Earlier this year, Moe and I had a chance to spend a long weekend in Shenandoah National Park and get in some hiking along our travels on Skyline Drive. One of our stops was a hike up Mary’s Rock.
Mary’s Rock is very popular destination in Shenandoah National Park, for a reason! It’s an incredibly scenic mountaintop in the Park, easily accessible from two trailheads along Skyline Drive. Along the way you get to follow a section of the Appalachian Trail too!
Mary’s Rock offers a commanding, panoramic view of the surrounding Shenandoah Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. It’s also the 8th highest peak in Shenandoah National Park.
We stopped at Thornton Gap on Skyline Drive, where we found the Panorama Trailhead and Parking Area to ascend Mary’s Rock via the Appalachian Trail. The Panorama Parking Area is located in Thornton Gap, just south of the intersection of Skyline Drive and Highway 211.
We headed southbound on the Appalachian Trail from the parking area, and climbed steadily just over two miles to the summit, ascending about 1,200 vertical feet along the way.
With only one car, the only way back to the Panorama Parking Area for us, was to go back the way we came – now following the Appalachian Trail northbound.
If you have limited time in the Park, but want to get out and on trail, the 4-mile long in and out hike from the Panaroma Trailhead is well worth the time and effort. Even early in the spring (and with some snow still in places), the trail was busy, but
For More Information
You can find this hike on:
- National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated Map for Shenandoah National Park
- Shenandoah National Park’s Trail Description
- Shenandoah National Park’s Trail Map
- Panorama/Thornton Gap History
Find additional information about Shenandoah National Park on their website.
More Shenandoah National Park Hiking Resources:
Jeff Senterman 