Black Rock Summit is a quick 1-mile excursion that brings you to a glorious geological structure called a talus slope. This hike may be one of the easiest in the park but the views are truly spectacular and it follows the Appalachian Trail!
Dark Hollow Falls is 1.5 miles out and back, which translates to .75 miles straight down and .75 miles back up. Your calves are going to burn for this one! It is one of the most popular waterfall hikes in the park for good reason.
This trail is perfect for kids as long as you take extra caution near the falls. It is a wide, beautiful trail that is moderately traveled. This is a pet-friendly trail so it is a great alternative to Dark Hollow Falls. Plan for an easy downhill, and uphill to finish it off.
This is one of my favorite waterfall hikes at about 3.5 miles out & back. Another easy downhill & a doozy of a climb back up! There are 2 waterfalls at the bottom. This would be a great place to pack a picnic & sit on the rocks at the base of the falls!
Hightop Mountain trail is a great one to let the kids loose. This trail twists & turns it’s way past large geological structures to a beautiful vista. There were large beautiful rocks that dwarfed us & beautiful sections of the trail that made me feel like I was in a fairy tale.
This trail is great for kids! Before reaching the summit, you can see a small cave & enormous rock formations. Toward the top, it becomes steep in a few spots. Once you reach the end, there is a boulder field that takes you out to an amazing view.
Bearfence Mountain is an incredible hike. It is a 1-mile loop, but don’t let the that fool you. This 1 mile will take you quite a bit of time due to the intense rock scrambling & hanging on to the kids. It is SO exciting & the 360-degree view at the top is one-of-a-kind.
Hawksbill Mountain is the highest point in SNP at 4,050 feet! There are 2 ways to reach this peak. The 1.7 mile, 690 foot elevation gain hike referred to as “Lower Hawksbill”.and “Upper Hawksbill Loop”, which is a 2.9 mile, 860 foot elevation gain hike.
The popular Stony Man trail has a few different mileage options depending on your goal. You can reach a magnificent, lower outcrop of rocks with a fantastic view in less than 1 mile. This overlook is called Little Stony Man Cliffs. Keep a map on you for this one!
This 1.8-mile circuit trail is near the base of Big Meadows campground and lodge in the South District. This hike doesn’t have a wild view or epic waterfall payoff. It is a beautiful, calm, & quiet walk through the woods. Sometimes, that is just what we need!