With over 500 miles of trails in Shenandoah National Park, it can seem like a daunting task to choose the right backpacking trip for you. To help you choose, we've put together a list of backcountry trip iteneraries, available in downloadable PDFs. The list is organized by camping and hiking levels, then the number of days, then alphabetically by the trip title.. A few other notes about the following tables:
- Camping levels (beginner/experienced/advanced) refer to the difficulty of finding a backcountry campsite. Beginner camping levels have campsites which are relatively easy to find. Experienced levels are for those who have some experience backpacking, map reading, and finding appropriate non-designated campsites. Advanced levels are along routes where campsites can be difficult to find and are designed for those with extensive backpacking experience.
- Hiking levels (easy/moderate/strenuous) refer to the difficulty of the hike itself.
- Entry indicates the mile along Skyline Drive where the trip begins. Skyline Drive is marked by mile posts along the road to help you navigate. Some trails can be accessed at the park boundary, where the given entry is the road nearest the trailhead. Many boundary trailheads have no sign, so be prepared and get a good map ahead of your journey. See more details about boundary trailhead access.
- Trips highlighted in red involve camping in heavily-traveled areas that reach capacity during peak seasons.
- Notes: F= flexible trip; G= suitable for groups; W= suitable for winter
Beginner Camping | Easy Hikes
Trip (pdf) |
Features |
Nights |
Entry |
Notes |
Mileage |
Hickerson Hollow |
Forested valley, small stream |
1 |
9.2 |
|
2 |
Laurel Prong & Hazeltop |
Streams, waterfalls, history |
1 |
52.8 |
|
7.4 |
Corbin Cabin & Nicholson Hollow |
Waterfalls, swimming, history |
1 |
37.9 |
F |
4 |
Nicholson Hollow |
Cascades, swimming, history |
1 |
Rt 600 |
G |
4-14 |
Hickerson Hollow from boundary |
Forested valley, small stream |
1 |
Rt 604 |
F W |
2 |
Graves Mill |
Gentle trail, river, swimming |
1 |
Rt 662 |
F |
1.2-4.2 |
Loft Mtn & Jones Run, 9 miles |
Waterfalls, views |
2 |
79.5 |
F G |
9 |
Hawksbill to Swift Run via Laurel Prong |
Highest peak, waterfalls, history |
3 |
45.6 |
F |
23 |
Beginner Camping | Moderate Hikes
Trip (pdf) |
Features |
Nights |
Entry |
Notes |
Mileage |
Elkwallow & Jeremys Run |
Valley, fishing |
1 |
22.2 |
F |
6.7-15 |
Big Run Loop & Big Run Portal |
Flexible trip, valley, fishing |
1 |
81.2 |
F G |
5.4-12 |
Big Run Loop & AT Circuit |
Valley, fishing |
1 |
81.2 |
F G |
6.8-13.8 |
White Rocks |
History, small cave, waterfall |
1 |
33.5 |
F G |
5-18.5 |
Nicholson Hollow & Hot-Short Mountain |
Cascades, history, swimming |
1 |
Rt 600 |
F G |
10.2-12.2 |
Elkwallow & Jeremys Run, 2 nights |
Valley, fishing |
2 |
22.2 |
F |
6.7-15 |
Lewis Mountain & Laurel Prong |
Streams, waterfalls, history |
2 |
62.8 |
F |
17.3 |
Beginner Camping | Strenuous Hikes
Trip (pdf) |
Features |
Nights |
Entry |
Notes |
Mileage |
Corbin Mtn & Nicholson Hollow, 1 night |
Cascades, history, swimming |
1 |
38.4 |
FG |
11.6 |
Whiteoak Canyon & Cedar Run, short |
Waterfalls, avoid on weekends |
1 |
45.6 |
|
8-14 |
Robertson Mtn & Berry Hollow |
Weekday trip, views |
1 |
Rt 600 |
