Shenandoah National Park guide · 1 min read
Summit Hikes: Hawksbill, Stony Man, Marys Rock
Summit hiking is one of the best ways to see Shenandoah National Park. Several of its peaks reward a climb with wide views over the land below, and the routes range from short and steep to longer and more demanding.
Hawksbill Mountain reaches 4,049 feet, making it the park's loftiest summit. The quickest route is the Upper Hawksbill Trail, a round trip of about 2.2 miles with roughly 500 feet of climbing. For a tougher climb, take the Lower Hawksbill Trail, which covers 1.5 miles round trip but rises much more steeply. Once you reach the stone viewing platform, you can see in every direction across the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.
Stony Man stands at 4,040 feet, second only to Hawksbill in the park. The round trip is about 1.5 miles, and the climb is manageable for most ages, though it draws large crowds, so expect plenty of company. Begin at the parking lot in Skyland. Near the top, the path splits into a short loop, and both sides reach the summit, where Little Stony Man's rocky top sits in plain view below.
Compared with Hawksbill and Stony Man, Marys Rock asks more of your legs, and the payoff is a westward view over the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain. The southern approach from the Meadow Spring Trailhead is the easier pick, gaining 800 feet over a 2.6-mile out-and-back. From the Panorama parking area, the northern approach stretches to 3.6 miles and gains 1,200 feet. Whichever you choose, a stretch of your hike runs along the Appalachian Trail.
Bearfence Trail is a good pick for older kids who like to scramble over rock. Hawksbill and Marys Rock have outcrop ecosystems that need protecting, so keep to marked trails.
