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Section 6 - Chester Gap to Gravel Springs Gap Displayed from North to South

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  Potomac Appalachian Trail Club http://www.patc.net/ Info @ patc.net PA 233 to Rockfish Gap, VA

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Mile
Marker
 
Hiker Rated
Parking Safety
Directions Comments Number of Vehicles  Map   &  
 Weather  
Source
0.0
US 522 - Chester Gap
   Poor           Great




The AT crosses US 522 3.2 miles east of the junction with VA 55 at the southeast edge of Front Royal. The crossing is just past the National Zoological Park. There is a dirt parking area on the right at the crossing suitable for several cars. The trail crossing is indicated by the marker on the attached map. GPS: N38.8780 W78.15072 The parking area can be seen i the satellite view on the south side of US 522. The street view to the south from this point shows the parking area and southbound trail to Section 6. See also the pictures for this section. The street view to the north shows the northbound trail to section 5. 1/4/2010 Updated: 08/21/18 Several in large pull off
  1

  1

David Cullen
1.4
VA 602
   Poor           Great



 
Follow US 522 1.8 miles east of its intersection with VA 55 (South Street) on the southeast edge of Front Royal, then take paved VA 604 south. In 2 miles miles go left on gravel VA 602. The trail crossing is about 0.6 miles further. The marker on the attached map indicates the approximate crossing point. GPS: N38.8640 W78.1626 Limited roadside parking is possible. 1/4/2010 Updated 08/21/18 1-2
  1

  1

David Cullen
1.9
4-H Center
   Poor           Great




Take 522 east from Front Royal, take a right on VA 604 (Harmony Hollow Rd) go about 1.75 miles, and then left onto VA 602 (Moore Rd), where you see the 4-H sign, this takes you to the 4-H driveway. Go all the way up the hill to the office to register unless you have already sent in the parking form. Hiker parking is at the pool parking lot. The marker on the attached map indicates the area of this parking. GPS: N38.8606 W78.1684 On 12/28/12 we went to the Northern Virginia 4-H Center. The office staff were friendly and helpful. They allow hikers to park on site, but you must fill out a form.
From the pool parking lot, the blue-blazed access trail is directly across the driveway between two lodges (hikers are not allowed to stay in the lodges). The lodges are seen in the lower part of the satellite view on the map just right of center. A map of the center is available at https://www.nova4h.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Northern-Virginia-4-H-Center-Map.pdf . The AT access trail is on the left side of this map which is east given the map's orientation. It is a short, uphill hike to the AT. You must register your car before parking. 12/30/12 Updated by editor 08/21/18
10
  1

  1

ericolson12l @ aol.com
The parking form can now be filled out online. From the form it appears that they prefer that this be done prior to arrival. I don't know if this is a requirement. Their phone number is given on the form. http://www.nova4h.com/facilities/hiker-parking/ 08/21/18
 

 

David Cullen
2.6
Trail to VA 601
   Poor           Great



 
Follow US 522 1.8 miles east of its intersection with VA 55 (South Street) on the southeast edge of Front Royal, then take paved VA 604 south. In 2.5 miles miles go left on gravel VA 601 which is also called Pomeroy Road.. A PATC parking area is on the right in approximately 0.4 miles. The parking area is before VA 601 makes a sharp left turn.
The marker on the attached map indicates the approximate location of the parking area. GPS: N38.8551 W78.1724. These coordinates are from AT Guide to Maryland and Northern Virginia (15th edition).
A blue-blazed trail on the opposite side of the road goes east, meeting VA 601 again at a sharp turn in 0.4 miles, then continuing another 0.3 miles to meet the AT north of the Tom Floyd Wayside. Northbound the AT is left, southbound is right. Coordinates at the intersection with the AT are N38.2585 W78.1651. 1/5/2010 Updated 08/20/18 4
  1

  1

David Cullen
Help! We would appreciate somebody who is in the area checking to see if the information in this post is correct. This side trail and parking area are still listed, at least in the latest AT Guide to Maryland and Northern Virginia (2015). I have spoken with a trails supervisor and a local maintainer for the Potomac Appalachian Mountain Club who assure me the parking area and trail are still open for use. An earlier post from 2012 (now removed) reported the road was marked Private and there were No Trespassing signs. Apparently any problems that may have existed have been resolved. See the beginning of the following video from February 2017 for more information. As can be seen in the video the lot is actually a dirt pull-off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UaS6-l9rag 08/20/18 4
 

 