|
9.3 |
Nicholson Hollow & Corbin Mtn from boundary |
Cascades, history, swimming |
1 |
Rt 600 |
G |
12.3 |
Mathews Arm & Jeremys Run |
Valley, fishing |
2 |
24.1 |
G |
16.6 |
Corbin Mtn & Nicholson Hollow, 2 nights |
Cascades, history, swimming |
2 |
38.4 |
FG |
11.6 |
Big Meadows & Laurel Prong |
Streams, waterfalls, history |
2 |
49.4 |
F |
19 |
Loft Mtn & Big Run Portal |
Valley, fishing |
2 |
81.2 |
FG |
12-20.7 |
Nicholson & Corbin Mtn, 2 nights from boundary |
Cascades, history, swimming |
2 |
Rt 600 |
G |
11.5-12.5 |
Graves Mill & Laurel Prong |
Forest, history |
2 |
Rt 662 |
|
14.5 |
Experienced Camping | Easy - Moderate Hikes
Trip (pdf) |
Features |
Night |
Entry |
Notes |
Mileage |
Jeremys Run Circuit Trips |
Valley, fishing |
1 |
24.1 |
F G |
12.5-14 |
Hannah, Hot-Short, & Catlett |
Streams, swimming, history |
1 |
35.1 |
F G |
9.1 |
Loft Mountain & Jones Run, 14 miles |
Views, geology, waterfalls |
2 |
77.5 |
F G |
14.4 |
Overall Run & Beecher Ridge |
Waterfall, swimming, ridge |
1 |
21.1 |
F G |
12-14 |
Brown Mtn & Rocky Mtn Run |
Valley, fishing, views |
1 |
76.9 |
G |
10-13 |
Riprap Wildcat |
Views, cascades, swimming |
1 |
90 |
|
9.5 |
Big Run, Doyles River, Frazier |
Valley, fishing, waterfalls |
2 |
79.5 |
F G |
18.1-26.8 |
Experienced Camping | Moderate - Strenuous Hikes
Trip (pdf) |
Features |
Night |
Entry |
Notes |
Mileage |
Hull School & Thornton River |
History, fishing, forest |
1 |
26.8 |
F |
7.9 |
Rapidan, Fork Mtn, Rose River |
Horse-packing circuit |
1 |
51.3 |
F |
22.9-17.3 |
Slaughter Ridge & Conway River |
Horse-packing |
1 |
56.8 |
|
14-16 |
South River & Pocosin |
Waterfalls, history |
1 |
62.8 |
|
8.4 |
South River & Pocosin from Swift Run |
Waterfalls, history |
1 |
65.5 |
W |
15 |
Rocky Mount & Gap Run |
Views, history, remote |
1 |
76.1 |
|
10 |
Hannah Run & White Rocks, 1 night |
Streams, swimming, history |
1 |
Rt 600 |
F |
16.5 |
Old Rag from Berry Hollow |
best on weekdays |
1 |
Rt 600 |
|
8.8 |
Whiteoak & Nicholson Hollow |
Waterfalls, history, wilderness |
1 |
Rt 600 |
|
16.1 |
Keyser & Piney |
Stream, small waterfalls |
1 |
Rt 614 |
W |
13 |
Thompson Hollow & Beecher Ridge |
Waterfalls, swimming, ridge |
1 |
Rt 630 |
F W |
9.8-13.8 |
Jones Mountain & Staunton River |
Ridge, stream, history, solitude |
1 |
Rt 662 |
|
14.7 |
Furnace, Jones, & Austin from the boundary |
Waterfalls, geology |
1 |
Rt 663 |
|
17.6 |
Overall Run Falls & Piney Branch |
Waterfall, streams |
2 |
21.1 |
G |
21.6-23 |
Overall Run Falls & Heiskell Hollow |
Waterfalls, swimming |
2 |
21.1 |
|
15.6 |
Piney Branch & Piney Ridge |
Stream, small waterfalls |
2 |
22.1 |
|
10 |
Neighbor Mountain & Jeremys Run |
Valley, fishing |
2 |
24.1 |
|
14 |
Pass Mountain & Jeremys Run |
Valley, fishing |
2 |
31.6 |
|
22.4 |
Pocosin & Dry Run |
Waterfalls, cliffs |
2 |
62.8 |
F |
6.7-15 |
Pocosin Hollow & Slaughter Ridge |
Waterfalls, history, views |
2 |
62.8 |
|
19.3 |
Swift Run, Pocosin, & Dry Run |
Waterfalls, cliffs |
2 |
65.7 |
F W |
16-19.4 |
Brown Mountain & Rockytop |
Valley, fishing |
2 |
76.9 |
|
18.6 |
Doyles River & Furnace Mtn |
Waterfalls, geology |
2 |
81.1 |
|
16.6-17.7 |
Wildcat Hollow & NF Moormans River |
Views, swimming |
2 |
87.4 |
|
21.5 |
Hannah Run & White Rocks, 2 nights |
