The middle leg of our fifth day of "slack packing" on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Shenandoah National Park was a 2.0 mile descent from the Blackrock Summit parking area to Browns Gap. An informative display is located at the end of the parking area with the AT just a few yards further west. The trail descends at an uneven pace, but the overall grade is less than 4%. After 0.5 miles, the trail crosses to the east side of Skyline Drive. Just 200 yards beyond the road crossing the trail passes immediately beside the Jones Run parking area. The trail passes below the Dundo Picnic Area at about 1.2 miles and recrosses Skyline Drive at the end of the segment at Browns Gap. There isn't much to see along this stretch of the trail, but it is a very nice walk in the woods after the climb to Blackrock Summit.
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| Topographic map with GPS route |
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| Elevation profile |
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| While some trees have been cut out of the path, another has fallen |
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| While most of the trail is in great condition... |
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| ...there are a few obstacles to go over or under |
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| Approaching Skyline Drive |
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| The trail crosses the road and parallels it before turning east into the woods |
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| The wind has sculpted many of the trees in this forest |
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| AT and signpost at Jones Run trailhead |
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| Jones Run trailhead parking area from the AT |
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| Another straight segment of the trail |
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| Side trail up to the Dundo Picnic Area |
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| Cedar Mountain (3330') |
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| One of the few relatively level parts of the trail |
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| Small wildflowers along the trail |
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| More wildflowers |
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| Stone retaining wall on the trail |
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| Skyline Drive and Browns Gap parking area are visible through the thicket |
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| A faint path leads to the road crossing |
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| The AT crosses the road and heads up the hill at Browns Gap |
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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