Mary's Rock - Can't miss panoramic views from on the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park
Mary’s Rock is an incredibly scenic mountaintop in Shenandoah National Park, easily accessible from two trailheads along Skyline Drive. If you have limited time in the Park, but want to get out and on trail, the 4-mile long in and out hike to Mary’s Rock from the Panaroma Trailhead is well worth the time and effort.
Topping out at 3,514 feet in elevation on an open rock summit, Mary’s Rock offers a commanding, panoramic view of the surrounding Shenandoah Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. Mary’s Rock is also the 8th highest peak in Shenandoah National Park.
We only had a day in the Park and following our morning hike on the Dickie Ridge Loop, we drove south to Thornton Gap and stopped at the Panorama Trailhead and Parking Area to ascend Mary’s Rock via the Appalachian Trail. The Panorama Parking Area is located in Thornton Gap, just south of the intersection of Skyline Drive and Highway 211.
We headed southbound on the Appalachian Trail from the parking area, and we climbed steadily over two miles to the summit of Mary’s Rock, ascending just about 1,200 vertical feet along the way.
The Appalachian Trail in this area is well maintained, and beautifully constructed from back in the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It’s also easy to follow and even though there is a significant ascent, is a moderate climb the entire way thanks to the well built trail.
With only one car, the only way back to the Panorama Parking Area for us from Mary’s Rock, was to go back the way we came - now following the Appalachian Trail northbound and descending two miles back to the parking area.
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