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Simmons Gap is at mile 73.2 on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. This is 7.7 miles south of Swift Run Gap (US 33) and 32.2 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64). Simmons Gap fire road crosses Skyline Drive here. To east is a ranger station. Best parking is to go west on the fire road about 100 feet. Small dirt parking area on the left.
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The AT crosses Skyline Drive at the intersection of the Drive and Simmons Gap Fire Road. The marker on the attached map indicates the intersection. GPS:N38.3017 W78.6226 The street view from this point to the north shows the parking area on Simmons Gap Fire Road. The street view to the west shows the southbound AT leaving from the southwest corner of the intersection. The east view shows the northbound trail leaving from the northeast corner of the intersection. 1/11/2010 Updated 06/03/19
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6-8 in lot
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David Cullen
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Pinefield Gap is at mile 75.2 on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. This is 9.7 miles south of Swift Run Gap (US 33) and 30.2 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64). The marker is placed where the AT crosses Skyline Drive. GPS N38.29040 W78.64185. Parking would be difficult right here but there is a parking area a few hundred feet further "south" on the parkway. See Mile 2.1. Right here the southbound drive is going north. The lot can be seen in the satellite view of the attached map. It is on the left side of the road if coming from Swift Run Gap.
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The street view to the north from the marker shows the parking area on the left. This is looking southbound on Skyline Drive. The street view to the east shows the northbound AT heading towards Simmons Gap. The street view to the west shows the southbound AT heading towards Ivy Creek and Loft Mountain. 1/12/10 Updated 06/03/19
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Limited if any at trail crossing
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at @ rohland.org
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See previous entry (Mile 1.9) for directions to the trail crossing in Pinefield Gap. The parking area is located a few hundred feet "south" of this (compass north right here). Parking area is on compass west side of road. The marker on the attached map is at the parking area. This area can be seen in the satellite view and by rotating the street view at the marker to the west. GPS of parking area: N38.2910 W78.64185
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The best route to the southbound AT is to go west across open area behind parking lot. Follow rutted dirt road for 0.1 miles to intersect AT. Road straight ahead leads to Pinefield Hut. Southbound AT goes right, northbound left. The best route to the northbound AT is to walk 300 feet along the drive back to the trail crossing. Here the northbound trail goes left (east) while the southbound trail goes right (east). 2/19/2006 Updated 06/04/19
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5-6
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David Cullen
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Ivy Creek Overlook is at mile 77.5 on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. This is 12.0 miles south of Swift Run Gap (US 33) and 27.9 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64). Overlook is on east side of road. Has large paved parking lot. GPS: N38.2846 W78.6990
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See attached map. The overlook is clearly visible in the satellite view. Rotate the street view from the point of the marker from north to east to south to see the overlook. The AT traverses the overlook with the northbound trail leaving from the north end and the southbound trail leaving from the south end. 06/04/19
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15-20
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ATEditors @ rohland.org
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Ample parking at Loft Mountain Wayside (restaurant/ gift shop/ gas station) at Mile 79.5 of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. This is 14.0 miles south of Swift Run Gap (US 33) and 25.9 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64). From Loft Wayside go north 0.1miles to gated road. Go down briefly and make a right on another dirt road that leads to Ivy Creek storage shed. After that it is more of a trail for a short distance to AT. The following NPS map of the Loft Mountain area may be helpful: https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/LoftMountain_RoadTrail.pdf
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The marker on the attached map indicates the intersection of the side road with Skyline Drive. Rotate the street view from this point to the east to see this intersection. GPS: N38.2639 -78.6600
This route provides easy access to A.T. Trail is marked blue and is very direct and easy. It is about a half of a mile from wayside to trail. After the Ivy Creek storage shed the trail is short, but very wet after rain. It is passable, even over the high water stream. GPS at intersection with AT:N38.2660 W-78.6535. We ran into a big, fat, black rattlesnake directly on the trail in this area. Be Careful!!! 04/26/19
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20-30 at the wayside
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Rbrahmase @ hotmail.com
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See previous entry (Mile 5.8) for directions to Loft Mt. Wayside. The marker on the attached map is placed at the crosswalk across Skyline Drive from the Wayside to the start of the Frazier Discovery Trail which is the starts out on the paved path seen on the east street view from this point. The view to the west and south shows the Wayside. GPS :N38.26285 W78.6604
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The NPS map of the Loft Mountain area referenced at Mile 5.8 may be helpful.
The Frazier Discovery Nature Loop Trail starts across from Loft Mt. Wayside on the access road to Loft Mt. Campground. From the wayside follow the paved path which parallels the road to the campground. The start of the Nature Trail is a short distance along this. The Nature Trail is a loop which climbs steeply for about 0.6 miles to a spectacular viewpoint then meets the AT (north junction). Coordinates at this point are N38.2608 W78.6543. Go right on AT for 0.1 mile, then leave AT (south jct.) and descend steeply for approximately 0.6 miles to start. Coordinates at the south junction are N38.2599 W78.6556. 11/21/09 Updated 06/05/19
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20-30 at wayside
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David Cullen
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See previous entries for directions to Loft Mt. Wayside.
