Hey, I'm planning to do a 2 day hike on Shenandoah mountain trail, south of 250.  I'm concerned about the availability of water on this route as I cannot find any detailed trail descriptions for this hike, and the topo maps dont indicate much for water along the trail. 

So, does anyone have any experience on this trail, specifically concerning water availability.  we've had decent rain this summer so any springs should be flowing, i just don't know if there are any along this section of trail.

thanks for any help - even if you can reference me to a trail description somewhere that i missed.

Salamander

hey thanks, yes, I've hiked the section north of 250 also, Hiner springs is a great place to camp. 

seems like there must be some water somewhere

did you end up doing the 2 day hike here? Am currently planning one out for October and would be curious to know from someone who has experienced the trail first hand.

OK, I survived the hike!  Its a really great hike, and my party of 3 didn't go thirsty for a minute, though water is a potential issue. 

We broke the hike up as follows: Started around 5 or 5:30pm Friday and hiked in about 4 miles to the first wildlife pond, this is where the trail and road come back together and there are tons of great spots for tents.  We filtered water from the wildlife pond without getting sick.  Saturday started at 8:30 and hiked to Phillip spring which is way the heck down the mountain and there is a super faint trail, but dont bother, just follow the ravine down till you find it.  It was BARELY flowing and we had to dig it out a little to make it deep enough for the filter end to sit in it, but it was flowing and we got all the water we needed.  Saturday night we hiked to the wildlife pond at the intersection of Jerkemtight (this is very fun to say and made for humerous banter while hiking) and Shen. Mtn. Trail.  We actually intended to make use of a supposed spring up on wallace mountain, but could not find it and was getting dark so we retired back down to the pond area.  There is a campsite in the spruce stand with a fire ring, but its a little trashed with beer and cheap whiskey bottles   Again, we filtered water from the wildlife pond with no ill effects.  Sunday we hiked the final 4 or so miles down to the end of the trail on RT. 627.  I would definitely not bother going the other couple miles to Rt. 678, we drove down to that end but it looked very uninteresting compared to the rest of the hike. 

So, for water, the two wildlife ponds are easy to find and basically right on the trail.  Phillips spring is WAY off the trail but did have water at least this weekend.  I can provide exact GPS coordinates if needed.  

Also, feel free ask any other specific questions about the hike.  It was good and LOTS of solitude!!!!! didn't  see anyone else at all the whole time we were out.   Oh and lots of wildlife: deer, lots of bear poop, birds, a couple snakes, oh and look for the really cool allegheny mound building ants tending to their little aphid captives on young black locust trees!!!!!!!

Yes, its a shuttle hike, start on 250 just down from the breastworks and end on 627 - both trail heads are obvious with parking. 

Total distance is about 25 miles I think. 

um, not a lot of views, the best one is towards the end of the hike looking south west into bath county.