About
Length7.5 mi
ShapeLoop
DifficultyHard
Elevation gain1,500 ft up
Typical time7 hr 30 min
TrailheadMilam Gap, Skyline Drive mile 52.8
SurfaceStream trails and the Appalachian 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 💧 Waterfall🌊 River or creek🏛️ Historic site

A circuit hike to Camp Rapidan, the rustic getaway of President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. Today, this restful spot features exhibits on the First Couple and their perspectives. This hike features three stream crossings, each about eight feet wide, which may be difficult to cross, depending on the amount of recent rainfall. Take your time crossing and turn around if you feel uncomfortable. If you are unable to do the hike, you can still take a virtual tour of Rapidan Camp. Distance: 7.4-mile circuit hike Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous (explanation of our hiking difficulty scale ) Hiking Time: 8 hours Elevation Gain: 1,520 feet Hike Description From the Milam Gap parking area (mile 52.8), cross Skyline Drive and take the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) a few feet to the trailpost. Go left onto the blue-blazed Mill Prong Trail. Take a slight right onto the yellow-blazed Mill Prong Horse Trail and follow it to Rapidan Camp. After exploring the camp, take the Laurel Prong Trail (an old road trace), which is yellow-blazed, for about a half mile. Continue straight on Laurel Prong when it becomes blue-blazed and stay on it past the junction with Cat Knob Trail. At the junction with the A.T., turn right and follow it north across Hazeltop, the third highest peak in Shenandoah. The A.T. will take you back to your starting point Milam Gap.

Tips
The longer way to Rapidan Camp and much the nicer. Big Rock Falls on Mill Prong is a good lunch spot.
Location

Milam Gap, Skyline Drive mile 52.8

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
Your Hikes

🔒 Login or create an account to record the trails you've done, rate them, and tie them to a trip.