Shenandoah National Park · Virginia

Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail

9.4 mi of trail, end to end · Hawksbill Summit via Upper Hawksbill: 2.1 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 2,300 ft of climbing · 2,599 ft–3,673 ft · earth surface · trail class Developed · horse

Exhibits

3,529 ft 3,340 ft · 6.8 mi high 3,643 ft

Along the way Highest Point On Skyline Drive

Hawksbill Summit via Upper Hawksbill 2.1 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

1-2 Hours · dogs allowed

Start Central District (Mile 46.5)

A view from on top of the summit of a mountain.

A hike to the top of Shenandoah’s highest peak, offering 360-degree views of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.

Note that very limited closures are in effect in an effort to prevent further degradation of important outcrop ecosystems on Hawksbill.

Distance: 2.1-mile round trip hike

Difficulty: Easiest ( hiking difficulty scale )

Hiking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Elevation Gain: 520 feet

Hike Description

From the trailhead at the Upper Hawksbill parking area (mile 46.5), take the Upper Hawksbill Trail to Byrds Nest 2 Shelter.

Follow the trail to the stone viewing platform.

Retrace your steps to return.

Accessibility This trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines.

This hike on nps.gov

Rose River Falls the Park Service's write-up

4-5 Hours · dogs allowed

Start Central District (Mile 49.4)

A waterfall in the midst of the green trees from a forest.

A hike to a dazzling 67 foot waterfall. For most of this hike, you’ll be on a beautiful trail in the Shenandoah Wilderness.

Distance: 4-mile circuit hike

Difficulty: Moderate (explanation of our hiking difficulty scale )

Hiking Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Elevation Gain: 910 feet

Hike Description

From the Fishers Gap parking area (mile 49.4), cross Skyline Drive and start down the fire road.

Just after the chain, take a left onto the Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail (yellow-blazed).

In about 0.6-mile take the blue-blazed Rose River Loop Trail.

Follow it past the 67-foot falls.

Continue to the bridge, where you begin hiking up a steep, rocky section past beautiful cascades.

At the fire road (yellow-blazed), turn right across bridge.

For an added treat (and about .25-mile more hiking), you can take the Dark Hollow Falls Trail to the base of the falls and back.

Then continue uphill about one mile back to Skyline Drive.

Accessibility This trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 317 trails in Shenandoah National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.