Its worth the drive. This is a very popular hike, so make sure you plan on being patient when looking for a parking spot. The trail emerges from the woods at the summit, and the Byrds Nest Shelter (day use) will be on your right. ... Be prepared for that. There are a couple ways up. Nearby Attractions: Luray-Hawksbill Greenway; Big Meadows Lodge; New Market Battlefield State Historical Park; Endless Caverns Share. Trails go both left and right here. Parking. I went to Hawksbill Mountain early in the morning and I am glad I did because the parking lot was packed later. From the Hawksbill Gap parking lot on Skyline Drive, it’s a massive descent down to White Oak Falls and then a steep, strenuous hike up the Whiteoak Canyon Trail. (See the posted map.) Rte 1 is clockwise and called the Lower Hawksbill Trail or the Hawksbill Summit Hike. Less than half a mile from the junction, the AT crosses the crest of Hazeltop, elevation 3,816 feet - the third highest point in the park (after Hawksbill and Stony Man) and the highest point on the AT within the park. The trailhead is about a 20 minute drive into the park along Skyline Drive from the Thorton Gap Entrance. A hike to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain will not only put you at the highest point in Shenandoah National Park (4050'), but you'll have a 270 degree view perfect for a sunset. We got great pictures and will have them for a lifetime. We chose AT-Hawksbill Loop, started at lower Hawksbill, uphill was little challenging for a warmup, but it's okay. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Waypoints. Print. Hawksbill Gap Parking is at the trailhead between mileposts... Read more. This is a relatively easy hike with nearby parking - high reward to effort! Please choose a different date. Don't become a statistic for mountain safety and fatalities. We hiked the Hawksbill Gap Loop via the Appalachian Trail from the Hawksbill gap parking area. Hawksbill Summit Hike. The elevation gain. parking area at mile 45.6 - 2.9 mile circuit, moderate hike with beautiful views much of the way, and a spectacular view at the top. If you are entering on foot, horse, or bike the fee is $15 per person. 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. Hawksbill Gap Parking is at the trailhead between mileposts 45 and 46. But he view is great. My wife and I enjoyed the 1.7 miles round trip Summit Hike. You can start there, but we decided to stretch the hike out a little and combine the hike from Hawksbill Gap Parking with an area known as Whiteoak Canyon. From the parking lot, begin hiking from the Upper Hawksbill Trailhead. It goes to the peak of Hawksbill Mountain, and the views are beautiful from there. When: Saturday, October 10th, 7 am to 2 pm Where: Hikers will meet at Hawksbill Gap Parking Lot, which can be accessed by car via Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Enjoy ! About a mile up. I would recommend it for anyone who can do a moderate to vigorous hike. 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. It is 1.7 mi and 690' in gain. There are two trailheads that take you to the Hawksbill, Upper Hawksbill Parking and Hawksbill Gap Parking farther north. Along the way we saw a lot of beautiful butterflies. The view at the top was nice but you have to want to do this harder hike. Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Is this attraction a good place to visit on a, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Are the prices for this place or activity, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for. Hawksbill is very popular spot, at the trailhead it's hard to find regular parking spot, just park at road side; plan to spend 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours on the trail and reserve 10-20 minutes at the peak to enjoy the view at the highest point of Shenandoah mountain-4051 feet. This quick loop has a little bit of everything. 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The hike. (Skyline Drive MP 45.6 at the Hawksbill Gap parking lot is recommended for the Whiteoak Canyon – Cedar Run Loop) Suggested time of day: any time, but this is a long hike, so start early; Map: Whiteoak Canyon Area It rained when we went so the path turns into mini creeks so wear sturdy shoes. Hawksbill Summit Hike. There is plenty of parking on the other side of Skyline Drive from where the trailhead begins. It took us about 75 minutes to... Not super strenuous, the hike to the summit here on Hawksbill Mountain is manageable. Two starts at Hawksbill Gap parking area at mm 45.5. