---

Section 14 - Jarman Gap to Rockfish Gap (I-64/US 250)

Displayed from North to South

---

Maintained by:

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

http://www.patc.net/

Info @ patc.net

PA 233 to Rockfish Gap, VA

This website and all of the associated data/pictures are provided for your PERSONAL use only. No parts may be reproduced in any manner - in print or on any other website.

Submit Information

Submit Pictures

Mile Marker   Hiker Rated Parking Safety	Directions	Comments	Number of Vehicles	Map   &    Weather	Source
0.0 Jarman Gap    Poor           Great	Jarman Gap is at Mile 96.8 of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. This is 8.6 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64) and 31.3 miles south of Swift Run Gap (US 33). Parking area is on east side of road. See attached map. The marker indicates the entrance to the parking area. GPS: N38.0978 W78.7812	Follow gated dirt road (Bucks Elbow Mt. Fire Road) that goes uphill from the southeast corner of the parking lot. Rotate the street view from the point of the marker on the map to the east and south to see the parking area. This road can clearly be seen in the south view. This intersects the AT in 0.1 mile. There the northbound AT to Section 13 goes left and the southbound trail to trail to Section 14 goes right. There are pictures of both the Jarman Gap parking and the trail intersection in the pictures for this section (Section 13) and also those for Section 14. GPS at the intersection: N38.0964 W78.7803 11/22/09 Updated 06/10/19	8	1   1	ATEditors @ rohland.org
3.2 Beagle Gap    Poor           Great	Beagle Gap is at Mile 99.5 on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park (5.9 miles north of Rockfish Gap)(I-64) and 34.0 miles south of Swift Run Gap (US 33). Parking Area is on the east (compass northeast) side of the road. The marker on the attached map indicates the lot entrance. Rotate the street view from this point from north to east to see the parking lot and Calf Mountain.	Trail crosses the drive here. Northbound goes compass west through the parking area, southbound goes compass east. . Porta- potties located in lot as of 2019. Updated 06/14/19	10-15	1   1	David Cullen
5.0 McCormick Gap - overlook    Poor           Great	McCormick Gap Overlook is at Mile 102.4, 3.0 miles from Rockfish Gap. This provides alternate parking for people wishing to access the trail at McCormick Gap (next listing).	The attached map is the similar to the one for the trail crossing at McCormick Gap (next listing) but the marker here is at McCormick Gap overlook 0.3 miles further 'south' on Skyline Drive (compass northwest). GPS: N38.0618 W78.8218 Rotate the street view from the marker east through north to west to see the overlook parking. Walk back along the Drive from the overlook to the trail crossing.. 4/26/19	20-25	1   1	ATEditors @ rohland.org
5.0 McCormick Gap - roadside parking    Poor           Great	McCormick Gap is at Mile 102.1 of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, 3.3 miles north of Rockfish Gap (I-64) and 36.6 miles south of Swift Run Gap (US 33). The trail crosses road here. Several cars can park on the grass. There is good parking here and at the McCormick Gap Overlook which is 0.1-0.2 miles south (compass west) of on Skyline Drive( See previous listing) . The overlook can be seen from the trail crossing.	Trail crosses road here. If driving from Rockfish Gap the northbound trail will be on the left, the southbound on the right. See attached map. Rotate the streeet view to the southwest to see the grassy area where there is parking and the southbound AT. It initially follows the gated road on the right side of the view. Rotate the view to the north to see the northbound trail. 04/26/19	Several on grass at trailhead	1   1	ATEditors @ rohland.org
8.4 Skyline Drive (Mile 105.1)    Poor           Great	The northbound trail follows Skyline Drive for 0.3 miles from Rockfish Gap then goes right into the woods and starts a sidehill climb at Mile 105.1.	See attached map. The marker indicates this point. You can see the trail going to the right up the hill on the north street view. If you rotate this view you can see that the shoulder is quite narrow and parking is really not possible. A quick drop-off might be possible but this is a poor choice even for that. This intersection with Skyline Drive is really only being included for completeness of places where the AT and Skyline Drive interact. There is a parking area 0.2 miles south (See Mile 8.6). 06/13/19	0	1	David Cullen
