more given the relatively short distance to the top. Turn left, then in a few more steps, turn left again at the trail marker and the Byrds Nest Shelter #2 comes into view. Certainly, there are pros and cons to each route to the Hawksbill Summit. Hawksbill Mountain: Several options to reach the top... - See 142 traveller reviews, 136 candid photos, and great deals for Shenandoah National Park, VA, at Tripadvisor. The hike to Hawksbill Summit at Shenandoah National Park is among the most popular in the park thanks to the relatively short distance to reach the park’s highest point (elevation 4,051 feet). From there, the loop ascends the summit of the mountain and returns along the same route as the Hawksbill Summit Trail. Our first challenge was finding parking for this popular hike. Hawksbill Gap Loop. I measured an elevation gain of 771 feet, but the trail felt less challenging than the Hawksbill Summit Hike, which had a gain of 669 feet. Hawksbill Mountain: Nice, moderate, relatively short hike - See 142 traveler reviews, 136 candid photos, and great deals for Shenandoah National Park, VA, at Tripadvisor. Two starts at Hawksbill Gap parking area at mm 45.5. Hawksbill Gap serves as the trailhead for a number of popular hikes (including the fantastic Whiteoak Canyon-Cedar Run loop), so arrive early to get a parking spot. I noticed quite a few buzzing flies at the summit too, so be sure to bring along insect repellent. Skyland Upper Loop (North Entrance) – 41.7 Whiteoak Canyon Parking – 42.4 Skyland Lower Loop (South Entrance) – 42.5 Limberlost Parking – 43 Timber Hollow Overlook – 43.2 Hawksbill Gap Trailhead – 45.5 Old Rag Overlook – 46.4 Upper Hawksbill Trailhead – 46.5 Spitler Knoll Overlook – … It’s 1.95 miles to the summit. You can reach the summit in less than a mile, although you will be … Rte 2 is the Hawksbill Loop Hike which heads counter-clockwise out of the parking lot, combines with the Salamander Trail and down the Lower Hawksbill and is 2.9 mi and 860' gain. Hawksbill can be easily hiked along Skyline Drive. From the Hawksbill Gap parking area, which can accommodate 10 vehicles, begin your ascent on the trail on the left-hand side. In late-fall, I imagine you can see the mountains much more clearly with less foliage. Look to the right and you can see the mountains through the trees. The Hawksbill Mountain is the largest peak in the park and the 360° views at the top are some of the best to be found in the park. Then, it gets a bit darker as you’re under a dense forest canopy. 2.9 miles – Loop… Rte 1 is clockwise and called the Lower Hawksbill Trail or the Hawksbill Summit Hike. If you're short on time and still want to bag the 4,050ft Hawksbill summit, start the hike from the Hawksbill Gap parking area on Skyline Drive following the Lower Hawksbill Trail for a out and back 1.6 miles. Hawksbill Gap Parking Area - Skyline Drive in Shenandoah. By the third or fourth one you actually need to scramble across them to reach the dirt trail on the other side. However, if I had to choose one, I would opt for the Hawksbill Loop Hike. This 2.7-mile loop takes you directly to the peak on the Hawksbill Summit Trail and then takes the less aggressive Salamander Trail back down to the AT for a return to the parking lot on the Hawksbill Gap Trail. Two repeats of this loop are an excellent prep for big western 100s. parking area at mile 45.5, take the Lower Hawksbill Trail to Byrds Nest 2 Shelter and then follow the trail to the viewing platform. The trail out of the center of the parking lot is a VERY steep and the most direct trail to the summit called the "Lower Hawksbill Trail". Here are three ways to get to the top: #1: Hawksbill Summit Hike. Fees are $35 per vehicle or $25 per motorcycle. Mile 0.0 - From the parking area at Timber Hollow Overlook enjoy one of the best views of the hike. At the 1.1-mile mark, the trail splits. Sawmill Run Overlook - 2195 ft. 6. This loop takes you to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain which is the largest peak in the park. Hawksbill Mountain: Hike to Hawksbill - See 142 traveller reviews, 136 candid photos, and great deals for Shenandoah National Park, VA, at Tripadvisor. You can also do a lolly pop option from Fishers Gap to include the Franklin Cliffs and then take the 2.6 mile loop before returning to Fishers Gap. At the .45-mile mark, you’ll notice a steep and massive boulder field on the left-hand side of the trail. Hawksbill Mountain: the hike. I loved hiking this trail. 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