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Saddleback Mountain - Shenandoah National Park , VA


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Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping
5.9 mls
Hiking Time:
Elev. Gain:
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Resources:
3.0 hours including 30 minutes for breaks
1,079 ft
Shenandoah National Park
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From:

Park on Skyline Drive where the A.T. crosses the road. 38.35742, -78.54542
 

By Trail Contributors: Christine and Adam Anderson

While this hike doesn’t offer any grand views or beautiful streams, it does offer solitude and great opportunities to spot wildlife.  In spring, this area is lush with wildflowers.  It’s also a great choice for a snowy-day hike when Skyline Drive is closed.  You can park outside the Swift Run Gap entry station, and walk 100 yards to the trailhead.

Early February
Saddleback Mountain Hike Comments
Archived Comments


By: aldikuma Rating: Date of Hike: Thursday, August 16, 2018
Got to our campground later than expected so we chose a shorter hike to complete in the afternoon heat. A nice trail and easy workout, but no vistas or streams other than the springs by the cabin. The cute little cabin was a nice place to take a short break.

By: Jamey Rating: Date of Hike: Saturday, March 24, 2018
This is a very pleasant hike in the woods. I knew to not expect any spectacular views or pretty streams. What I didn't expect was that the woods are still full of snow. I figured there would be patches of snow, but I slogged through 4-5 inches of snow, sometimes much more, the entire way. It was very pretty, although the snow made the hike much slower and harder than I anticipated. But what a nice day in the woods!

By: Jackie Rating: Date of Hike: Sunday, June 18, 2017
Hiked this one Sunday morning, as the weather forecast seemed iffy and we decided to take two dogs with us. Honestly a pretty easy hike, with the steepest part right in the beginning. But the rest of it isn't too strenuous and the top loop is fairly flat. The Saddleback Mountain loop was empty, and a bit overgrown, but it didn't bother us! , We only saw other hikers on the way back down on the AT (about 8-10 AT hikers) Great short hike if you don't want to have to drive too far into the park. Only one other car at the trailhead when we started at 8:15am, and we were back to the car by 10:40. Didn't stop too often, but our pace was dictated by the dogs, so it fluctuated greatly. Would be a good trail to run on as well.

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