Rocky Mount is one of a few 9+ mile circuit hikes in the southern section of the Shenandoah National Park. With three different ascents, the last being at the end of the hike, this 2,840 foot loop can feel longer and higher than it actually is. The reward is the great panoramic view from the Rocky Mount summit.
From the concrete post marking the Rocky Mount Trail head on Skyline Drive, 200 yards before Twomile Run Overlook, start down the blue blazed Rocky Mount Trail as it descends along the ridge. Views of Massanutten Peak to the west are visible along this section of the trail. Massanutten Peak marks the southern tip of the 45 mile long Massanutten Range.
The Rocky Mount Trail will level out, then follow the ridge on its west side, pass through a small gap, then climb on its north side before descending steeply to the intersection of the Gap Run Trail 2.2 miles from Skyline Drive. At this point the Rocky Mount Trail you had been following heads back uphill.
Turn right downhill onto the Gap Run Trail. The trail initially descends steeply before crossing Gap Run in 1.9 miles. In another 0.4 miles arrive at a concrete post trail marker. Turn left remaining on the Gap Run Trail. The overgrown road to the right is private property. In 0.4 miles from the concrete post there is a large camping area on the bank of Gap Run. Continue along the trail for another 0.2 miles and arrive at the Rocky Mount Trail junction.
Turn left onto the blue blazed Rocky Mount Trail, cross Gap Run, and in 0.5 miles the trail makes a switchback to the right. At this point the trail begins the steep climb the 1.6 miles up to the Rocky Mount summit.
In 1.3 miles from the summit arrive back at the junction of the Gap Run Trail you descended earlier. Continue straight on the Rocky Mount Gap Trail, as it now heads uphill, retracing your route the 2.2 miles back to Skyline Drive and hike start point.
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Reviews For The Rocky Mount Hike (5 Most Recent)
A nice hike, but I question the ratings on Difficulty and Views. I had hiked Buzzard Hill twice the previous week and found it to be more difficult, but it is rated lower. One fairly nice view from near the top, but not as nice as the view from the lookout where I parked. I imagine the views are quite nice in late fall and in winter.
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Date of Hike: Sunday, May 31, 2009
Three weeks ago strong winds wrecked our car camping trip, depositing first our picnic canopy and then our 10X10 Kelty tent upside down into the woods behind our campsite. Wisely MRSHyker and I bailed out w/o doing the scheduled hike but returned three weeks later for a do over. We had severe thunder storms the night before but the hike day was pretty nice although the initial high humidity made the views a bit hazy and the climbs a little harder. P-Hyker and I were on the trail before 9:00. Although the views are probably cleared in the winter, during this time of the year the Mountain Laurel is in its prime. There has to be a near perpetual tunnel of them for 1.5 out of the 2.2 mile out-and-back part of the circuit. My personal preference is to hike "up" streams whenever possible so we did the loop portion in the opposite direction as described here. Since P-Hyker (our dog) was with me we didn't climb up on the cliffs for the real spectactular views but still caught a nice panorama of the surrounding mountains and the Shenandoah valley. We caught some more views during our descent to Gap Run. I made the first crossing w/o getting my boots wet. P-Hyker didn't mind and really enjoyed laying in the cool water at every crossing. As a matter of fact She seemed to want to walk up or down the stream instead of the trail. Since I didn't bring my trekking poles I elected to just wade across the rest of the crossings for safety sake. I learned how to be happy hiking in wet boots a long time ago. Most of them were over my boot tops anyway. At one point we lost the trail at stream's edge. It was flooded by higher than usual water levels. The final climb out of the drainage was pretty steep but short. After a recovery break at the Rocky Mount Trail junction and another more gradual climb we finished the hike with a nice casual stroll back through the Mountain Laurel tunnels. The steaks and wine tasted exceptionally good that night. As of this last trip I can say that I've hiked every hike (save 2 nature hikes) in the PATC "Circuit Hikes in Shenandoah National Park" plus several of my own design. It's time to find some other unexplored hiking adventures!
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Date of Hike: Monday, May 04, 2009
We left out on the trail head in the rain and fog, asking ourselves if we were foolish or brave! . All the great views were obstructed by fog, but the red eft newts and wildflowers seemed to love the rain. I was sure glad for my frogg toggs! Gap Run was swollen, and the crossings were challenging in places, but we managed to not fall in. Our camping spot on the gap run lulled us to sleep and provided beautiful scenery for our cup of morning joe. There were some steep climbs and I am glad we decided to make it a 2 day hike. We averaged about 50 minuets a mile. Towhee popped his hiking cherry, and is looking forward to his next trip out. We had a great time walking through the clouds!
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Mary and Mabel
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Date of Hike: Friday, July 18, 2008
This is one of the good circuit hikes in the Southern Section. I saw a timber rattler by the creek. Fortunately it had just eaten and was sluggish! Two weeks ago I saw another timber rattler on Trayfoot (I don't know why this hike isn't in the list of SNP hikes) that one rattled at me.
Heard on bear but the underbrush was too thick to see.
I am glad I took plenty of water because it was a hot day, but a fun hike.
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Chris
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Date of Hike: Monday, October 22, 2007
This was a fantastic hike. I didn't see a single person on the trial all day, probably because it was a weekday. I do wish that I had realized that this was going to be a considerably strenuous hike before I left, however. I completed the hike in just over 5 hours but ended up sleeping the entire next day because of it.
As far as difficulty goes, this one is probably about 20 - 30% more so than Old Rag, depending on how much time you allot yourself.
I definitely recommend camping on the little creek that runs through the far end of the circuit.
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