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. parking area at mile 45.5, take the Lower Hawksbill Trail to Byrds You can stop by Skyland ranch before / after for a bite to eat, and this can easily be combined with Hawksbill, which is a few miles down Skyline Drive. Two starts at Hawksbill Gap parking area at mm 45.5. Directions to Parking at Hawksbill Gap (Mile 45.5 on Skyline Drive): Google Maps Directions Trail Directions: Mile 0.0 – From the Hawksbill Gap Parking Lot, head to the trailhead sign. For a shorter, but steeper, rockier route, from the Hawksbill Gap . Wear hiking boots and bring some water as well as a camera. It only depends how far and how steep you want to go. The short spur ends at the AT. with viewing platform close to Byrds Nest 2 shelter. Hawksbill is very popular spot, at the trailhead it's hard to find regular parking spot, just park at road side; plan to spend 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours on the trail and reserve 10-20 minutes at the peak to enjoy the view at the highest point of Shenandoah mountain-4051 feet. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $55. It took us about 75 minutes to complete the hike, which started at 1130 in pretty dense fog that fortunately partially cleared once we reached the summit - allowing for a great view. From the Hawksbill Gap parking lot, one could simply hike uphill one fairly strenuous mile to reach the Byrd's Nest and reach the same climax as the full circuit however, doing the hike this way would cut out the views along the Franklin Cliffs part of the trail. Hiking up was tiring because it is steep. We parked at the Hawksbill Gap Parking, hiked to the Hawksbill, and looped it … 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. The Big Meadows/Hawksbill Mountain/Rose River trail is actually a combination of short trails to create a nice 20-21 mile loop for those who are looking for a longer hike or a multi-day hike in Shenandoah. Hawksbill Summit from: parking area at mile 45.6 - 1.7 miles round trip, fairly steep hike to spectacular view. Take the right path toward the Appalachian Trail. Send to Phone. The 3rd starts at the Upper Hawksbill parking lot at mm 46.5 and is 1.7 mi round trip and 520' gain.All of them end at the viewing Platform. The rocky parts are fun and tempt scramblers but don't be reckless. Wasn't too busy when we were there, but gets crowded. View from Hawk bill Summit, courtesy of Paulo … Did a shortened version starting from Hawksbill Gap parking lot. Doing so, you’ll add at least two more wonderful waterfalls, creating a very strenuous 7.7-mile (12.4-kilometer) circuit. Good length hike that kind of gets to the point, just straight uphill on a well maintained trail. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around Shenandoah National Park. Short hike from the parking areas, with nearly 360 degree views. 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. To return to the parking area be sure to take the blue-blazed Lower (NOT the Upper) Hawksbill Trail. Very good 270 degree view of the Blue Ridge. Expect this hike to take 6 to 8 hours. Our Tour recommendations are based on thousands of activities completed by other people on komoot. Park at the Hawksbill Gap parking area (this is not the same as the Upper Hawksbill lot, which is just south). The trail becomes increasingly steep, then levels out just before the intersection of the connector trail and Hawksbill Gap parking area at Skyline Drive. Rte 1 is clockwise and called the Lower Hawksbill Trail or the Hawksbill Summit Hike. There are two trails that set off from this parking area on the west side of Skyline Drive. Actually it's the only hard park of this trail. Technically, Hawksbill Summit has an upper trail and lower trail, but the lower trail is the more popular one. read more, Good length hike that kind of gets to the point, just straight uphill on a well maintained trail... On this 8 mile hike, you have the chance to see nine waterfalls! From the Hawksbill Gap parking area, which can accommodate 10 vehicles, begin your ascent on the trail on the left-hand side. If you've got hiking poles in the car, you may want to grab them. Directions: Start at the Passamaquoddy parking lot near Skyland Ranch (10 miles south of Thornton Gap). Export To GPS Device. 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. The Trailhead: The Upper Hawksbill trailhead is on the west side of Skyline Drive at milepost 46.7. Trail conditions on the AT, Salamander, and Lower Hawksbill were excellent. Save. The hike was tough but rewarding with great views. Just stick with the blue trail. Because I went early (8ish) I had the top to myself and beautiful blue skies for miles. It is 1.7 mi and 690' in gain. It took us about 75 minutes to... Good length hike that kind of gets to the point, just straight uphill on a well maintained trail... 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