One of the toughest day hikes in the entire SNP. The Peak circuit has spectacular views along the AT and Marshall Mountain, and a grueling straight up and down climb of The Peak two thirds along the hike. You also have the option of making this significantly easier and shorter by 3.0 miles, and not doing The Peak out/back to the summit.
If you are looking for a good workout with plenty of views this may be the hike for you! Also, if you plan on doing The Peak out/back make sure to start early, as this makes the total hike time over 7 hours. It's a steep climb. Check out the profile at mile 11.
From the parking area at Gravel Springs Gap, cross Skyline Drive and turn right on the white blazed Appalachian Trail (AT). In 0.9 miles arrive at the first good overlook towards the west, and of the south fork of the Shenandoah River. In another 0.8 miles re-cross Skyline Drive and shortly pass a parking area on the left. In 0.2 miles the trail will make a turn to the right and climb to a rock outcropping where the AT turns back to the left. Climb up the rocky outcrop for the best view of the hike. Continue along the AT crossing Skyline Drive once again in 1.9 miles, then in another 1.5 miles the AT will begin to descend and arrive at the yellow blazed Jenkins Gap Trail.
Turn right on the Jenkins Gap Trail, pass through the parking area, and cross Skyline Drive. Turn right and continue next to Skyline Drive (no trail) for 0.2 miles to the Mount Marshall trailhead. Turn left down the yellow blazed Mount Marshall Trail as it winds around the mountain crossing Waterfall Branch, and Sprucepine Branch before arriving at the intersection of the Bluff Trail in 3.5 miles.
The Peak now is directly in front of you :) Again, there are no views at the summit, but it's a great workout. If you decide NOT to do The Peak out/back turn right here onto the Bluff Trail.
For The Peak out/back continue straight on the Mount Marshall Trail for another 0.4 miles to Thoroughfare Gap and intersection of the Jordan River Trail. The abandoned blue blazed Peak Trail is directly ahead going straight up the ridge. The trail is hard to locate for the first 100 yards, then climbs the ridge steeply for 0.3 miles where there is a small rock cairn indicating the turn left. Pick up the trail again and continue along the ridge for the remaining 0.5 miles to the tree covered summit. Return by following your path back to Thoroughfare Gap, then back to the intersection of the Bluff Trail.
Turn left on the yellow blazed Bluff Trail as it winds around the mountain for 2.3 miles to the intersection of the blue blazed Big Devils Stairs Trail. Stay straight on the Bluff Trail for another 1.4 miles arriving at the next intersection where the Bluff Trail turns left. Turn right uphill for 0.1 miles to the intersection of the horse trail and turn right again for 0.1 miles to the yellow blazed fire road. Turn right uphill on the fire road for the remaining 0.3 miles back to the Gravel Springs parking area.
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Reviews For The The Peak Hike (5 Most Recent)
I chose to forgo the Gravel Springs Gap > AT > Mt. Marshall Trail > Bluff Trail > Gravel Springs Gap Loop. Instead, I parked at the base of the Mt. Marshall Trail off State Route 625. The trail crosses private land for 0.6 miles as it climbs up to the park boundary. From the boundary it is another 1.2 miles up to Thoroughfare Gap and the junction with the Jordan River Trail and the abandoned Peak Trail. Unlike many of the other posters here, I had no trouble following the trail up the ridge. The blue blazes are old and consequently faint, but they are there. As others have mentioned, the trail actually splits at the rock cairn, with one path leading up the ridge to the summit, and another more easily followed trail continuing on around the southern face of the Peak. I took this second trail around to the south and was treated to a number of small gaps in the trees that afforded good views across the valley toward Gravel Springs Gap and Skyline Drive. The trail climbs up to the southern ridge line on the back side of the Peak and appeared to continue on down the ridge into the valley. However, when the trail begins to descend this ridge, you come to a group of large boulders to the right of the trail. This rocky outcropping provided an excellent, unobstructed view across the valley. From this point, you have to blaze your own trail up to the summit. It is easy to get turned around on the top of the Peak, but if you take a heading toward Gravel Springs Gap, you will come back to the overlook and the blue blazed trail for a fairly easy return to Thoroughfare Gap.
