Shenandoah National Park · Stanley · Hiking · Loop
Hawksbill Summit
The highest point in Shenandoah National Park, reachable by a short steep climb or a longer circuit.
- Distance
- 2.9mi
- Climb (listed)
- 860ft
- Time (agency)
- 1h30–2h30
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Terrain
- RockyShadedRidgeline
The route
Where it is
No route line is on file for this trail yet, so the map shows the trailhead only. Trailfinder publishes lines only when they can be assembled from OpenStreetMap and checked against the agency distance.
What it feels like
What it feels like
860 ft of listed climbing in 2.9 miles, about 297 ft per mile, which will set the pace. Rocky tread that slows every step, mostly under tree cover.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Hawksbill Gap parking area, Skyline Drive mile 45.5; the loop begins at the north end of the lot.
- Fees
- Shenandoah National Park entrance fee applies.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- Shenandoah National Park is open at all times, year round. Access is the constraint rather than hours: Skyline Drive is the only public road through the park and closes in sections during ice, snow and heavy fog, which can cut off this trailhead with little notice. Check the park's current conditions page the morning you travel.
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
How hard it will feel
Difficulty, explained
Moderate
Short but steady climbing with rocky sections near the summit.
Rocky tread slows every step and needs attention on the descent. Open to weather: the record warns of exposed sections.
- Distance
- +0
- 2.9 miles is a short outing.
- Climb
- +1
- 860 ft of climbing, about 297 ft per mile.
- Footing
- +2
- Rocky tread slows every step and needs attention on the descent.
- Technicality
- +0
- Nothing technical recorded; walking the whole way.
- Exposure
- +2
- Open to weather: the record warns of exposed sections.
Commitment
How long it takes
- Hiking
- 1h29–2h01
- 2.2 mph moving on rocky tread, no stops. 860 ft of climbing adds 26 min at a hiking pace.
- Family pace
- 2h15–3h22
- 1.3 mph moving on rocky tread, no stops. 860 ft of climbing adds 26 min at a hiking pace.
Terrain
Underfoot
- Surface
- Rocky, Dirt
- Technicality
- Rocky footing
- Crossings
- None recorded
- Exposure
- Exposed summit platform; weather changes fast at elevation.
Recorded hazards
- Lightning
- Wind and cold at the summit
- Rocky footing
What you'll see
On the record
- Highest point in the park
- Stone observation platform
- Spruce-fir remnant forest
Setting on file: Mountain, Ridgeline, Forest.
When to go
Seasonal character
Shenandoah National ParkSkyline Drive can close for ice and snow in winter. Waterfalls run best in spring; October weekends are the busiest days of the year and parking fills early.
General seasonal character, not a live condition report. Check the agency's alerts page for closures.
Who it fits
Is this for you?
- Runners
- Hiking route
- Families
- Good with kids
- Strollers
- Not stroller friendly
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Accessibility
- No notes on file
- Experience
- Comfortable for regular walkers with some fitness
The long version
About this route
Hawksbill tops out at 4,050 feet, the highest ground in the park. The Upper Hawksbill route is the gentler approach; the Lower Hawksbill Trail is shorter and considerably steeper.
The summit has a stone observation platform and remnants of the high-elevation spruce-fir community that survives only on Virginia's tallest peaks. Peregrine falcons have been reintroduced in the area.
WildlifePeregrine falcon habitat; observe from the platform and do not approach cliffs. Wildlife guide
If not this one
Related, and why
Shenandoah National Park
Stony Man
- Distance
- 1.6mi
- Elevation gain
- 340ft
- Time (agency)
- ~1h23
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
Less climbing · 340 ft of gain instead of 860.
Shenandoah National Park
Old Rag Mountain
- Distance
- 9.4mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,482ft
- Time (agency)
- ~6h30
- Scramble
- Ridgeline
Longer version · 9.4 mi when you want more of the same.
Shenandoah National Park
Whiteoak Canyon
- Distance
- 4.6mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,656ft
- Time (agency)
- ~4h
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Waterfall
Runnable alternative · Supports running, with a firmer or steadier tread.
Shenandoah Valley
Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park
- Distance
- 25mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
- Riverside
Nearby · 21 mi from this trailhead.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Hawksbill Gap parking area, Skyline Drive mile 45.5; the loop begins at the north end of the lot.
- Fees
- Shenandoah National Park entrance fee applies.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- Shenandoah National Park is open at all times, year round. Access is the constraint rather than hours: Skyline Drive is the only public road through the park and closes in sections during ice, snow and heavy fog, which can cut off this trailhead with little notice. Check the park's current conditions page the morning you travel.
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
Provenance
- Facts:
- verified against the managing agency · last checked August 29, 2026.
- Readings:
- anything marked Trailfinder reading is derived by Trailfinder from those sources, not published by the agency.
Before you go: Trail conditions, access rules, weather, water availability, and closures can change. Check the linked official source before leaving and choose a route appropriate for your experience and current conditions.