Big Meadows Area Road and Trail
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Big Meadows Area - Shenandoah National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior 2/2018 A map of the Big Meadows area in Shenandoah National Park, Red Gate Fire Road Fishers Gap l i Overlook a Big Meadows R r T Picnic Grounds o s Amphitheater il e Rose River ra Falls (67’) T e s r o H Lodge s R w i o v e p d r o a l e o i L a M r T g Big Meadows i s r l ve l B i Blackrock - R a Campground d MP F S F n 50 i t r g e o a l in r r y y k p S S o er s f Riv i se o w th R e e R ose Fi L F o R re or a e d s t Sto n Air Quality y Ro T a Monitoring r d Station a Dark Hollow il Falls Trail Lewis Falls P Dark Hollow (81’) Dark Hollow Falls Falls (70’) MP Parking M o 51 u Tanners Ridge n Overlook P t Visitor Center a i P n Wayside ad THE MEADOW o R T r a i e Ra l ir Rapidan Road pid F an Parking F e ire g d i R Ro MP ad 52 s R r a e p n i n d a a T n l i a r T Road R a p i d a e n s r F o i r H e P ro re T l n i ng ra l g F o i UpperUpper Dark Dark Pr il Milam Gap M HollowHollow Falls Trail P Parking M ill North R o ad MP 53 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 identifies 1.8-mile circuit 1.5-hours hiking time the trail type: Easiest 290-foot elevation gain Blue - Hiking trail White - Appalachian Trail From the front of Byrd Visitor Center, turn right and follow Yellow - Open to horses the sidewalk to the trail. After crossing the bridge, turn left and 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 road. Just after the chain, take a • Be sure you are physically able to complete your hike. left onto the Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail (yellow blazed). • Take plenty of water—at least a quart per hour. In about 0.6-mile take the blue-blazed Rose River Loop Trail. • When you return from your hike, check for ticks. Follow it past beautiful falls and cascades. You’ll climb back to the • Stay on the trail and avoid trampling sensitive vegetation. road (yellow blazed), and go right across the bridge. For an added • Be sure someone knows where you are and when to expect treat (and about .25-mile more hiking), you can take the Dark your return. Hollow Falls Trail to the base of the falls and back. Then continue • Leave what you find. Artifacts and wildflowers are protected. uphill about one mile back to Skyline Drive. • It’s dangerous and potentially deadly to climb on the rocks near waterfalls. Lewis Falls Trail Hike • Cell and GPS services are unreliable. 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 From the Big Meadows amphitheater parking area, take the wrong way to do it; just follow the animals’ paths. Every season Lewis Falls Trail. Continue straight to descend—it’s a bit steep will reveal something special: wildflowers, fawns, butterflies, and rocky, so watch your footing—to the falls observation tracks in the snow—you never know what you might find. point. Then, take the Lewis Falls Trail to its intersection with the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Turn left onto the A.T. and take it back The Story of the Forest Trail takes you past the Park’s Air Quality to your starting point. Monitoring Station. Look to your left along the fence for a sign 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..