Shenandoah National Park High Point Trip Report

Hawksbill Mountain (4,050 ft)

Date: October 5, 1999
Author: John Garner

Conditions: Clear, 48 F
Hike: 2.1 miles, 400' gain

Directions to Trailhead: Take Skyline Drive in Shenandoah NP. Near mile marker 46, find Upper Hawksbill Parking Area, and park. Trail begins at parking area.

Route: Hike up access trail. Hike climbs gently through typical forest, for 0.6 miles, to a junction with a fire road. Turn right on moderately washed-out road. Climb a bit more steeply to top. Road tops out on mountain 0.4 miles from junction. Near summit, go past old CCC shelter, past sign noting summit direction, to top.

HP Description: At the top of the mountain, there is an old stone shelter, circa CCC. Signs on it say that it is for bad weather only. The HP itself is about two hundred yards past the shelter. It is an open lookout platform with stone masonry walls, with about a 270 degree view.

View: Nice view of Shenandoah valley 3500' below. You can also see to N and S, but E is blocked by trees. Very pleasant.

Comments: Numerous other ways to top, some a bit longer. This summit is also the HP of Shenandoah National Park. Expect company, especially on weekends.