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Virginia Trailfinder

Shenandoah National Park · Luray · Hiking · Loop

Stony Man

The best view-per-effort hike in Shenandoah: a short, gentle climb to a cliff-top panorama.

Trailhead viewOfficial page
Distance
1.6mi
Climb (listed)
340ft
Time (agency)
1h–1h45
Difficulty
Easy
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

1.6 miles with 340 ft of listed climbing: enough to notice, not enough to dominate the day. Rocky tread that slows every step, mostly under tree cover.

Trailfinder readingFrom: agency distance 1.6 mi and gain 340 ft; 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

38.59470, -78.37890

Open the trailhead in a map app
Parking
Stony Man parking area, Skyline Drive mile 41.7.
Fees
Shenandoah National Park entrance fee applies.
Permits
Not on file
Hours
Not on file
Restrooms
Not on file
Water
Not on file
Dogs
Dogs not allowed
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

Easy

Short with a modest, steady grade and good footing.

Trailfinder readingModerate

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

Distance
+0
1.6 miles is a short outing.
Climb
+1
340 ft of climbing, about 213 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.

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

Commitment

How long it takes

Official · NPS1h–1h45
Trailfinder reading
Hiking
46–62 min
2.2 mph moving on rocky tread, no stops. 340 ft of climbing adds 10 min at a hiking pace.
Family pace
1h10–1h45
1.3 mph moving on rocky tread, no stops. 340 ft of climbing adds 10 min at a hiking pace.

Terrain

Underfoot

Surface
Rocky, Dirt
Technicality
Rocky tread; no scrambling recorded
Crossings
None recorded
Exposure
Exposed summit ledge with wind and lightning risk.

Recorded hazards

  • Cliff edges at the summit
  • Lightning
  • Wind chill at 4,000 feet

What you'll see

On the record

  • Big view for little effort
  • Second-highest peak in the park
  • Great for families

Setting on file: Mountain, Ridgeline, Forest.

When to go

Seasonal character

Skyline Drive closes for ice and snow, which makes winter access unpredictable.

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 not allowed
Accessibility
No notes on file
Experience
Beginners welcome

The long version

About this route

Stony Man is the park's second-highest summit and one of its easiest big views. The trail leaves Skyline Drive near the Skyland entrance, climbs gently through birch and spruce, and ends on an open rock ledge looking west over the Shenandoah Valley.

It is the hike to bring visiting family on, and a fine sunset objective given how short the return is.

If not this one

Related, and why

Shenandoah National Park

Hawksbill Summit

Distance
2.9mi
Elevation gain
860ft
Time (agency)
~2h
ModerateNo line on file
  • Rocky
  • Shaded
  • Ridgeline

Longer version · 2.9 mi when you want more of the same.

Shenandoah National Park

Whiteoak Canyon

Distance
4.6mi
Elevation gain
1,656ft
Time (agency)
~4h
Moderate
  • Rocky
  • Shaded
  • Waterfall

Runnable alternative · Supports running, with a firmer or steadier tread.

Shenandoah National Park

Old Rag Mountain

Distance
9.4mi
Elevation gain
2,482ft
Time (agency)
~6h30
Strenuous
  • Scramble
  • Ridgeline

Nearby · 5 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.