Drive 35 miles along the spine of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains from Big Meadows to Thornton Gap. This central section of Skyline Drive passes through forests that were stripped bare a century ago and have grown back so completely that the Civilian Conservation Corps camps that rebuilt them have vanished beneath the canopy. Overlooks reveal the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Piedmont to the east.

Stops on This Tour (8)

1. 1
   Big Meadows — Milepost 51 The largest open meadow in Shenandoah, maintained since the last ice age
2. 2
   Dark Hollow Falls Trailhead Trailhead for the park's most popular 70-foot waterfall
3. 3
   Hawksbill Summit Overlook Views toward the 4,051-foot highest peak in Shenandoah
4. 4
   Crescent Rock Overlook Dramatic westward overlook across the Shenandoah Valley
5. 5
   Stony Man Overlook — Milepost 38.6 The second-highest peak, named for its bearded profile
6. 6
   Skyland Resort Area Historic mountain resort founded in 1888
7. 7
   Old Rag Overlook View toward the iconic granite summit of Old Rag Mountain
8. 8
   Thornton Gap — Milepost 31.5 Gateway to Luray Caverns and Shenandoah Valley towns

Tour content is for entertainment and general information only. Verify practical details independently. Not a substitute for official guidance.