8.6 Rockfish Gap (Hiker Parking Area)    Poor           Great	To reach this parking area from I-64 (either westbound or eastbound) take Exit 99. Either of the long exit ramps brings you to the same intersection with US 250. Go right back under the interstate. Take the second right onto VA 610. This is just past what is now (2019) a gourmet popcorn store. Continue on VA 610. Just past the defunct Howard Johnson's, go left on a short connector to a T intersection with SkylineDrive/ Blue Ridge Parkway. Go left on Skyline Drive about 0.1-0.2 miles. The lot is on the right shortly after the Drive crosses the overpass over US 250. The marker on the attached map indicates one of the entrances to the lot. GPS N38.0317 W78.85845. It is at approximately Mile 105.3 of Skyline Drive.	The street view to the north from the point of the map marker shows the lot and the northbound AT to Section 14 following Skyline Drive. In 0.2 miles it bears right into the woods. The street view to the south shows the route of the southbound AT along Skyline Drive . The trail goes left off the Drive at the end of the stone wall seen on the left in the street view. GPS at this point which is the northern end of Section 15 and southern end of Section 14: N38.0310 W78.8579 06/12/19	10 in hiker parking lot	1   1	David Cullen
8.7 Rockfish Gap Commercial Area (I-64/US 250)    Poor           Great	At one time there were several businesses including a Howard Johnson's and a motel in the area just south of I-64. Over the years these all shut down but there was still extensive parking available. However many of the buildings have been removed and most of the parking now appears to be in front of the defunct Howard Johnson's restaurant. To reach this from I-64 (either westbound or eastbound) take Exit 99. Either of the long exit ramps brings you to the same intersection with US 250. Go right back under the interstate. Take the second right onto VA 610. This is just past what is now (2019) a gourmet popcorn store. The entrance to Howard Johnson's is about a hundred feet further. The marker on the attached map indicates the parking area. GPS: N38.0308 W78.8588 To reach this point from Skyline Drive (southbound) or Blue Ridge Parkway (northbound) take the road on the west side of the highway towards the commercial area. Bear right to the parking.	The trace on the map shows the southbound Appalachian Trail to section 15 going east then south off Skyline Drive just south of the overpass over US 250. This is accurate. GPS: N38.0310 W78.8579 You can follow the roads to this point or cut across the wooded area seen on the satellite view of the map. The next to last photo in the Pictures for this Section (14) shows a view from this point back towards Howard Johnson's. The northbound trail goes north along Skyline Drive for 0.3 miles before bearing east into the woods. The AT trace north of I-64 on the map is not accurate. See the last picture for this section to see a view in that direction. Note: Vandalism and theft have been a problem here in the past. See Parking Safety posting for further information. Parking at the Rockfish Gap Welcome/Information Center or the hiker parking lot on Skyline Drive have been suggested as alternatives. Se the listings above. Some older sources have also suggested the Inn at Afton at the top of the hill. However this place is mercifully out of business so is no longer really an option, . 06/11/19 06/12/19	15-20	1	David Cullen
8.7 Rockfish Gap (Welcome Center)    Poor           Great	To reach the Rockfish Gap Tourist Information Center from I-64 (either westbound or eastbound) take Exit 99. Either of the long exit ramps brings you to the same intersection with US 250. Go right back under the interstate. Take the first right onto Afton Circle. This is just before what is now (2019) a gourmet popcorn store. There should be signs for Tourist Information. Follow Afton Circle up to the Welcome Center. To reach the Center from Skyline Drive (southbound) or Blue Ridge Parkway (northbound) take the road on the west side of the highway towards the commercial area. Bear right onto VA 610. Continue past a defunct Howard Johnson's and the Gourmet Popcorn store to Afton Circle. Turn left and proceed up the hill to the center. The marker on the attached map indicates the Welcome Center. GPS: N38.0305 W78.8618	According to the AT Guide for Central Virginia (2015) you should notify the center staff if planning to park overnight. The center has restrooms and a large raised-relief map of the region.The volunteer staff can arrange a shuttle to Waynesboro. The trace on the map shows the southbound Appalachian Trail to section 15 going east then south off Skyline Drive just south of the overpass over US 250. This is accurate. GPS: N38.0310 W78.8579 The northbound trail goes north along Skyline Drive for 0.3 miles before bearing east into the woods. The AT trace north of I-64 on the map is not accurate.The first two photos in the Picture section for this section (15) may be helpful. You can follow roads from the center to this point, perhaps cutting across the wooded area between VA 610 and Skyline Drive. (See map.) I don't know if there is a shorter foot path. 06/13/19	10	1	David Cullen

This section is described as Section 9 in the "Appalachian Trail Guide to Shenandoah National Park"

1 If the MAP, WEATHER or PARKING SAFETY BUTTONS do not work for you, have your browser permit pop-ups for this site.

Home | Virginia - West Virginia | Webmaster | Submit Information | Submit Pictures | Other Links | Children's Page

Page last updated: 3/20/2024 7:41:46 PM