Pinefield Gap to Simmons Gap - Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park

Our early May 2019 trip to Shenandoah National Park continued with another short hike on the Appalachian Trail, this time the 1.9-mile segment from Pinefield Gap north to Simmons Gap. Part of this area was burned in the 2016 Rocky Mount fire, the second-largest wildfire in the park's history, which burned over 10,000 acres.

From Pinefield Gap at elevation 2530 feet, the trail climbs 334 feet in 0.8 miles to reach the summit of 2864-foot high Weaver Mountain on an average grade of more than 7½%. Descending from the summit 1.1 miles to Simmons Gap at elevation 2253 feet yields an average grade of negative 10½%.

Topographic map with GPS route

Elevation profile

Small pullout near Pinefied Gap

Fire scars were obvious

Uphill from the beginning

More fire scars

Head-knocker ahead

The Green Tunnel

Fire damaged trees

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

The forest is growing back

Boulder field

The AT skirts this boulder field

Double blaze usually means steepness ahead...

...like this switchback

The trail aims straight between two large trees

Back in a boulder field

Sidehill descent

Some blue sky overhead

Thick understory

Approaching Skyline Drive

Simmons Gap

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/.