View Full Version : Shenandoah NP N or S and N end Question
Red Cinema
02-03-2015, 15:50
Folks,
Planning a May hike of the SNP, largely or entirely as an AT section hike.
North to South or South to North? I've seen suggestions for both directions.
On the north end, the AT branches out of the SNP proper and goes to Front Royal Lake. Completing the AT portion aside, thoughts on the "Dickey Ridge Trail" portion that goes to Front Royal proper after the AT branches off toward the lake and parts north?
Mid-May, crowd conditions? Looks to me like the Georgia-starters will have arrived, but people aiming for Trail Days in Damascus would still be to the south. Heavy use on the AT, or also the side trails? (I don't have much flexibility in _when_ I go....)
Thanks for your thoughts in advance,
RC
I section hiked the AT through SNP in mid April of last year. I went south to north on that hike. But I've done many shorter sections north to south. I'm not sure that there is any "better" direction but I will say that I enjoyed my NOBO hike. I'd suggest that you go NOBO if you are hiking in May since that is the direction the thru hikers will be going in. As a result, you will see fewer people if you also go north. Of course if you want to meet lots of people, maybe go southbound.
As for the north end of SNP, I have hiked both the AT going to 522 as well as the Dickey Ridge Trail. Dickey Ridge is a pretty nice blue blazed trail and you pass the visitor's center at about the half way mark. It takes you right into Front Royal so you can end the hike in town without any hitching. If you hike the AT to 522, you will want to hitch rather than road walk into town. It is a very busy road.
Furlough
02-03-2015, 19:26
I did this northbound. At the north end I took the side trail down to the 4H center where I parked my truck.
Red Cinema
02-03-2015, 20:30
Thanks for the insight about NOBO and dealing with the bolus of northbounders, and the bump for Dickey Ridge Trail.
I section hiked the AT through SNP in mid April of last year. I went south to north on that hike. But I've done many shorter sections north to south. I'm not sure that there is any "better" direction but I will say that I enjoyed my NOBO hike. I'd suggest that you go NOBO if you are hiking in May since that is the direction the thru hikers will be going in. As a result, you will see fewer people if you also go north. Of course if you want to meet lots of people, maybe go southbound.
As for the north end of SNP, I have hiked both the AT going to 522 as well as the Dickey Ridge Trail. Dickey Ridge is a pretty nice blue blazed trail and you pass the visitor's center at about the half way mark. It takes you right into Front Royal so you can end the hike in town without any hitching. If you hike the AT to 522, you will want to hitch rather than road walk into town. It is a very busy road.
jimmyjam
02-03-2015, 20:35
I've hiked it in both directions, either way is good. Most of the thru hikers won't get there until June, so it will be sparsely populated except on weekends.
Red Cinema
02-03-2015, 20:57
That's good to hear--I read something that suggested the bubble was there by mid to late May. Tx!
I've hiked it in both directions, either way is good. Most of the thru hikers won't get there until June, so it will be sparsely populated except on weekends.
johnnybgood
02-03-2015, 21:04
The last time I sectioned through the park it was mid May and I recall the early bubble hikers being there already. I hiked it Sobo that time, but it's totally personal preference.
If you're hiking north and leaving a car in Front Royal then the Dickey Ridge Trail is the one you want to get you there. You may also leave a car here free for up to 30 days ; www.nova4h.com/ (http://www.nova4h.com/)
Red Cinema
02-04-2015, 12:33
"Early bubble" that's comforting (seeing as I can't choose an earlier or later time). Thanks!
The last time I sectioned through the park it was mid May and I recall the early bubble hikers being there already. I hiked it Sobo that time, but it's totally personal preference.
If you're hiking north and leaving a car in Front Royal then the Dickey Ridge Trail is the one you want to get you there. You may also leave a car here free for up to 30 days ; www.nova4h.com/ (http://www.nova4h.com/)
Blissful
02-05-2015, 15:41
Personally I would hike it south to north.
Yes, thru hikers will be arriving mid may on to early July.
The Dickey Ridge trail is a good diversion. I recommend it for something different, though it is still a walk in the woods.