I believe the trail was more noticeable because I hiked it in November. Most of the leaves had fallen from the small trees and shrubs that have sprung up in the trail, and the tall grasses and weeds had died back. It would definitely be a much more difficult hike in the summer with the undergrowth in full leaf. If you are still looking to cover some ground after you descend the Peak, it's about a 5.5 mile out and back jaunt to Big Devils Stairs on the Bluff Trail, or you can descend down into the valley on the Jordan River Trail. Oh, and I highly recommend that you spray your socks and the bottoms of your pants legs with bug repellant. I had to stop a couple of times to pick numerous ticks off my pants. I must have walked through a deer bedding area.
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 03, 2011
We hiked this as an overnight backpacking trip starting from the Jenkins Gap parking lot (a great parking area to the west of Jenkins Gap overlook that is not on any of the maps except the map here on Hiking Upward). The only challenge route-finding up The Peak was at the rock cairn that indicated a left turn. After 50 feet the trail was lost in the boulders so we continued on the ridgeline for another 200 yards or so and scrambled up a less-threatening slope.
The lack of the view from the top was expected but still disappointing (the fog that day prevented any decent views). From the "summit" we headed due south and picked up the ridge line trail again - it helped here having an altimeter, compass, and map and knowing how to use all three. As mentioned by another reviewer, there are a couple nice overlooks from this ridgeline trail but the fog that day shrouded the next ridge over in its dense cloak.
We saw a bear on the Bluff Trail midway between the Mt Marshall trail and Big Devil Stairs trail. He/she did not wait for me to mount my 200mm lens before waddling off into the brush.
The hike on Sunday back to Jenkins Gap via the AT was spectacular.
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 25, 2011
This hike probably shouldn't be rated a "6". Aside from the Peak, which was a total mess, the trail was nice but not really a challenge. With respect to the Peak, I never really found the trail but I did find the small rock cairn, but the "trail" didn't really exist. Nonetheless, i still charged the hill and climbed up the mountain. I was sort of disoriented coming down but I had my compass set to 320 degrees due NE so I just followed that course and made it back to the ridge.
Oh, and when asking directions at the main SNP gate, the lady asked if I planned to climb up the Peak. I told her that I did, and she told me about the hikers that had to stay the night up there recently. You can read about the straded hikers in other posts. What I will emphasis this that anytime you decide to go off the trail, a compass and a good topographical map are important. Also, climb the "peak" early instead of later in the day.
By:
Vlad
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 05, 2011
The hike as described, except for the hike up to The Peak is a VERY nice hike. Good open views of the valley early on, a few mildly tough inclines in first half while on AT, followed by pretty "green tunnel" mostly descent down Mt Marshall. This was well maintained, of course, as was the Bluff trail (about 600' ascent) over 3.9 miles) after Thoroughfare Gap back to the Gravel Springs lot. The Peak... VERY CHALLENGING, up and down, due to the steepness and the terrain. Whether you take the more direct path up the rigeline (tougher) or the path to the right of it that comes to the peak from the other side, you will feel the burn. The terrain is made much tougher because of the unmaintained trail. Because of this, it is a challenge not to go off course. Be very careful not to do so! The reason I say that the Peak is NOT WORTH IT is because there is great effort for little reward. There are no good views, as mentioned. You have to bushwack or walk through growth that becomes an exercise for its own sake but nothing worthwhile. I do not recommend it, and park service plans to officially mark it as a Closed Trail at some point. But, if you do go, it can't be stressed enough to have good directionbal guidance (compass, GPS). it is not for winging it, because it is VERY easy to get OFF COURSE coming back down and not get back to any of the trails that feed the described hike's loop. To summarize, all but the Peak section is a Greatly Enjoyable day hike. The Peak section is too much risk for no reward.
By:
Nancy
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 05, 2011
I'm with Vlad on this one. The reason he knows people could get lost easily is because a couple of us did get lost and ended up spending the night on the mountain before being rescued by the terrific SNP rangers. That trail has been abandoned for 20+ years, and is extremely difficult to find. They also apparently didn't believe in switchbacks when it was made, it is pretty much a straight shoot up a very steep mountain. The rest of the hike is really beautiful, and the trail is not busy at all, enjoy that part and don't wreck it with that Peak climb!
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