Hiking to the Most Epic View in Virginia: Hawksbill Summit Trail

31 Aug Hiking to the Most Epic View in Virginia: Hawksbill Summit Trail

Posted at 19:39h in United States, Virginia by Caroline Rose 0 Comments

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Growing up in Virginia, I’ve always taken the area for granted. When I think of beautiful scenery my mind goes to the west coast. But in reality, Virginia has some incredible, underrated gems. Many of which are in Shenandoah National Park, and one of my favorites is Hawksbill Summit.

Hawkbill Summit is such a great trail. It’s short, so most people can do it, but uphill so it provides you with a slight challenge to be worthy of the view. And the view, well it doesn’t disappoint. Up top, jagged rock juts out of the lush greenery providing the viewer with an earth-made seat to dangle their feet, eat a snack and indulge in the view. It’s a simple day trip that supplies a whole lot of joy and a needed reset from the Northern Virginia rush.

Where is Hawksbill Summit Trail?

Hawksbill Summit is in Shenandoah National Park in Syria, VA.

The trailhead is about a 20 minute drive into the park along Skyline Drive from the Thorton Gap Entrance. Be mindful that this drive is very curvy and uphill.

Technically, Hawksbill Summit has an upper trail and lower trail, but the lower trail is the more popular one.

Entrance Fee & Parking

The entrance fee for Shenadoah National Park is $30 per vehicle, unless you have an annual park pass (which is a good idea to have if you’re taking a USA road trip!).

Parking for the trail can be found right at the trailhead in the gravel spots provided. Note that parking along the road is not permitted!

The Trail: Details, Difficulty and Conditions

At the trailhead, go to the left and that will lead you directly to the top.

The trail is 1.5 miles round trip, and is an in and out route (go back the way you came otherwise you’ll end up at a different parking lot).

Although a short hike, it may be slightly challenging for some because it is all uphill. However, because of it’s short length, most people could do it even if out of shape, just take breaks and don’t worry about taking your time!

The path is almost all dirt with some rocky parts here and there. For the most part it’s a very up-kept trail, and one might only have problems with slipping if it had just rained and were muddy.

Looking for comfortable, supportive hiking boots?

I have some recommendations for you!

As an all-rounder affordable pair of hiking boots that will last, I recommend the Columbia Newton Ridge that are only $75 and have over 13k reviews on Amazon – I love these boots and they’re pictured here in this post. I also wore them all through-out my USA road trip full of hiking and they still feel like new.

As a second option, I also love my pair of Adidas Terrex GoreTEX. This line is great if you’re looking for light weight boots (great if traveling internationally) that are tasteful and good quality. I wore these throughout all of my South America travels which included a LOT of trekking in Peru.

Who is this trail good for?

Hawksbill Summit is great for someone on a road trip or for somone from Northern VA or D.C. looking for a day/weekend trip. It’s also a good option to add to an itinerary if you’re looking to do multiple hikes in one day (this one is short so you could plan another hike for later).

As for accesibility, hiking the trail is possible for most people. But because it is uphill and steeper in some portions, younger children and older adults may have a difficult time. (But of course this depends and is a personal decision. While on the trail I did pass some kids and older adults who were just taking it slow.) Additionally, the trail is not wheelchair accessible, unfortunately.

For those that own dogs, Shenandoah permits you to bring your doggo, as long as they’re on a leash!

What to should you bring?

Must haves to bring for Hawksbill summit are water, snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, and a camera to capture the epic view!

What you wear somewhat depends on your comfort and on the time of year, as Virginia is subject to all 4 seasons (and more lol). I chose to wear leggings rather than shorts even in August to give my legs some extra protection from mosquitoes.

At minumn, you should wear clothes you can move in comfortably and supportive shoes. Most sneakers with traction on the bottom would be fine for this hike (my siblings were fine in these), however I always opt for my hiking boots to give my ankles some extra support .

Extra Tips

If you’re looking for another hike close by, head to White Oak Canyon to see the waterfall and swim! Also to save your breaks on the way out, be sure to take advantage of the gears in your car as you go down hill. Lastly, take a deep breath at the top of the mountain and enjoy the view.