Big Meadows Area - Shenandoah National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

11/2020

A map of the Big Meadows area in Shenandoah National Park,

MP Red Gate 49 Fire Road

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Hiking Trail Paved Road 0 1 Kilometer Hiking Trail (Appalachian Trail) Skyline Drive Hiking Trail (Horses) Park Boundary 0 1 Mile Unpaved Road Stream Unpaved Road (Horses) P Parking Building Viewpoint Waterfall

Emergency 1-800-732-0911 • Information 540-999-3500 • Online www.nps.gov/shen Dark Hollow Falls Hike Markers & Blazes

1.4-mile round trip 1.25-hours hiking time Trail markers are at trailheads and Moderate 440-foot elevation gain intersections. The metal bands are stamped with directional and mileage From the trailhead, follow the trail 0.75-mile to the falls and information. return by the same route. This trail is short, but very steep and rocky. The return climb is challenging! No pets. Trail blazes are found on trees and rocks throughout Story of the Forest Hike the Park. The color 1.8-mile circuit 1.5-hours hiking time identifies the trail type: Easiest 290-foot elevation gain Blue - Hiking trail From the front of Byrd Visitor Center, turn right and follow White - Appalachian Trail the sidewalk to the trail. After crossing the bridge, turn left and Yellow - Open to horses follow the trail to its intersection with a paved walkway near the Campground Office. Turn left and follow the walkway back to your starting point. No pets.

Rose River Loop Hike Need to Know 4-mile round circuit 4.5-hours hiking time Moderate 910-foot elevation gain Pets are not allowed on Dark Hollow and Story of the Forest Trails. Where allowed, pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 From the north end of Fishers Gap parking at mile 49.4, cross feet at all times. Skyline Drive and start down the fire road. Just after the chain, • Be sure you are physically able to complete your hike. take a left onto the Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail (yellow • Take plenty of water—at least a quart per hour. blazed). In about 0.6-mile take the blue-blazed Rose River Loop • When you return from your hike, check for ticks. Trail. Follow it past the 67-foot falls. Continue to the bridge, • Stay on the trail and avoid trampling sensitive vegetation. where you begin hiking up a steep, rocky section past beautiful • Be sure someone knows where you are and when to expect cascades. At the fire road (yellow-blazed), turn right across your return. bridge. For an added treat (and about .25-mile more hiking), you • Leave what you find. Artifacts and wildflowers are protected. can take the Dark Hollow Falls Trail to the base of the falls and • It’s dangerous and potentially deadly to climb on the rocks back. Then continue uphill about one mile back to Skyline Drive. near waterfalls. • Cell and GPS services are unreliable. Lewis Falls Trail Hike 3.3-mile circuit 4-hours hiking time Good to Know Moderate 990-foot elevation gain The Big Meadow is a great place to wander. There’s no right or wrong way to do it; just follow the animals’ paths. Every season From the Big Meadows amphitheater parking area, walk downhill will reveal something special: wildflowers, fawns, butterflies, at the concrete marker post and turn left on the Appalachian tracks in the snow—you never know what you might find. Trail. Stay right onto the blue-blazed Lewis Falls Trail. It’s a steep, rocky descent to the falls viewing platform. Take the trail up to its The Story of the Forest Trail takes you past the Park’s Air Quality intersection with a fire road. Turn right and in a few yards turn Monitoring Station. Look to your left along the fence for a sign left onto the Appalachian Trail. Follow uphill to starting point. that explains what we monitor and why.

Hiking Difficulty Scale Easiest: Generally suitable for anyone who enjoys walking. Mostly Strenuous: Will challenge most hikers. The hike will generally be level or with a slight incline. Generally less than 3 miles. longer and steeper, but may be deemed strenuous because of the Moderate: A moderate hike generally suitable for novice hikers elevation gain. Generally 7 to 10 miles. seeking a bit of a challenge. The terrain will involve a moderate incline Very Strenuous: Only well conditioned and well prepared hikers and may have some steeper sections. Generally 3 to 5 miles. should attempt. Generally long and steep, and may include rock Moderately Strenuous: Generally challenging for an unconditioned scrambling, stream crossings, and other challenging terrain. Generally person. The terrain will involve a steady and often steep incline. 8 miles and over. Generally 5 to 8 miles.

Trail maintenance and map funded by recreation fee dollars.