David Cullen
3.8
Compton Gap Horse Trail
   Poor           Great



 
Go east on US 522 for 4.7 miles from the junction with VA 55 at the southeast edge of Front Royal and go right on VA 665, a crescent shaped road. This is 1.5 miles east of the AT crossing of US 522. Go 0.1 miles then go right on VA 610, Chester Gap Road. Continue 1.6 miles to the end of the portion the road open to vehicles. The Shenandoah National Park Boundary is just beyond. Reportedly there is room for several cars to park here. I have not checked out this location. Information is from the 18th edition of the AT Guide to Maryland and North Virginia. The marker on the attached map is placed at the GPS values provided (N38.8491 -78.1518). To reach the AT walk up the continuation of the road known as the Compton Gap Horse Trail. This is apparently blazed in yellow. The AT is reached in 0.5 miles. Here the northbound trail goes right while the southbound AT continues straight ahead on the old road. 08/22/18 Several
  1

  1

David Cullen
5.6
Compton Gap
   Poor           Great




Parking area for 14 cars at Mile 10.4 of Skyline Drive or 21.1 miles north of Thornton Gap (US 211). The parking lot is on the north side of the drive At this point the drive is going east-west. The parking lot can be seen in the center of the satellite view of the attached map. The marker indicates the entrance to the parking area. GPS: N38.8237 W78.1706 Note: There is currently no street view available but there are photos in the pictures for this section. This is the northernmost intersection of the AT and Skyline Drive. Northbound goes north from the parking lot. Soutbound crosses the road and goes south. 3/7/08 Updated 08/19/18 14
  1

  1

David Cullen
7.7
Jenkins Gap Trail
   Poor           Great



 
Parking Area for Jenkins Gap Trail is at Mile 12.3 of Skyline Drive, 19.2 miles north of Thornton Gap (US 211). Parking area is on the west side of the Drive at the end of a short spur road.. The marker and street view on the attached map indicate the parking area. GPS: N38.80655 W78.1806 The lot can be seen on the satellite view. Rotate the street view to see the parking area. Walk west about 0.1 mile on the Jenkins Gap Trail to intersect the AT. Northbound is right, southbound left. 06/11/2016 Update 08/20/18 14
  1

  1

David Cullen
9.4
Hogwallow Gap
   Poor           Great



 
Hogwallow Gap is at Mile 14.2 of Skyline Drive, 17.3 miles north of Thornton Gap. The AT Guide suggests that some parking, probably roadside, is possible. AT crosses the Drive here. The marker on the attached map indicates the crossing. GPS: N38.7899 W78.18844 Southbound is on the east side The south street view on the map shows this. Northbound is on the west side. Rotate the street view to the north to see this. The grassy area on the west side of the drive may be the roadside parking that the AT Guide us referencing. 08/22/18 Roadside possible
  1

  1

David Cullen
11.6
North Marshall Parking
   Poor           Great




There is a parking area at Mile 15.9 on Skyline Drive, 15.6 miles north of Thornton Gap. There are park service signs giving hiking options to North Marshall. This parking area is on the east (compass south) side of the drive. The marker and the street view from that point to the south on the attached map show the entrance to the parking area. CGPS: N38.7752 W78.2109 The AT passes just a few feet from the back of the parking area. A very short spur leads to it. Southbound (to the right) the AT soon crosses Skyline Drive to the west side. Northbound (to the left) the AT starts the climb to North Marshall. 06/06/16 Update 07/29/18 12
  1

  1

David Cullen
11.6
Skyline Drive (Mile 15.9)
   Poor           Great



 
The attached map shows the crossing of Skyline Drive near the parking for North Marshall. The AT crosses Skyline Drive at Mile 15.9 of Skyline Drive, 15.6 miles north of Thornton Gap (US 211). The marker indicates the crossing. GPS: N38.7749 W 78.2120. Rotate the street view from this point to the west to see the southbound trail. Rotate to the east to see the northbound trail. Parking opportunities are minimal at the crossing. The North Marshal lot is far better. The parking lot can be seen in the satellite view just to the east of the crossing. 01/14/10 Updated 8/22/18 0 to very limited
  1

  1

David Cullen
13.2
Gravel Springs Gap
   Poor           Great




Gravel Springs Gap is at Mile 17.7 of Skyline Drive, 13.8 miles north of Thornton Gap (US 211). The drive right here is going east-west. A parking area is on the "east" (actually south) side of the road. See attached map.The marker indicates the entrance.GPS: N38.7679 W78.2336 To see the lot on the street view, rotate the view at this point to the south. The AT crosses the road here. Northbound is on the "west" (actually north) side of the drive, southbound is on the "east" (actually south) side. The northbound trail can be seen by rotating the street view to the north. The southbound trail crosses the parking lot.06/05/2016 Updated 07/29/18 8-10
  1

  1

David Cullen

This section is described as Section 1 in the "Appalachian Trail Guide to Shenandoah National Park"
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