Introduction
Shenandoah National Park is best known for its Skyline Drive, a scenic road that curves and weaves atop the Blue Ridge Mountains.
And though there are plenty of overlooks right off the Drive, there are also ample experiences to get out and hike.
Some of the best views in the park are just a short hike away from the road. There are stunning mountain views, rock formations, and waterfalls to discover away from the traffic and noise of the scenic drive.
And of course, the famous Appalachian Trail snakes its way through the wilderness nearby.
Shaka Guide’s tour of Shenandoah National Park takes you to what we think are the five best hikes in Virginia’s only national park.
Hikes in Shenandoah
Hike #1 Hawksbill Mountain
Shutterstock Image
- Duration: 2.2 miles round trip, 1.5 hours
- Elevation gain: 498 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Upper Hawksbill Trailhead
At just over 4,000 feet above sea level, Hawksbill Mountain is the highest point in Shenandoah National Park.
This hike provides a relatively short but steep climb to the summit, leading to stunning, 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
The autumn views here with the changing leaves are especially gorgeous.
Hike #2 Stony Man Summit
Shutterstock Image
- Duration: 1.5 miles round trip, 1 hour
- Elevation gain: 321 feet
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Trailhead: Stony Man
A short, family-friendly hike leads to one of the best viewpoints in the park. From the rocky summit of Stony Man, you can enjoy sweeping views of the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain on the other side.
Hiking this trail also allows you to sample a small portion of the Appalachian Trail, as the hike to Stony Man Summit is technically a tiny portion of the famed path.
Hike #3 Dark Hollow Falls
Shutterstock Image
- Duration: 1.5 miles round trip, 1.5 hours
- Elevation gain: 583 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Dark Hollow Falls
One of the park's most popular waterfall hikes, Dark Hollow Falls is a relatively short trail with a steep descent to the falls.
The return trip is uphill, but the 70-foot waterfall makes the effort worth it.
Look for black bears as they come to the stream near the trail looking for water. Shenandoah is known for its bears!
Hike #4 Bearfence Mountain
Shutterstock Image
- Duration: 1-mile round trip, 1 hour
- Elevation gain: 242 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
- Trailhead: Bearfence Mountain
For such a short hike, Bearfence offers a rewarding 360-degree panoramic view. The trail includes a fun rock scramble near the top, adding some challenge to the hike.
You should note, though, that the view without the scramble isn’t that rewarding, so it’s best to be prepared to climb some rocks to make this hike worthwhile. Some people even bring gloves to help them climb!
Hike #5 South River Falls
- Duration: 4.5 miles round trip, 3 hours
- Elevation gain: 1194 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: South River Picnic Area
This trail leads to one of the tallest waterfalls in the park, South River Falls, which drops 83 feet.
There’s an observation point for the falls, and those seeking more adventure can hike down to the base.
The hike to the falls is downhill, which means it’s an uphill climb back to the car.
Map of Hikes in Shenandoah National Park
Explore Shenandoah with Shaka Guide
Excited to check out what Shenandoah has to offer? Join Shaka Guide on our tour of Shenandoah National Park as we cover the entire Skyline Drive.
We’ll take you to hiking trails like these five that we’ve picked as our favorites, the best overlooks of the mountains and the valley below, visitor centers, the historic Skyland Resort, and more.
We’ll even guide you on an optional detour to the famous Luray Caverns. You can take the Shaka Guide tour going in either direction, starting from the north, or the south.
The adjacent Shaka Guide Blue Ridge Parkway--Virginia tour begins at Mile 0 of the parkway, only moments away from where our Shenandoah tour ends. The adventures never end in Appalachia.
Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Shenandoah National Park Tour!
We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.
For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Shenandoah National Park Itinerary and Know Before You Go article.
Like this article? Share it on Pinterest!
