Drinking Water

A close up of a water spigot in the middle of a campground.
 

Did you know that the average person drinks one quart of water per hour while hiking on a hot day? It's important to plan ahead and bring plenty of water whenever you plan on being outside in order to avoid dehydration. While you may use the water fountains during the warmer months in some of the developed areas of the Park, you'll need to plan ahead if you will be spending any time on a trail or in the backcountry, or if you plan on visiting the Park in the winter.

Although the Park may have natural sources of clean, potable water, most springs and water sources along the trails are unprotected and susceptible to contamination by disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps. People with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, infants, young children, and older adults are at increased risk of illness.. For this reason, with the exception of developed water fountains and marked water spigots within the Park, all water should be purified before is used for drinking, cooking, food preparation, handwashing, brushing teeth, or washing dishes.

To purify water, simply boil it for at least two minutes, use a chemical treatment (purification tablets), or filter it through a portable water filtering system. If you choose to use purification tablets or a water filter system, follow the manufacturer's directions. Dishes, clothes, and hands should be washed well away from the water supply.

The tables below list water sources, or springs, in order, from north (US 522) to south (Calf Mountain Hut) along the Appalachian Trail. The water flow conditions are updated periodically.

 

Water Sources along the Appalachian Trail

Mile Along AT

Spring Location

Comments

Tom Floyd Wayside

Unknown

5.3

Indian Run Maintenance Building Area

Piped; Shallow pool; slow trickle (10/18/19)

9.9

Hogwallow Flats

Piped; No Flow; very shallow pool (10/24/19)

14.3

Gravel Springs Hut

Deep pool; slow flow (10/24/19)

19.4

Range View Cabin

Piped; 1.5 liters per minute (10/24/19)

20.7

Elkwallow Gap (below picnic area)

Piped; 3.3 liters per minute (10/24/19)

24.3

Beahms Gap

Shallow pool, no flow (10/28/19)

26.4

Pass Mountain Hut

Piped; 0.5 liters per minute (10/28/19)

34.7

Byrds Nest #3 (access road near Drive)

Piped; 4.5 liters per minute (10/22/19)

44.3

Hawksbill Gap

Piped; 2.5 liters per minute (10/22/19)

45.6

Rock Spring Hut

Piped; 5 liters per minute (10/21/19)

57.1

Bearfence Mountain Hut

No flow; shallow pool (10/22/19)

59.8

Pocosin Cabin

Piped, no flow; shallow pool (10/22/19)

63.1

South River Maintenance Building

No flow; shallow pool (10/22/19)

69.5

Hightop Hut

Piped; No flow; shallow pool (10/24/19)l

77.7

Pinefield Hut

No flow; shallow pools (10/24/19)

81.4

Ivy Creek Maintenance Building

Piped; 20 liters per minute (10/24/19)

85.7

Doyles River Trail near cabin

Piped; 6 liters per minute (10/24/19)

90.9

Blackrock Hut

Piped; 0.5 liters per minute (10/24/19)

97

Jarman Gap

Small pool; slow trickle (10/24/19)

103.9

Calf Mountain Hut

Piped; 0.5 liters per minute (10/4/19)

Water Sources along Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive mile

Water Source Location

Water Availability

4.8

Dickey Ridge VC/Picnic area

frost free hydrant (PA year round, VC seasonal)

22.1

Piney River Maintenance Office

frost free hydrant (year round)

24

Elkwallow Picnic Area

frost free hydrant (year round)

31.6

Thornton Gap Entrance Station

frost free hydrant (year round)

31.6

Panorama

frost free hydrant (year round)

36.7

Pinnacles Picnic area

frost free hydrant (year round)

42

Skyland area

frost free hydrant (stables area) (year round)

51

Big Meadows area (2)

frost free hydrant (Maintenance area/Visitor Center comfort station – both are year round)

57.8

Lewis Mtn. CG and Picnic area

Intermittent (shut off for winter)

62.8

South River Picnic area

frost free hydrant (year round) Not Potable. Boil!

65.4

Swift Run Entrance Station

frost free hydrant (year round)

73.1

Simmons Gap area (2)

frost free hydrant (Trails cache / Maintenance area - both are year round)

80

Loft Mtn CG and Wayside area

Intermittent (shut off for winter)

83.6

Dundo CG

frost free hydrant (year round) Not potable. Boil!


Last updated: July 2, 2021

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Shenandoah National Park
3655 U.S. Highway 211 East

Luray, VA 22835

Phone:

540 999-3500
Emergency Phone: 1-800-732-0911

Contact Us