73 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Sección 14 y 13.2 - Shenandoah National Park - Rockfish Gap -Ruta US-250 I-64, a Turk Gap
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 12.53 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,943 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 2,169 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,031 ft
- TrailRank
- 72
- Min elevation
- 1,857 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 6 hours 29 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1816
- Uploaded
- May 23, 2016
- Recorded
- May 2016
near Swannanoa, Virginia (United States)
Viewed 425 times, downloaded 14 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
|
Stage 73
⇐ Link to the previous stage: 72 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA -Section 15.1 -From BRP Dripping Rock to Humpback Mountain and route US-260 / I-64 - Rockfish Gap
⇒ Link to the next stage: 74 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 13.1 and 12.2 - Shenandoah National Park -Turk Gap to Blackrock and Doyles River Cabin
Tour of the Appalachian Trail (Appalachian Trail), passing through the state of Virginia (United States), from south to north, from Rockfish Gap, near the town of Waynesboro, VA, at the intersection of the trail with routes US-250 and Interstate I-64. to Turk Gap, on the Skyline Drive that runs through Shenandoah National Park.
The Shenandoah National Park is one of the great American national parks. It was created in 1935 from the expropriation of agricultural and livestock land by the state of Virginia, and subsequent donation thereof to the federal government. It has a total area of 80,602 hectares (806 square kilometers), 40% of which is declared a protected natural space and is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
A singularity of this immense national park is that it can be traveled by car following the well-known Skyline Drive, a magnificent road that follows the mountain ridges of the park, for 169 kilometers, with continuous and spectacular viewpoints to the east and west.
The Appalachian Trail also runs primarily through the highlands of this mountainous area, but far enough from the Skyline Drive to isolate its route from tourist pressure. Even so, the AT intersects with the road at numerous points, allowing easy and convenient access to the trail, from the many existing parking lots.
The stage corresponds to sections 14 and 13.2 according to the official stage distribution of the Appalachian Trail in the state of Virginia.
The day began with dense fog and fine rain. The weather forecast announced rain throughout the day, so we placed the covers of the backpacks, prepared the ponchos, and we set out to face a safe barrel on the path. Gradually, the fog was dissipating, and the rain was not intense or continuous, but there was certainly enough mud, which complicated some descents in stony areas and with roots, with a little slope and semi-flooded.
Luckily, the stage did not present a route with significant elevations, or very rocky or slippery areas. The altitude ranges from 2,000 to almost 3,000 feet.
During the first 8 miles of the route (up to Jarman Gap), and with the only exception of the transit of the area near Calf Mountain (which is used by the AT with the permission of the owners of the farms it crosses), the trail passes by a green corridor owned by the federal government and managed by the NPS Appalachian Trail Park Office, which originally belonged to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and which is not properly considered part of the Shenandoah National Park.
There are beautiful (though not exciting) panoramic views at Bear Den Mountain (2,885 feet) where several police communications antennas are installed, and in Little Calf Mountain (2,910 feet), with some grasslands or meadows.
As of Jarman Gap (2,173 feet), the AT already enters the national park itself; its gradual descent continues for a short stretch of less than a kilometer; and after crossing a small stream starts a climb of about 4 and a half kilometers, to the Turk Gap.
In this last section, the magnificent panoramic view from Sawmill Run Overlook (mile 95.3 of the Skyline Drive) stands out, where the trail crosses the road.
We conclude the stage in the Turk Gap parking lot, located at mile 94.1.
⇐ Link to the previous stage: 72 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA -Section 15.1 -From BRP Dripping Rock to Humpback Mountain and route US-260 / I-64 - Rockfish Gap
⇒ Link to the next stage: 74 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 13.1 and 12.2 - Shenandoah National Park -Turk Gap to Blackrock and Doyles River Cabin
Tour of the Appalachian Trail (Appalachian Trail), passing through the state of Virginia (United States), from south to north, from Rockfish Gap, near the town of Waynesboro, VA, at the intersection of the trail with routes US-250 and Interstate I-64. to Turk Gap, on the Skyline Drive that runs through Shenandoah National Park.