Red Cinema
02-10-2015, 21:34
thanks all this has helped my planning quite a bit
I hiked N to S last April the first week the waysides opened. The park was pretty empty, but I was able to eat my way through the park as a bonus :-)
Cookerhiker
02-20-2015, 20:53
I would hike it early May, not just to avoid the thruhikers. The trees aren't usually leafed out the first week in May, so you'll have better views. Wildflowers should be spectacular, particularly the fringed phacelia.
Red Cinema
02-21-2015, 20:22
I get to go when I get to go--can't freely choose my dates I'm afraid. I hope to still appreciate the flowers you mention....
I would hike it early May, not just to avoid the thruhikers. The trees aren't usually leafed out the first week in May, so you'll have better views. Wildflowers should be spectacular, particularly the fringed phacelia.
By mid-May there are plenty of NOBO thru-hikers in SNP. Add to that the weekenders and section hikers and it's a nice group to flow with. But you shouldn't count on shelter space regardless of which direction you hike this time of year.
In my opinion, the best way to do this is to meet a shuttle at the 4-H Center near Front Royal. You can park there for free and relatively safely, but need to fill out a waiver at 4-H's office which is open weekdays, daytime. Get your ride to the south end of SNP at Rockfish Gap and hike NOBO.
If you are trying to put together a section toward the eventual goal of completing the entire AT, you will want to stay on the AT to 4-H or even the trailhead at US522 (4-H parking is safer). But if the entire AT is not your agenda, the Dickey Ridge Trail (which intersects the AT just "north" of Compton Gap) is a nice diversion which will land you closer to the town of Front Royal. You can probably find someplace that will allow long term parking in FroRo, and meet a shuttle there. Shuttlers in the area might know the best places to park in town--or have even better options to suggest.
I've done both the AT from Compton Gap to 522 and the Dickey Ridge and I prefer Dickey Ridge even though it is longer. It is a more pleasant hike IMO.
I've done both the AT from Compton Gap to 522 and the Dickey Ridge and I prefer Dickey Ridge even though it is longer. It is a more pleasant hike IMO.
Agree. A nice woods hike. Relatively easy. The best things about the AT option are the one viewpoint at Possum's Rest just outside the SNP boundary and the shelter (Floyd Wayside). Otherwise the DRT is better and has some decent diversions (visitor center, Snead Farm Loop Trail, Fox Hollow Trail).
I'm not sure why but I found the AT a bit difficult to follow right after exiting SNP. I kept encountering red blazes (presumably signifying private property) and backtracked a couple of times. It wasn't more than a few minutes and maybe I wasn't paying enough attention there. The trail nearing 522 is really boring going near open fields with a large fence on the left.
I cannot imagine SNP without the following:
- Beag Meadows Wayside - CHEESEBURGERS!
-Skyline - BREAKFAST (think it was the berry pancakes?)
- Elk Wallow Wayside - Berry Shakes!!!
Plus, the 14 bear we saw - which all ran away from us ASAP!
And, the 6 deer we say - that ignored us and did not move!
Seriously, plan less food than normal. There is also the Lewis Mtn? Wayside, which has showers and very limited resupply. (NOTE: For SNP, we ate barely half the food we packed!)
I'm not sure why but I found the AT a bit difficult to follow right after exiting SNP. I kept encountering red blazes (presumably signifying private property) and backtracked a couple of times. It wasn't more than a few minutes and maybe I wasn't paying enough attention there. The trail nearing 522 is really boring going near open fields with a large fence on the left.
Red blazes mark SNP's boundary. Hiking NOBO, you cross the boundary (on the Trail) just before coming to the Possum's Rest viewpoint. There are other red blazes painted on trees in that general area also marking the boundary.
Drybones
03-22-2015, 08:09
Don't remember where it is but there's a section where the trail has been rerouted but the blazes are still on the trees...long story short...I got to see part of it in both directions.
Red Cinema
03-23-2015, 11:33
Don't remember where it is but there's a section where the trail has been rerouted but the blazes are still on the trees...long story short...I got to see part of it in both directions.
