Easy Shenandoah Hiking Trails

We all know someone who's not a hiker. They've never been hiking. They don't own hiking boots. They're allergic to walking more than a mile. Usually this isn't a problem for us.

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It's a small scramble to the top of Blackrock Summit, but well worth the views.

If you see something like this along the Blackrock Summit Loop, it's probably time to start heading back to the car.

The views from the Frazier Discovery Trail hit West Virginia on a clear day.

But when you're suddenly thrown into a Virginia road trip with one of them and have some extra time to kill, they can be a downright drag. And let’s face it-- if your only knowledge of Shenandoah National Park involves multiple hikes that are 5 miles too long and have a 1000-foot elevation gain, your chances of convincing them to go for a walk is less than slim.

Fortunately, Southern Shenandoah is a trap for unsuspecting future hikers, and here's the info you need to lead someone right into it.

Blackrock Summit Loop

The first hike is easily done in sneakers, and has very little elevation gain. While this makes it a wonderful choice for introducing first timers or children to hiking, it also means crowds in nicer weather. The only danger is in climbing the boulders at the top. However, it’s your choice to take that risk or not, because the AT circles around the sides to bring you back on the other side of the summit.

Our deception begins 20 miles north of the Southern Entrance of Shenandoah, at mile marker 84.8. Parking is available in the Blackrock Summit parking area. At the southern end of this lot, start up the Trayfoot Mountain Trail, following what seems to be an old jeep road. The grade is pretty easy, and there are very few rocks. After only a few minutes, you'll come to an intersection with the Appalachian Trail, which you'll want to make a left on (follow the white blazes). The trail narrows at this point, but becomes flatter and even easier. Views through the trees on the right give a slight glimpse of what's to come when you reach Blackrock Summit.

Continue to follow the AT as it takes you almost straight west, hugging the mountainside. You'll see a pile of large rocks ahead, signaling the halfway point and the destination for this hike. As the trail rounds to the right a little, the view on your right opens up, spanning the Southern half of the Shenandoah Valley and framed only by the talus beneath and the sky above. To the right are 3o feet of boulders sloping up to the summit, and the more adventurous of hikers will make the short scramble to the top for views in almost every direction. Be careful here, this is not the place for the coordinationally-challenged.

After soaking up the views, make your way down the boulders to the trail on the other side. Continue along the AT, which intersects with the Trayfoot mountain trail again, and make a left. The trail on the way back is so easy, it's almost wheelchair friendly. But it's not; so don't even think about it. Follow it all the way back to the parking lot. Overall, this is the much easier trail of the two.

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