Shenandoah National Park, VA - Rose River

ABOUT THE PARK:
Shenandoah National Park - National Park Service
Skyline Drive - National Park Service
This hike passes by Cave Cemetery.  This interview with a family member gives some history about the cemetery.

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 38.534181, -78.422430

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There is hiker parking (on the right) just to the north of the Fishers Gap Overlook (on the left).

TRAIL MAPS:
Big Meadows Trail Map - National Park Service
Shenandoah National Park Map 228 - National Geographic
Shenandoah National Park, VA - Rose River at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  4.2 miles

THE DRIVE FROM SHENANDOAH RIVER STATE PARK TO THE HIKE:

The state park was in a cloud early in the morning.

There was enough of a break in the clouds overhead for a nice view of the moon.

The sun rising behind Shenandoah National Park.

From Skyline Drive, the clouds that are covering everything down below.

Skyline Drive residents enjoying breakfast.

THE HIKE:

Follow the Rose River Loop sign from the parking area crossing over Skyline Drive.

Just the other side of Skyline Drive beyond the barrier the Rose River Fire Road continues straight.  To the left is the Rose River Loop Trail.  Every writeup I have seen of the hike has it starting by turning left on the Rose River Loop Trail and returning on the fire road.  I did this in reverse starting on the gradual descent of the fire road and ending with the steeper climb up the Rose River Loop Trail.  I liked this way better since the fire road would have been along, boring uphill at the end of the hike.

There were tons of birds along the fire road.

Descending on the Rose River Fire Road.

A side trail on the right leads to Cave Cemetery.

So many children buried here.

There are many newer headstones and even one new grave that did not yet have a headstone, just a temporary marker.

The descent on the fire road was very pleasant and pretty.

We were being watched.

At the bottom, the Dark Hollow Falls Trail leave to the right.  It would be worth going to the falls since it does not appear to be very far but we weren't able to as it is one of the few trails in Shenandoah National Park where dogs are not allowed.

Some falls coming out of Dark Hollow at the bridge crossing on the fire road.

After crossing the bridge over Hogcamp Branch the fire road continues but turn left on the Rose River Loop Trail.

This very scenic trail follows along Hogcamp Branch.

Many cascades along the way.

After crossing this bridge over Hogcamp Branch,

the trail follows along Rose River to

Rose River Falls (67')

Rose River Falls from the top.

The Rose River Loop Trail ascends through the woods back to the intersection with the fire road from the beginning of the hike.

After crossing Skyline Drive, a quick walk over to the views at Fishers Gap Overlook.

THE DRIVE BACK TO SHENANDOAH RIVER STATE PARK:

Lunch time on Skyline Drive.

Old Rag

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]   Cross Skyline Drive at the crosswalk and continue straight beyond gate on the Rose River Fire Road (left is the return route)
[  0.50]  Cave cemetery on the right; retrace
[  0.65]  Right on Rose River Fire Road exiting cemetery
[  1.20]  Dark Hollow Falls trail goes right (can add as an out-and-back but dogs are not allowed), continue across bridge then turn left on Rose River Loop Trail
[  2.10]  Cross bridge
[  2.70]  Rose River Falls
[  3.05]  Turn left at concrete post
[  3.50]  Continue straight on Rose River Loop Trail when Skyland Big Meadows horse trail goes right
[  4.00]  Turn right on Rose River Fire Road, cross Skyline Drive, veer left to Fishers Gap Overlook
[  4.10]  Fishers Gap Overlook; retrace to Skyline Drive, turn left then left again to parking
[  4.20]  Back at parking

Shenandoah National Park, VA - Hogback Mountain

ABOUT THE PARK:
Shenandoah National Park - National Park Service
Skyline Drive - National Park Service

DIRECTIONS:
 GPS Coordinates 38.761435, -78.282524

View Larger Map

Parking lot off of Skyline Drive just south of the Hogback Mountain overlook.

TRAIL MAP:
Matthews Arm and Elkwallow Area Trail Map - National Park Service
Shenandoah National Park Map 228 - National Geographic
Shenandoah National Park, VA - Hogback Mountain at EveryTrail


PEAK BAGGING
Hogback Mountain - peakery.com
Little Hogback Mountain - peakery.com

HIKE DISTANCE:  7 miles

THE DRIVE FROM SHENANDOAH RIVER STATE PARK TO THE HIKE:

Sunrise outside our cabin.

A state park resident eating breakfast on our way out.

Stopping to take in a view along Skyline Drive.

Skyline Drive

THE HIKE:
There is a 5 mile option for this hike and that is what I intended to do to keep the hike shorter for Shawnee since she had hiked 7.5 miles the day before.  I felt two 7-mile days in a row would be too much for her.

We headed south on the white-blazed Appalachian Trail from the parking lot.

About 1/3 of a mile along at this intersection I realized I had started on the 7-mile version, that I should have headed northbound on the AT for the 5-mile version so we turned back.

About half way back to the parking lot...

"Good Morning Bear! Lovely place you have here!" is what I said to make my presence known since we were too close to pretend we weren't there.

The bear looked straight at us ...

... ducked down ...

... and came up munching on whatever he was eating for breakfast.  Not wanting him to think we were trying to swipe his meal, the fact that he was too close to the AT for us to pass and the bear having made it very clear he was NOT moving for us to continue on, we had no choice but to turn back southbound and do the 7-mile version. 

Small overlook off of the AT.

The Appalachian Trail

An interesting old tree.

Directional posts at intersections.

On the Piney Brook Trail.

All hiking trails are blazed in blue (except the Appalachian Trail).  Yellow blazes indicate horse trails.

Crossing Piney Brook.

Piney Brook

Taking a break in the middle of the trail because, well, there was nobody else around.  We had the entire hike to ourselves, except for the bear.

On the Keyser Fire Road, a horse trail.

Back on the AT southbound heading towards Little Hogback Mountain.

Hogback Mountain from Little Hogback Mountain.

View to the west from Little Hogback.

Starting the switchback up Hogback Mountain.

Looking back down at Little Hogback parking.  The trail to the left of the parking lot is the AT where we just came from.

More switchbacks up.

Crossing the top of Hogback Mountain.

View at a power cut with a communications tower to the left.

The AT crosses Skyline Drive where you get the same Hogback Mountain overlook view as those who drive to it but from a level up.

Hogback Mountain view from the AT.

THE DRIVE BACK TO SHENANDOAH RIVER STATE PARK:

Driving northbound on Skyline Drive.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take the trail from the corner of the parking lot a few steps then right on the white-blazed Appalachian Trail
[  0.45]  Turn left on AT at post where the Tuscarora Trail goes right
[  0.95]  Short side trail on right to overlook
[  1.10]  Cross Skyline Drive
[  1.40]  Turn left on the blue-blazed Piney Brook Trail when the AT continues straight
[  2.65]  Rock hop over Piney Brook
[  2.80]  Turn left on the blue-blazed Pole Bridge Trail
[  3.15]  Keep straight on the Pole Bridge Trail when the Sugarloaf Trail comes in at the left
[  3.60]  Turn left on yellow-blazed Keyser Fire Road
[  4.50]  Continue beyond gate, through parking lot and cross Skyline Drive veering slightly right to AT sign; turn left on the Appalachian Trail
[  4.95]  Overlook on the right when the AT makes a left turn
[  5.95]  Keep straight on the AT when a trail to the left goes to a spring
[  6.00]  Rock outcrop in power cut on the right with views
[  6.35]  AT turns left on gravel road briefly then crosses Skyline Drive
[  6.50]  Views on right over Hogback Mountain Overlook
[  6.75]  Cross Skyline Drive back to parking