About
Length (round trip)2.1 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyModerate
Elevation gain690 ft up
Typical time1 hr 30 min
TrailheadHawksbill Gap, Skyline Drive mile 45.6
SurfaceSteep rocky trail
Best seasonApril to early June for wildflowers and waterfalls; mid-October for fall colour. Skyline Drive closes in ice and snow.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
AccessibilityThis trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines.
What you'll see ⛰️ Summit🌄 Big views

A shorter, yet steeper, route to Shenandoah's highest peak. The viewing platform on top of Hawksbill offers a magnificent 360-degree panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont. Note that very limited closures are in effect in an effort to prevent further degradation of important outcrop ecosystems on Hawksbill. Distance: 1.7-mile round trip hike Difficulty: Moderate ( hiking difficulty scale ) Hiking Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Elevation Gain: 690 feet Hike Description From the Hawksbill Gap Parking Area (mile 45.5), take the Lower Hawksbill Trail to the Byrds Nest 2 Shelter Follow the trail to the viewing platform. Retrace your steps to return to your starting point.

Tips
The steepest of the three routes but the shortest. Peregrine falcons nest on the cliffs below the summit. The relict balsam fir near the top is a remnant of the last ice age.
Location

Hawksbill Gap, Skyline Drive mile 45.6

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