Our shortened third day of hiking on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) in Shenandoah National Park continued with a 2.3 mile from Turk Gap to the Wildcat Ridge trail junction. To reach the parking area at Wildcat Ridge required an additional 0.1 mile hike up the Riprap Trail for a segment total of 2.4 miles. We hiked in mid-April 2016.
The trail quickly moves away from Skyline Drive and then ascends a ridge before closely following the Albemarle and Augusta County boundary to the top of an unnamed hill approximately 600 feet above Turk Gap before descending and crossing Skyline Drive at 1.9 miles. After crossing the roadway, the trail slowly descends below road level and intersects with the Riprap Trail. A right turn leads up to the road and the parking area.
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| Topographic map with GPS route |
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| Elevation profile |
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| Trail marker at Turk Gap parking area |
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| The trail winds through open forest with lots of leaf litter |
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| Evidence of trail maintainers' work |
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| Climbing the unnamed hill |
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| Obstructed, but still great views before the trees leaf out |
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| The trail continues to climb |
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| One of two switchbacks along this segment |
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| The top is in sight |
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| More evidence of trail maintainers atop the hill |
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| An unusually bent tree |
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| Open forest along the crest of the ridge |
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| Mountain laurel lines the trail |
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| In summer, this will be a green tunnel |
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| Back in the open forest |
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| Gentle descent to Skyline Drive |
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| Roadside trail marker |
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| The trail continues on the west side of the roadway |
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| The trees are a bit larger than on the ridge |
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| A typical side-slope area of the trail |
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| More mountain laurel |
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| Wildcat Ridge Trail intersection |
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| A short hike up the blue blazed Wildcat Ridge Trail leads to the parking area |
A Shenandoah National Park entry fee of $20 per vehicle, $15 per motorcycle or $10 per person is valid for seven consecutive days. Other fee payment options include the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($10 for lifetime), Access Pass (free with documented disability) and Military Annual Pass (free for active duty personnel).
The Shenandoah National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail website is https://www.nps.gov/appa/index.htm.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy website is http://www.appalachiantrail.org/.
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