Waterfalls, history, swimming |
2 |
Rt 600 |
F |
16.5-18.5 |
Hannah Run & Hot-Short Mtn, 2 nights |
Streams, swimming, history |
2 |
Rt 600 |
|
11.3 |
Graves Mill, Rapidan, Jones Mtn, 2 nights |
Forest, history |
2 |
Rt 662 |
F |
18.6 |
Paine Run, Doyles River, & Austin Mtn |
Waterfalls, geology |
2 |
Rt 663 |
|
25.8 |
Furnace, Jones, & Big Run from the boundary |
Waterfalls, valley, geology |
2 |
Rt 663 |
F G |
26.6-35.3 |
Overall Run, Piney Branch, & Jeremys Run |
Streams, waterfall |
3 |
21.1 |
G |
34.2-36 |
Nicholson & Hazel Wilderness |
Waterfalls, history, swimming |
3 |
33.5 |
F |
18.3-27 |
Pocosin, Dry Run, & Saddleback |
Waterfalls, cliffs |
3 |
62.8 |
F |
10.1-15 |
Pocosin, Laurel Prong, & Slaughter |
Waterfalls, history |
3 |
62.8 |
|
27.5-29 |
Swift Run, Pocosin, Dry Run, & Saddleback |
Waterfalls, cliffs |
3 |
65.7 |
F W |
16.4-20 |
Jones Run, Furnace Mtn, & Big Run |
Waterfalls, geology |
3 |
81.1 |
F |
19-27 |
Jones Run, Big Run, & Brown Mtn |
Waterfalls, geology |
3 |
81.1 |
G |
29 |
Jones Run, Big Run, Austin, & Furnace |
Waterfalls, geology |
3 |
82.9 |
|
30 |
Hannah Run & Hot-Short Mtn, 3 nights |
Streams, swimming, history |
3 |
Rt 600 |
|
11.3 |
Keyser, Piney, & Jeremys Run |
Ridges, valleys |
3 |
Rt 614 |
|
25 |
Furnace, Jones, Big Run, Brown Mtn |
Waterfalls, geology |
3 |
Rt 663 |
FG |
26.6-35.3 |
Pocosin, Laurel Prong, Staunton, & Slaughter |
Waterfalls, history |
4 |
62.8 |
|
34-35 |
Paine, Jones, Big Run, Brown Mtn. |
Waterfalls, geology |
4 |
Rt 663 |
F |
44.8-36.1 |
Advanced Camping | Moderately Strenuous Hikes
Trip (pdf) |
Features |
Nights |
Entry |
Notes |
Mileage |
Mount Marshall & Bluff, 2 Nights |
Wilderness forest |
2 |
12.3 |
F |
13-30 |
Hogback Mountain & Thornton River |
Views, history, fishing |
2 |
19.4 |
F |
18.4 |
Thornton River & Piney Branch |
History, small waterfalls |
2 |
25.4 |
|
18.4 |
Flexible Trip in Nicholson & Hazel Wilderness |
Waterfalls, history, swimming |
3 |
33.5 |
F |
18.3-27 |
Swift Run, Pocosin, Laurel Prong & Slaughter |
Waterfalls, history |
3 |
65.7 |
W |
34-36 |
Simmons Gap & Big Run |
Valley, fishing |
3 |
Rt 628 |
|
43.5-45.5 |
Furnace, Paine, Jones, Big Run from boundary |
Waterfalls, valley, geology |
3 |
Rt 663 |
F |
36.1-44.8 |
Jones Mountain to South River, Staying Dry |
Mountaintop, waterfalls, history |
5 |
Rt 662 |
W |
34.9 |
Advanced Camping | Strenuous Hikes
Trip (pdf) |
Features |
Nights |
Entry |
Notes |
Mileage |
Pass Mountain & Piney Ridge |
Ridge, solitude |
1 |
US 211 |
F W |
21 |
Nicholson Hollow & Corbin Mtn |
Cascades, history, swimming |
2 |
38.4 |
|
12 |
Paine Run, Riprap, & Moormans River |
Views, geology, swimming |
2 |
Rt 661 |
|
27.2-29.2 |
Jones Run, Furnace, Lewis Peak, & Big Run |
Waterfalls, geology |
4 |
81.1 |
F |
30.4-40 |
Jones, Furnace, Lewis Peak, Big Run, Brown Mtn |
Waterfalls, geology |
5 |
81.1 |
F |
30.4-40 |
South District Highlights in 7 days |
Views, waterfalls, swimming |
6 |
81.1 |
F |
59.1-69.2 |
South District Highlights in 8 days |
Views, waterfalls, swimming |
7 |
81.1 |
F |
59.1-69.2 |
South District Highlights in 8 days, short first day |
Views, waterfalls, swimming |
7 |
81.1 |
F |
59.1-69.2 |
South District Highlights in 9 days |
Views, waterfalls, swimming |
8 |
81.1 |
F |
59.1-69.2 |
|