The Shenandoah National Park is one of the great American national parks. It was created in 1935 from the expropriation of agricultural and livestock land by the state of Virginia, and subsequent donation thereof to the federal government. It has a total area of 80,602 hectares (806 square kilometers), 40% of which is declared a protected natural space and is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
A singularity of this immense national park is that it can be traveled by car following the well-known Skyline Drive, a magnificent road that follows the mountain ridges of the park, for 169 kilometers, with continuous and spectacular viewpoints to the east and west.
The Appalachian Trail also runs primarily through the highlands of this mountainous area, but far enough from the Skyline Drive to isolate its route from tourist pressure. Even so, the AT intersects with the road at numerous points, allowing easy and convenient access to the trail, from the many existing parking lots.
The stage corresponds to sections 14 and 13.2 according to the official stage distribution of the Appalachian Trail in the state of Virginia.
The day began with dense fog and fine rain. The weather forecast announced rain throughout the day, so we placed the covers of the backpacks, prepared the ponchos, and we set out to face a safe barrel on the path. Gradually, the fog was dissipating, and the rain was not intense or continuous, but there was certainly enough mud, which complicated some descents in stony areas and with roots, with a little slope and semi-flooded.
Luckily, the stage did not present a route with significant elevations, or very rocky or slippery areas. The altitude ranges from 2,000 to almost 3,000 feet.
During the first 8 miles of the route (up to Jarman Gap), and with the only exception of the transit of the area near Calf Mountain (which is used by the AT with the permission of the owners of the farms it crosses), the trail passes by a green corridor owned by the federal government and managed by the NPS Appalachian Trail Park Office, which originally belonged to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and which is not properly considered part of the Shenandoah National Park.
There are beautiful (though not exciting) panoramic views at Bear Den Mountain (2,885 feet) where several police communications antennas are installed, and in Little Calf Mountain (2,910 feet), with some grasslands or meadows.
As of Jarman Gap (2,173 feet), the AT already enters the national park itself; its gradual descent continues for a short stretch of less than a kilometer; and after crossing a small stream starts a climb of about 4 and a half kilometers, to the Turk Gap.
In this last section, the magnificent panoramic view from Sawmill Run Overlook (mile 95.3 of the Skyline Drive) stands out, where the trail crosses the road.
We conclude the stage in the Turk Gap parking lot, located at mile 94.1.
Waypoints
Photo
1,896 ft
Inicio de la etapa. Rockfish Gap. Estacionamiento y sendero
Inicio de la etapa. Rockfish Gap. Estacionamiento y sendero
Intersection
2,377 ft
Intersección del AT con Skyline Drive mp 102.1, en McCormick Gap (2.434 pies)
Intersection of the AT with Skyline Drive mp 102.1, in McCormick Gap (2,434 feet)
|
Summit
2,865 ft
Bear Den Mountain (2.885 pies). Antenas de comunicaciones
Bear Den Mountain (2.885 pies). Antenas de comunicaciones
Panorama
2,550 ft
Intersección del AT con el Skyline Drive mp 99.5, en Beagle Gap (2.550 pies)
Intersection of the AT with the Skyline Drive mp 99.5, in Beagle Gap (2,550 feet)
|
Wilderness hut
Panorama
2,189 ft
Intersección del AT con Skyline Drive mp 95.3 y vistas. Sawmill Run Overlook
Intersection of the AT with Skyline Drive mp 95.3 and views. Sawmill Run Overlook
|
Intersection
2,595 ft
Turk Gap. Skyline Drive mp 94.1. Estacionamiento y fin de la etapa
Turk Gap. Skyline Drive mp 94.1. Estacionamiento y fin de la etapa
You can add a comment or review this trail
Comments