Pinnacles Picnic Area to Stony Man Mountain and Back (Rating: A)

About this event

You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.

This is an approximate 9-mile hike in the Shenandoah National Park with around 2,000 feet elevation gain. The hike begins at the Pinnacles Picnic Area, which is located at milepost 36.7 on Skyline Drive. From the picnic area, we'll follow the AT southbound for about 2.7 miles to the Passamaquoddy Trail. We'll then take the Passamaquoddy Trail and the Furnace Spring Trail to the Stony Man Parking Area. From the Stony Man Parking Area we'll head northbound along the AT until it intersects with the Stony Man Trail, which we'll follow to Stony Man Lookout for our lunch break about 5 miles into our hike. After our lunch break enjoying the views from Stony Man Lookout, we will descend to the AT and then hike northbound along the AT back to the Pinnacles Picnic Area. The total round-trip distance is almost 9 miles, and the elevation gain is about 2,000 feet. It is important to be aware of the elevation gain and to be prepared for some strenuous sections of the trail.

Details:

• Park Entrance Fee: The Park entrance fee is $30 per car or free with park pass.

• Carpool Fee: Suggested carpool fee is $10.00.

Carpoolers should meet at the Centerville Park and Ride at GPS coordinates: 38.836080, -77.455327 in time to leave by 7:30 AM. Neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride to the trailhead from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.

NOTE: It is about a one hour and 20-minute drive from the Centerville Park and Ride to the Trailhead depending on traffic. The trail head is in the Pinnacles Picnic Area just past mile marker 36, 5.3 miles south of the Thornton Gap entrance (GPS coordinates: 38.623481, -78.343600 ). We will be at the south end of the parking lot. Please plan to be at the trailhead no later than 8:50 AM. We will depart soon after. There are restrooms in the picnic area.

AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/copy-stony-man-mountain-from-pinnacles-picnic-area-d2cd329

• Linear distance: 9 miles

• Elevation gain: about 2,000 Feet

• Pace: between 2.5 and 3.0 mph.

• Pets: Although dogs are allowed on the Appalachian Trail, dogs are not allowed on the Stony Man Trail so dogs will not be permitted on this hike.

From Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC)