How Much Time Shouuld I Allow To Hike Marys Rock?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Trail Stats Elevation Gain 669 feet Duration

1.5-2 hours
Terrain Mostly rock & dirt trails Dog-Friendly Yes

Where is Mary’s Rock summit trail?

Located in the

Thornton Gap Area of Shenandoah National Park

, Mary’s Rock Trail takes hikers to the summit of Mary’s Rock Mountain, offering views of Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain. Fragile plants grow along the rocky route, so be sure to watch your step.

Is Mary’s Rock on the Appalachian Trail?

Discover this 3.1-mile out-and-back trail near Syria, Virginia. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 34 min to complete.

Is Marys Rock dog friendly?

Mary’s Rock Summit is the perfect

pet- and family-friendly Spring hike

with spectacular views. The quick 2.8-mile out-and-back hike is a wonderful place to watch the sun rise or set. This is a very popular hike so you will likely be sharing the trail with others.

What is the highest point in Shenandoah National Park?

The highest point in Shenandoah is

the summit of Hawksbill Mountain

at 4,050 feet. Getting to the summit entails a relatively short hike of less than 2 miles.

How do you get to spy rock VA?

Access to Spy Rock is now via an alternative route.

Parking for this alternative route is at the end of

State Route 826 (Meadows Lane)

. State Route 826 is maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation and is not suitable for some passenger vehicles.

Where is Humpback Rock Trail?

Located at

milepost 5.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway

, this hike in the George Washington National Forest near Waynesboro, Virginia stuns with 360-degree summit views. The most-trafficked route to the jagged summit on the Humpback Rocks Trail is barely one mile, but you’ll ascend nearly 800 feet over that distance.

Where is Mary’s Rock?

Mary’s Rock, also known as Marys Rock, is a 3,514-foot (1,071 m) tall mountain in

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States

. The peak is just south of the Thornton Gap Entrance of the park, and north of the taller Pinnacle. Mary’s Rock is the eighth highest peak in Shenandoah National Park.

What is the best time to visit Shenandoah National Park?

The best times to visit Shenandoah National Park are

September through November and March through May

, when the park is at its prettiest. Fall welcomes warm shades throughout the park, putting an autumnal twist on Shenandoah’s panoramic views.

Are there bears in Shenandoah National Park?


Black bears are the only species of bear found in Shenandoah National Park

. While there were probably once as many as two million black bears in North America before European colonization, the population declined to a low of 200,000 as a result of habitat destruction and hunting.

Are the leaves changing in Shenandoah?


During the first week of October, the leaves are beginning to change at the highest elevations

. Throughout the last three weeks of the month, the fall color display reaches its peak at mid- to low-elevation.

Can you swim at Crabtree Falls VA?

Whatever you do,

don’t swim or climb anywhere on the waterfall

! The rocks are deceptively slippery, and as testified on many signs and warnings posted in the area, hikers leaving the trail have fallen to their deaths—at least 30 people have died at Crabtree Falls since the Forest Service started keeping track in 1982.

How tall is Crabtree Falls in Virginia?

This waterfall tops them all at a height of

1,214 feet

tall. It’s literally as tall – maybe taller – than an actual skyscraper. Now that’s tall. According to Nelson County, Crabtree Falls is the “highest vertical drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River.” Seriously, so tall.

Where is Cole Mountain Virginia?

Cole Mountain is frequently referred to as Cold Mountain, but the official name listed by the United States Geological Survey is the former. This hike is

in the George Washington National Forest and starts a few miles north of Route 60 in Central Virginia

.

Is humpback rock a hard hike?

About a half-mile up the blue-blazed trail, hikers can reach Humpback Rocks from a spur trail on the left. The

strenuous 700-foot climb

rewards hikers with spectacular views of the Rockfish and Shenandoah Valleys.

How difficult is Humpback Rock trail?

The 1.0 miles to the Rocks is

very tough

, gaining about 800′. The views at the Rocks are great looking west onto the Shenandoah Valley and north to Shenandoah National Park. We parked at the Humpback Rocks parking area (MP6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway). The blue-blazed trail begins to the right of the kiosk .

How long does it take to hike Humpback Rock trail?

The trail is well marked, and it’s one very steep mile to the summit. Even though it’s short, it takes most people

about 45 minutes to get to the top

. Once you have taken in the views, you can go easy on your knees and take the longer way down, which also gives you great views to the east at times.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.