Miles 65-70At mile 65.5 along Skyline Drive, Swift Run Entrance Station was a part of the intitial construction for Skyline Drive.The first section of construction initially was to be from Rapidan Camp to the Skyland Resort, about twenty miles, but evolved into the 34 miles from Swift Run Gap (U.S. 33) to Thornton Gap (U.S. 211).
With an elevation of 3,586 feet, Hightop Mountain is the highest peak in the South District of the park.Prepare to hike along a section of the Appalachian Trail to reach a rocky viewpoint with breathtaking west-facing views. If hiking in the springtime, keep a lookout for wildflowers blooming. You may spot some trilliums, star chickweed, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild azalea, and more.The parking area for Hightop Summit Trailhead sits at mile 66.7 of Skyline Drive. 
The first south-bound overlook in the southern district of the park offers stunnings views towards the west.Looking out over the valley, you can see Massanutten Mountain on the horizon. Nearby, there is an orientation station to provide visitors with a map and other helpful information to use during their time at Shenandoah. Check out our interactive map on our website to see what you can find along Skyline Drive.
The Appalachian Trail trail crosses Skyline Drive a few times throughout the park. Mile 69 is one of these intersections where drivers may meet through-hikers.Founded in 1925, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) set out to build a continuous wilderness "super trail" along the eastern mountain crests. Benton MacKaye, first a forester for the U.S. Forest Service and later a planner for the Tennessee Valley Authority, conceived the trail as a peaceful escape from modern life, maintained by local communities. Soon after, in 1927, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) formed to build mid-Atlantic segments, routing early trails through the historic Skyland resort. However, tension erupted in the 1930s when the construction of Skyline Drive forced the relocation of the original trail.
Facing north-northeast from an elevation of 2,500 feet, you may be able to see a small window between the growth to look upon the Shenandoah Valley below.Looking out from Eaton Hollow Overlook, straight ahead is the town of Elkton. One of the historic properties in Elkton is the Miller-Kite House. Henry Miller Jr. contructed this house in 1827 and later became Stonewall Jackson's headquarters for a brief period in 1862 at the beginning of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. This house was listed on the National Register for Historic Places on February 1, 1979. According to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, in 1984 the house was donated by the Kite family to the town of Elkton. The Miller-Kite House has since been restored by the Elkton Historical Society for use as a museum.  Photo: David Edwards/DHR, 2021 Miles 71-80Facing west-northwest from an elevation of 2,445 ft (745 m), the view from Rocky Mount Overlook looks straight out to Rocky Mount.The second largest forest fire in the history of Shenandoah National Park occurred in the Rocky Mount area. The fire began on April 16, 2016. Dry conditions and wind soon caused the fire to spread rapidly. The fire was contained by April 29, leaving a total of 10,326 acres burned. 
You may have heard of geocaching, but what about earthcaching?Contrary to geocaching, earthcaching adheres to all of Shenandoah National Park's "Leave No Trace" principles. Earthcaching is a "virtual" geocache that contains no physical hidden container or cache. Earthcaching is a hunt for the Earth's natural and geological features as the "treasure". Somewhere along mile 74 on Skyline Drive, you may find an earthcache. Keep an eye out for geological formations to be able to log it on the geocaching website. 
Gaze upon the stars at one of the largest campgrounds in the park.Resting atop of Big Flat Mountain, Loft Mountain is the perfect campground to stargaze on a clear night. Take a short walk from your campsite to the campground amphitheater, set out a blanket, lay back, and enjoy. Listen to the calm winds travel up the mountain as you try to make out constellations. Try to spot bright planets when they're above the horizon. And if you're patient, you'll be sure to see plenty of meteors whipping across the night sky. It's a great way to end your night after a long day of hiking and exploring. 
Miles 81-90See if you can spot the cabin in the woods along the Doyles River Trail.The Doyles River Falls Trail (mile 81.8) offers a trek through some of Shenandoah's expansive wilderness, leading you to two unique waterfalls. Along the way, you may notice a cabin off the trail sitting atop a ledge about a hundred feet up. This cabin is maintained and operated by the PATC (potomac appalachian trail club) and available to reserve. If you want to explore the cabin for yourself (without making the trek or a reservation), visit our interactive virtual tour of the Doyles River Cabin. 
On June 18, 1862 when leaving the Shenandoah Valley, Stonewall Jackson and his men crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains through Brown's GapBrown's Gap was one of the most significant tools that the Confederacy utilized during the American Civil War. on June 16, General Lee wrote to Jackson, suggesting that he and his men march from the Shenandoah Valley to assist in the relief of Richmond, by attacking the relatively unprotected right flank of McClellan's army, north of the Chickahominy River. Shortly after midnight, in the early hours of June 18, Jackson and his men left their position at Weyer's Cave and began the 120 mile march to Richmond. The route that Jackson took on his secret march through the night of June 17-18 followed the old Browns Gap Turnpike across the Blue Ridge Mountains, past their camp of a week earlier, and down toward Richmond. The exposed rocks of Blackrock formed the seabed of the lapetus Ocean, an ancient body of water that predates the Appalachian Mountains.The geological forces that created the mountains changed the seabed into solid quartzite rock. Blackrock is still changing. Weathering has caused what was once a cliff to crumble into a talus slope, a river of moving rocks. Water, ice, and roots break the rocks into even smaller pieces that slide downhill. Eventually the rocks will hace settled enough that plants can grow and Blackrock will look like other forested mountainsides.Miles 91-95Miles 96-105
NPS | Erica Stevens There was a time in the development of Skyline Drive where miles 96 through 105 were not to exist at all.
William A. Faust II, Photographer |
Last updated: July 3, 2026