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Virginia Trailfinder

Charlottesville & the Blue Ridge · Lyndhurst · Hiking · Out and back

Humpback Rocks

A short, steep Blue Ridge Parkway climb to a rock outcrop with a wide valley view.

Trailhead viewOfficial page
Distance
2mi
Climb (listed)
Not on file
Time (agency)
1h15–2h15
Difficulty
Strenuous
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

2 listed miles; no elevation figure is on file, so judge the climb from the map. Rocky tread that slows every step, mostly under tree cover.

Trailfinder readingFrom: agency distance 2 mi; elevation gain not on file; surfaces on file: rocky, dirt; shade listed among amenities.

Before you drive

What to know first

Official · NPS

Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.

Start here

Trailhead

37.96360, -78.89610

Open the trailhead in a map app
Parking
Humpback Rocks trailhead parking at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 6.
Fees
No fee.
Permits
Not on file
Hours
Not on file
Restrooms
Not on file
Water
Not on file
Dogs
Dogs allowed on leash
Cell service
Not on file
Emergency
Not on file
Source: NPSLast checked August 29, 2026Report a change

How hard it will feel

Difficulty, explained

Official · NPS

Strenuous

Four National Park Service pages describe this as a strenuous climb — steep and rocky, gaining most of its height in about a mile.

Trailfinder readingModerate

Rocky tread slows every step and needs attention on the descent. Open to weather: the record warns of exposed sections.

Distance
+0
2 miles is a short outing.
Climb
—
Elevation gain not on file.
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.

Our reading (Moderate) differs from the agency's (Strenuous). The agency knows its trail; the breakdown shows which factor moved ours.

Commitment

How long it takes

Official · NPS1h15–2h15
Trailfinder readingNo gain on file: may run short
Hiking
46–63 min
2.2 mph moving on rocky tread, no stops. No elevation figure on file, so this assumes level ground and may run short.
Running
23–31 min
4.5 mph moving on rocky tread, no stops. No elevation figure on file, so this assumes level ground and may run short.
Family pace
1h14–1h51
1.3 mph moving on rocky tread, no stops. No elevation figure on file, so this assumes level ground and may run short.

Terrain

Underfoot

Surface
Rocky, Dirt
Technicality
Rocky tread; no scrambling recorded
Crossings
None recorded
Exposure
Exposed rock outcrop at the top.

Recorded hazards

  • Steep drop-offs at the outcrop
  • Lightning
  • Crowding on narrow tread

What you'll see

On the record

  • Fast, big payoff
  • Mountain Farm living-history exhibit
  • Connects to the Appalachian Trail

Setting on file: Mountain, Ridgeline, Forest.

When to go

Seasonal character

The Parkway closes in ice and snow. Fall weekends are extremely busy.

Charlottesville & the Blue RidgeWaterfalls peak in spring. Fall color runs late September at elevation through late October in the valleys. Parkway sections close in ice.

General seasonal character, not a live condition report. Check the agency's alerts page for closures.

Who it fits

Is this for you?

Runners
Yes, running is supported
Families
Good with kids
Strollers
Not stroller friendly
Dogs
Dogs allowed on leash
Accessibility
No notes on file
Experience
Experienced hikers; fitness and footing matter

The long version

About this route

Humpback Rocks is the first big view south of Waynesboro on the Blue Ridge Parkway and a favorite quick workout for Charlottesville and Staunton hikers. The trail climbs consistently for a mile to a series of rock ledges looking west.

It is short but genuinely steep, and the parking area fills on clear weekends. The nearby Mountain Farm exhibit is worth ten extra minutes.

If not this one

Related, and why

Charlottesville & the Blue Ridge

Crabtree Falls

Distance
2.7mi
Elevation gain
1,069ft
Time (agency)
~2h45
Moderate
  • Rocky
  • Shaded
  • Waterfall

Nearby · 13 mi away.

Shenandoah National Park

Stony Man

Distance
1.6mi
Elevation gain
340ft
Time (agency)
~1h23
EasyNo line on file
  • Rocky
  • Shaded
  • Ridgeline

Similar commitment · 1.6 mi, about the same day out.

Shenandoah Valley

Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail

Distance
2.3mi
Elevation gain
Gain not on file
Hiking time (estimate)
~52 min
Not ratedNo line on file
  • Crushed stone
  • Creek crossings

Nearby · 5 mi from this trailhead.

Shenandoah Valley

South River Greenway

Distance
2mi
Elevation gain
Gain not on file
Hiking time (estimate)
~40 min
EasyNo line on file
  • Paved
  • Riverside

Nearby · 7 mi from this trailhead.

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.