Hightop Mountain Parking Area to Swift Run Gap - Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park

Our early May 2019 day hikes on the Appalachian Trail concluded with a 1.3-mile hike from the Hightop Mountain Parking Area north to Swift Run Gap. Paved pull-in parking for about six vehicles is available at the Hightop Mountain Parking Area while parallel parking for more than a dozen vehicles is provided on the east side of Skyline Drive at Swift Run Gap. The majority of the parking is south of the overpass.

The hike began with a 120-foot climb in the first 0.3 miles yielding an average grade of 7.5%. The next 0,2 miles consisted of a 45-foot descent (8.5% descent) and a 15-foot climb (3% climb). The final 0.8 miles is a descent of 300 feet yielding an average grade of 7%.

Topographic map with GPS route

Elevation profile

Hightop Mountain parking area

Trailhead

Sidehill climbing

Double blaze

The trail turned right and continued climbing

About to enter the green tunnel

Typical trail conditions

Too high to climb over, too low to duck under, use the social trail bypass

Inside the green tunnel

 

Woodpecker condos

More of the green tunnel ahead

Ferns and fallen trees

An ephemeral stream near the trail

Step-over ahead

Another double blaze

Approaching Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive

Looking west at US 33 Spotswood Trail

Looking east at US 33

A trail marker marks our completion of the southern third of the AT in Shenandoah

A Shenandoah National Park entry fee of $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 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 ($80 for a lifetime), Access Pass (free with a documented disability), and Military Annual Pass (free for active-duty personnel). Also available is a Shenandoah Annual Pass for $55. 

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/.