I am unable to find any such reroutings at the .gov Shenandoah site; maybe it has been fixed?
The last two relos I'm aware of involved the south side of Compton Peak (ND), and the north side of Beagle Gap (SD).
jax_o's_fan
04-19-2016, 09:27
I cannot imagine SNP without the following:
- Beag Meadows Wayside - CHEESEBURGERS!
-Skyline - BREAKFAST (think it was the berry pancakes?)
- Elk Wallow Wayside - Berry Shakes!!!
Plus, the 14 bear we saw - which all ran away from us ASAP!
And, the 6 deer we say - that ignored us and did not move!
Seriously, plan less food than normal. There is also the Lewis Mtn? Wayside, which has showers and very limited resupply. (NOTE: For SNP, we ate barely half the food we packed!)
I'm doing N to S and I'm trying to find out information about the waysides and restaurants. Are these all right off of the A.T. Or do I need to hit side trails to hit any of these?
bigcranky
04-19-2016, 11:39
Some are just off the trail, others require a short side trail. Often the AT goes wide around the far side of the ridge to avoid the campground/wayside/developed area, and there is a spur trail to the wayside from the AT on each end. This way you can cut over to the wayside, grab a burger, and head back the other side (unless you are a purist about seeing each white blaze, in which case please ignore this).
The AT maps show the waysides pretty well, you can figure it out on the trail.
Big Meadows Wayside (separate from the lodge) had an awesome breakfast, as did Skyland. We spent the night in an historic cabin at Skyland, which was great, though I was less impressed by dinner in the lodge.
Elkwallow had great burgers and shakes. Loft Mountain had a nice breakfast, and the camp store had cold beer. :)
showtime_
05-08-2016, 11:56
I'm not sure why but I found the AT a bit difficult to follow right after exiting SNP. I kept encountering red blazes (presumably signifying private property) and backtracked a couple of times. It wasn't more than a few minutes and maybe I wasn't paying enough attention there. The trail nearing 522 is really boring going near open fields with a large fence on the left.
I did the same exact thing, Coffee. The trail descended and I lost it somewhere in the rocks. Took me about five minutes to find the trail again.
I know this is over a year old, but I'm looking at doing the section from thornton gap - penmar, or rockfish gap - front royal. can't make up my mind.
Important to note:
1) As Big Cranky wrote: Big Meadows Wayside and Big Meadows Lodge are two separate places, about a mile apart. The WAYSIDE actually is visible from Skyline Drive, and the best way for hikers to access it from the AT is to turn walk uphill at the crossing of the Lewis Springs Fire Rd., then turn north (left) for perhaps a quarter mile on Skyline Drive. Unless extremely foggy, you can't miss it. The AT wraps fairly closely around the LODGE, and there are two or three access trails from the AT to the Lodge.
2) In case anyone has an old map or guidebook, there hasn't been any kind of commercial facility at Panorama near Thornton Gap for over a decade. There is still a large parking lot, and at the far eastern end of that is a nice newish restroom facility.
3) The Wayside identified with Loft Mt. is actually about a mile downhill from the AT and the campground/campstore/amphitheatre. It's on Skyline Drive across from the access road to the campground.
bigcranky
05-08-2016, 22:28
Important to note:
3) The Wayside identified with Loft Mt. is actually about a mile downhill from the AT and the campground/campstore/amphitheatre. It's on Skyline Drive across from the access road to the campground.
Yes, and for me it was well worth the detour. I got there just as they opened for breakfast, and enjoyed eggs, pancakes, and bacon on the porch on a lovely early summer day. I was heading sobo, so I took the side trail down to the wayside, then took the trail from the wayside to the campground and camp store, where you can get back on the AT past the store.
SteelCut
05-09-2016, 06:16
In my opinion, the best way to do this is to meet a shuttle at the 4-H Center near Front Royal. You can park there for free and relatively safely, but need to fill out a waiver at 4-H's office which is open weekdays, daytime. Get your ride to the south end of SNP at Rockfish Gap and hike NOBO.
Does the 4-H Center still allow long term parking and is it still relatively safe ??