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See Previous entry (Mile 6.7) for description of Frazier Discovery Loop Trail
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20-30
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David Cullen
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See previous entries for direction to Loft Mountain Wayside. Go east on road to Loft Mt. Campground. Camp store is on left in approximately 1 mile. There is a parking lot on the south side of the store. The marker on the attached map is in the campground store parking area. GPS: 38.25055 W78.6671 The campground store and the access trail from it to the AT can be seen on the satellite view. Note: Alternative parking may be available at the Amphitheater parking area. See Mile 9.2
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Follow path on north side of store. Go east across open area then go a few hundred feet (downhill) to meet the AT. Northbound is to left, southbound is to right. The NPS Loft Mt. Campground map may be helpful. Note in this map that north is down while south is up. https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/LoftMountain_CampgroundMap.pdf 06/05/19
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David Cullen
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See previous entry (mile 7.9) for directions to the Loft Mt. Campground Store. Continue on to campground. The marker on the attached map marks the trailhead for this access trail to the AT. GPS N38.2450 W78.6701 Note from the satellite view that are about 20 parking spaces in the immediate vicinity. I do not know if these are available for anybody or for just for people staying in the campground. Alternatively one could park at the campground store and walk into the campground. I have not checked out this trailhead. Note: The NPS campground map referenced at Mile 7.9 may be useful.
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The AT makes a loop around the Loft Mt. Campground. This is the more "northern" of two spur trails from the campground to the AT. This one is on the east side of the campground. It is approximately 150 yds from the AT to the campground. Coordinates at the intersection with the AT are N38.2439 W78.6698. The southbound AT goes right, the northbound goes left. Photos of both ends of this spur are in the pictures for this section (Section 12). 11/21/09 Updated 06/05/19
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See directions
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David Cullen
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See previous entry (mile 7.9) for directions to the Loft Mt. Campground Store. Continue on to campground. I have not checked out this trailhead but have placed the marker on the attached map at the probable trailhead. If this is not the correct trailhead, it is off by only a short distance. GPS N38.24775 W78.6724 On the satellite view of the map, there appear to be about 5 parking places at the trailhead. II do not know if these are available for anybody or for just for people staying in the campground. Alternatively one could park at the campground store and walk into the campground. Note: The NPS campground map referenced at Mile 7.9 may be useful. According to that map the trailhead is near Campsite A55.
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The AT makes a loop around the Loft Mt. Campground. This is the more "southern" of two short spur trails which lead from the campground to the trail. This one leaves from the west side of the campground. It is about 0.1 miles to the AT. Coordinates at the AT intersection are 38.2484 -78.6736. The southbound AT goes right the northbound goes left. 11/21/09 Updated 06/05/19
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See directions
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David Cullen
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See Previous entry for directions to Loft Mt. Campground Store (mile 7.9). The Campground Amphitheater is a few hundred feet ahead on the right. There is some parking at the amphitheater but probably more at the store. The parking area can be seen on the satellite view on the attached map. Note: The NPS campground map referenced at Mile 7.9 may be useful.
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At the amphitheater, the paved road to the campground bears left. A blue-blazed trail leads straight ahead (south). The marker on the attached map indicates both the parking and the trailhead for this access trail. GPS: N38.2495 W78.6686 This trail goes west to meet meets the AT in 0.3 miles. At that point the southbound AT is to right, northbound is to left. Coordinates there are N38.2500 W38.6733.
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8-10 at amphitheater
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David Cullen
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Parking for the Doyles River Trail is at Mile 81.1 of the Skyline Drive. This point is 15.6 miles south of Swift Run Gap (US 33) and 24.3 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64). Parking area is on the east side of the road. The marker on the attached map is placed at the entrance to the parking area. Rotate the street map to the east to see the parking area. GPS: N38.2544 W78.6831
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The Doyles River Trail goes east (compass southeast) from the parking area and meets the AT in about 50 feet. Southbound AT is right, northbound is left. 06/06/19
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10-15
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ATEditors @ rohland.org
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The Doyles River Overlook is at Mile 81.9 of Skyline Drive, 16.4 miles south of Swift Run Gap and 23.5 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64). The parking area for the overlook is on the east (compass south) side of the road. The marker on the attached map indicates the entrance to the overlook. GPS: N38.24705 W78.6948 Rotate the street view from this point to the south and east to see the area.
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See attached map. The northbound trail comes in from the east, crosses the parking area and goes into the woods on the west side. 06/05/19
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10-15
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ATEditors @ rohland.org
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The AT crosses Skyline Drive at Mile 82.2. This is 12.1 miles south of Swift Run Gap (US 33) and 27.8 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64). This point is indicated marker on the attached map. If you rotate the street view, you will notice that even roadside parking is quite limited. Probably this is best considered only a drop-off or access point and not a particularly good one at that. Much better parking is available at the Doyles River Overlook 0.4 miles further north. See mile 10.9.
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Rotate the street view to the west to see the southbound trail leaving from the right hand side of the road just past the retaining wall. Rotate to the east to see the northbound trail. 01/13/10 Updated 06/07/19
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0 to very limited
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David Cullen
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Browns Gap is on the Skyline Drive at Mile 82.9 in Shenandoah National Park. It is 17.4 miles south of Swift Run Gap entrance US 33) and 22.5 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64). The Madison Run Fire Road (AKA Bown's Gap Road) intersects here. There is a large parking lot on this road just to the west of the intersection. The marker on the attached map indicates the intersection. GPS: N38.2404 W78.71055 The parking area can be seen on the satellite view and on the street view to the west from the point of the marker.
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Trail crosses road here. The street view from the marker on the map to the north shows the northbound trail to Section 12 leaving across Madison Run Road from the parking area. The southbound trail to Section 13 continues down Skyline Drive then goes left into the woods. See the street view to the south. The point where the trail leaves the road is near the end of the grassy area on the left. 06/07/19
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10-15
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David Cullen
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