Blackrock Summit Hike in the Shenandoah National Park
Blackrock Summit hike is located in the Shenandoah National Park and is one for all ages! This trail is very ideal for a quick stop if you are only driving through Skyline Drive. If you haven’t stopped to eat lunch yet, you could come here to eat with a view. Even a post-lunch hike to get your steps in would be nice! Skyline Drive has many viewpoints all along it, so the decision on where to stop is difficult at times. If you want more information about this trail, then you should visit the park’s website here.
Where is Blackrock Summit Trail Located?
Blackrock Summit trail is located in the South District of the Shenandoah National Park. This hike will give great views of the park and Massanutten Mountain. For a single vehicle, it costs $30 to get into the Shenandoah National park. If you are parking elsewhere and walking up, then that will cost you $15 per person.
How to Get to the Blackrock Summit Trail
Getting to the Blackrock Summit trailhead is very simple. You can either type in your google maps the Blackrock summit parking lot or look for the sign near mile 84.4 in the south district. Sometimes service can be hard to get in the park but if you are coming from the south entrance, it will be on your left.
My Suggested Hiking Gear
Below is a list of some of my favorite hiking/travel gear I bring everywhere. Everything below is something I currently use and never leave my house without.
- KEEN Durand II Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots: I finally upgraded my hiking boots in 2022 and these are fantastic. They have top-notch ankle support and are super durable.
- Petzl Tikka Headlamp: A headlamp for hiking is a must if you’re like me and love sunrise hikes. This is a great price for a quality headlamp and also has a good red light to not disturb others in the morning.
- Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks: I originally got these as a present but I had to buy more because these are the most comfortable hiking socks I’ve ever tried on.
- Grayl GeoPress Water Filter Bottle: You will never have to rebuy plastic water bottles. This is the best water filtering device on the market. It is excellent for hikers and travelers alike.
My Experience Hiking Blackrock Summit
Once again, the weekend I planned to go hiking, the weather doesn’t wanna cooperate. That doesn’t stop me from going out and having an adventure though. This was my second hike of the day in the Shenandoah National Park. The other hike that my friend and I did was Turk Mountain. The Turk mountain hike is harder than this one but the views are worth it. Check it out!
We arrived at the parking lot as the rain clouds started to roll in. We knew it was a short hike so we’d be fine. Start by following the trail by the sign. Once on the trail, look out for white blazers on the trees. These are what you will be following. The trail to the summit is only half a mile, so you shouldn’t have any issues not finding your way.
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The only time you need to pay attention as to where you’re going is when you get to the trail split shown above. Keep to the right by following the white blazers still. The post will also read where you should go. The actual trail isn’t the most scenic ever but when getting close to the summit it lightens up. We went here in early December, so a lot of vegetation was dead with a majority of the trail being covered by leaves. It is still extremely refreshing walking through any trail in the woods.
Once you get to the end you will encounter a stunning view into the valley and hundreds of huge boulders. The trail loops around and heads back to the parking lot if you are short on time. We wanted to hang out for a few and climb on the rocks. There are some fun sections in there to explore. As we started climbing, the rain began to come in sideways. That’s when we decided to stay down in the rocks to get some protection until it cleared up enough for us to leave. After that, we followed the same trail back to the parking lot to our car.
Overall, this hike is extremely easy and a great beginner hike to bring the kids with. Blackrock Summit is considered a TRACK Trail. This means that there is a self-guided brochure and informational sign that you can use to turn the hike into a greater experience. If you are short on time, you can easily finish this within 30 minutes but I would suggest exploring the rock formations a little bit while you’re there.
Thanks again for reading my guide! Be sure to check out all of my other hiking guides for the Shenandoah like Stony Man for more inspiration to get out there and enjoy the beauty of this area.
