75 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA -Secciones 12.1 y 11.2 - Shenandoah National Park - De Doyles River Cabin a Smith Roach Gap
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 15.34 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,320 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 3,501 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,373 ft
- TrailRank
-
73
5
- Min elevation
- 2,208 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 8 hours 59 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2213
- Uploaded
- May 28, 2016
- Recorded
- May 2016
near Sullivan (historical), Virginia (United States)
Viewed 934 times, downloaded 19 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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Stage 75
⇐ Link to the previous stage: 74 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 13.1 and 12.2 - Shenandoah National Park -Turk Gap to Blackrock and Doyles River Cabin
⇒ Link to the next stage: 76 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 11.1 and 10.2 - Shenandoah National Park - Smith Roach Gap to Lewis Mountain Cabins
Tour of the Appalachian Trail ( Appalachian Trail ), as it passes through the state of Virginia (United States), from south to north, inside the 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 12.1 and 11.2, according to the official distribution of sections of the Appalachian Trail in the state of Virginia, and begins at the Doyles River Cabin (accessible through a side trail, approximately at the height of mile 81.1 from Skyline Drive), to the Smith Roach Gap (at mile 68.6 of the Skyline Drive).
The Doyles River Cabin is a simple cabin managed by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, one of the oldest in the park, which obviously does not have electricity or running water. It has capacity for 12 people, and has a latrine, porch with fireplace, tables, benches, bunk beds, mats, blankets, some kitchen utensils, small wood stove, tools for cutting firewood and nearby water fountain.
The cabin is located on a side turnoff of the AT, about 400 meters from the trail, at the height of the Doyles River parking area, at mile 81.9 of the Skyline Drive.
Although throughout the Shenandoah National Park there is a very large population of black bears, and sightings are frequent, in this area of Doyles River we have met twice with these animals: on a first occasion, with a bear and its young, and shortly after with a bear that roamed the parking area.
Although we usually carry a pepper spray canister by hand, especially to repel the attack of bears, and that to avoid risks, after a sighting, it is prudent to stop the march and back slowly, many times we tend to ignore the Precautionary rules, and far from following the recommendations, the first thing you end up looking for is the camera and a good angle and proximity to take a picture.
Luckily, these animals do not seem too interested in maintaining proximity to humans, and tend to flee quickly, which prevents unwanted encounters, but makes their photography very difficult.
At this stage, the AT follows a path without significant elevations, which ranges between 3,200 feet of Loft Mountain altitude, and 2,250 feet of Simmons Gap, offering in its route some splendid panoramic views east and west of the trail.
On the higher altitude section (Loft Mountain) there is a large paid campsite, which has a small supermarket, laundry and showers. Something away from the campsite, at mile 79.5 of the Skyline Drive, there is also a small supply store and a restaurant, with very limited opening hours.
At the end of the descent of Loft Mountain, and in an interesting and picturesque place, the Appalachian Trail crosses the Ivy Creek, which despite being a simple mountain stream, with little flow, I would say that it is the only river we will find in the whole Tour through the Shenandoah National Park.
That is precisely one of the criticisms that could be made to the layout of the TA through this national park, in which the spectacular views, from rocky ledges, cliffs and viewpoints, get overwhelmed, but where, however, contact is missing with the water: neither waterfalls, nor rivers, nor lakes, although in the park there are numerous places with small rivers and waterfalls, but all of them away from the route that currently follows the path.
So, it is worth taking advantage of this step through the modest Ivy Creek, because we will not have any other similar opportunity in many miles.
The rest of the way, to Smith Roach Gap, crosses several small hills, with a couple of rocky ledges and beautiful views to the east and west, and a magnificent viewpoint at mile 77.5 of the Skyline Drive, with panoramic views of the valley from Yvy Creek.
