Additionally, many states have quarantine orders for visitors from out of state. Lewis Falls plunges 81 feet over a rock ledge and is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park. Two miles of the hike is on the Appalachian Trail, with a branching off to the peak itself of .2 mile each way. Day Four Campsite: Big Run Portal/Loop Trails - backcountry 6 to 8 miles Hike back on Lewis Peak Trail, 2.4 miles. … Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. This easy 1.3-mile loop trail begins and ends at the Lands Run parking area at Mile Marker 9.2. An easy hike with two viewpoints. Fox Hollow Trail Milepost 4.6 1.2 miles. Lewis Peak - October 22, 2011 Anyone missing Saturday's hike to Lewis Peak missed the finest day in Shenandoah National Park in a while. The hike started from Brown Gap, south of the Loft Mountain Development and Big Run. COMPTON GAP Rt. Related terms: jeep trail, path, ski trail Man-made. Lewis Peak is a peak inside of Shenandoah National Park. Although not the best waterfall hike in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park (see here and here for better ones), the Lewis Falls Trail offers a fine view of one of the park’s highest cascades, while a short jaunt on the Appalachian Trail (AT) completes the circuit and features fantastic views of the Shenandoah Valley. on Aug 22, 2007 12:08 pm. The open vista of Massanutten from the Lewis Peak trail was simply spectacular. Whether you’re a first-time visitor to Shenandoah or a seasoned veteran, there are several must-do trails … Day Four Campsite: Big Run Portal/Loop Trails - backcountry 6 to 8 miles Hike back up Lewis Peak Trail, 2.4 miles. Turn left onto Lewis Peak Trail and hike up to 2.4 miles. The rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont, to the east. Of particular note are some of the most concentrated areas of Skolithos I've seen in Shenandoah. After enjoying the views from Lewis Peak, we will retrace our hike back to the Brown's Gap Parking Area. Before and after your drive, relax at Skyland, Big Meadows Lodge or Lewis Mountain Cabins. 601 Foot Fair access; parking for 2 cars along roadside. Lewis Falls. 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This was an easy hike to pick up some fragments of the AT between Bearfence Hut and Pocosin Cabin. To the southwest, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Shenandoah extend out into a westward arm, with a set of north-south ridges. From this overlook of Lewis Falls, make your way back to the start of the spur path. Turn left onto Lewis Peak Trail and hike up to 2.4 miles. Minutes later, the rock outcrops reappear, and boulders are scattered across the rising slopes. In yet another 1.81 miles pass the junction of the blue blazed Lewis Peak Tr on the left. (2.4 mile, Easy to Moderate) Milepost 21. Trying to find a hike in the American West? Hike Options For a longer hike, park your car at the Jenkins Gap parking area at Mile Marker 12.8 for a 3.3-mile out-and-back hike to Compton Peak from Jenkins Gap. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The shaded trail follows along a stream to a small, cascading waterfall. Explore hundreds of miles of backcountry trail, enjoy a quiet afternoon of bird or wildlife watching, or unwind at any one of many spectacular natural features. Although not the best waterfall hike in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park (see here and here for better ones), the Lewis Falls Trail offers a fine view of one of the park’s highest cascades, while a short jaunt on the Appalachian Trail (AT) completes the circuit and features fantastic views of the Shenandoah Valley. Skolithos is a trace fossil left by Cambrian Era worms in the Erwin Formation in the Blue Ridge. Now, it is a strenuous, uphill walk back to Big Meadows. At 1.5 miles, the route abruptly switchbacks to the left, followed quickly by a right-hand bend amid a patch of mountain laurel. To see Lewis Falls, cross the creek and take the spur trail to the overlook. Lewis Peak is a small, sharp (by Shenandoah standards) peak connected to the main ridge of Rockytop. By now the incline drops in fits and starts, with occasional steep sections. Day 2 finishes the Riprap Trail (if you didn’t finish it on day 1) and then follows the Wildcat Ridge Trail (2.7 miles) and the Appalachian Trail north (2.8 miles) back to your car. The break in Massanutten Mountain to the west, beyond the towns of Stanley and Marksville, is New Market Gap, with Strickler Knob (2,780’) visible. Like the photography? At 3.4 miles, you reach the Lewis Peak Trail junction. There is a large talus slope here that opens up into views of a valley between two mountains and Massanutten Mountain perfectly framed at the center in the distance. Skolithos, fossilized worm-holes viewed from above. Near the park border I noticed an old road splitting off to the east from the trail. Park boundary trailhead accesses are generally in remote areas. From the overlook, around 1.3 miles from the trailhead, most of Lewis Falls comes into view. 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