⇐ Link to the previous stage: 74 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 13.1 and 12.2 - Shenandoah National Park -Turk Gap to Blackrock and Doyles River Cabin
⇒ Link to the next stage: 76 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 11.1 and 10.2 - Shenandoah National Park - Smith Roach Gap to Lewis Mountain Cabins
Tour of the Appalachian Trail ( Appalachian Trail ), as it passes through the state of Virginia (United States), from south to north, inside the 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 12.1 and 11.2, according to the official distribution of sections of the Appalachian Trail in the state of Virginia, and begins at the Doyles River Cabin (accessible through a side trail, approximately at the height of mile 81.1 from Skyline Drive), to the Smith Roach Gap (at mile 68.6 of the Skyline Drive).
The Doyles River Cabin is a simple cabin managed by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, one of the oldest in the park, which obviously does not have electricity or running water. It has capacity for 12 people, and has a latrine, porch with fireplace, tables, benches, bunk beds, mats, blankets, some kitchen utensils, small wood stove, tools for cutting firewood and nearby water fountain.
The cabin is located on a side turnoff of the AT, about 400 meters from the trail, at the height of the Doyles River parking area, at mile 81.9 of the Skyline Drive.
Although throughout the Shenandoah National Park there is a very large population of black bears, and sightings are frequent, in this area of Doyles River we have met twice with these animals: on a first occasion, with a bear and its young, and shortly after with a bear that roamed the parking area.
Although we usually carry a pepper spray canister by hand, especially to repel the attack of bears, and that to avoid risks, after a sighting, it is prudent to stop the march and back slowly, many times we tend to ignore the Precautionary rules, and far from following the recommendations, the first thing you end up looking for is the camera and a good angle and proximity to take a picture.
Luckily, these animals do not seem too interested in maintaining proximity to humans, and tend to flee quickly, which prevents unwanted encounters, but makes their photography very difficult.
At this stage, the AT follows a path without significant elevations, which ranges between 3,200 feet of Loft Mountain altitude, and 2,250 feet of Simmons Gap, offering in its route some splendid panoramic views east and west of the trail.
On the higher altitude section (Loft Mountain) there is a large paid campsite, which has a small supermarket, laundry and showers. Something away from the campsite, at mile 79.5 of the Skyline Drive, there is also a small supply store and a restaurant, with very limited opening hours.
At the end of the descent of Loft Mountain, and in an interesting and picturesque place, the Appalachian Trail crosses the Ivy Creek, which despite being a simple mountain stream, with little flow, I would say that it is the only river we will find in the whole Tour through the Shenandoah National Park.
That is precisely one of the criticisms that could be made to the layout of the TA through this national park, in which the spectacular views, from rocky ledges, cliffs and viewpoints, get overwhelmed, but where, however, contact is missing with the water: neither waterfalls, nor rivers, nor lakes, although in the park there are numerous places with small rivers and waterfalls, but all of them away from the route that currently follows the path.
So, it is worth taking advantage of this step through the modest Ivy Creek, because we will not have any other similar opportunity in many miles.
The rest of the way, to Smith Roach Gap, crosses several small hills, with a couple of rocky ledges and beautiful views to the east and west, and a magnificent viewpoint at mile 77.5 of the Skyline Drive, with panoramic views of the valley from Yvy Creek.
Waypoints
Mountain hut
Car park
2,897 ft
Estacionamiento junto al Skyline Drive mp 81.9, en Doyles River Cabin
Estacionamiento junto al Skyline Drive mp 81.9, en Doyles River Cabin
Intersection
3,315 ft
Intersección del AT con el Frazier Discovery Trail
Intersección del AT con el Frazier Discovery Trail
River
Photo
Panorama
2,896 ft
Skyline Drive mp 77.5. Ivy Creek Overlook
Skyline Drive mp 77.5. Ivy Creek Overlook
Wilderness hut
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Fue una preciosa etapa. La cabaña era formidable, el tiempo y la estación, las mejores, y la emoción de encontrarnos dos veces cara a cara con un oso, es realmente inolvidable.