Powell Gap to Smith Roach Gap - Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park

Continuing our early May 2019 trip to Shenandoah National Park, we hiked another 1.6 miles on the Appalachian Trail from Powell Gap north to Smith Roach Gap. No parking is provided at Powell Gap, but rangers have not seemed to mind a couple of cars parallel parked on the grass on either side of Skyline Drive. Of course, we were not there during the busy summer season either. A paved parking lot is provided at Smith Roach Gap for about a half dozen vehicles.

From Powell Gap, the trail rises 250 feet in a half-mile at an average grade of 9½%. The trail then levels out for 0.2 miles before climbing another 140 feet in 0.4 miles for an average grade of 6½%. The final half-mile undulates with a net descent of 65 feet to reach Smith Roach Gap at 2622 feet above sea level.

Topographic map with GPS route

Elevation profile

Roundtop from Powell Gap

Substantial understory

Sidehill climbing

Still climbing

Even more climbing

Leveling out

Back to climbing

Roundtop Mountain visible through the trees

Passing through a rhododendron thicket

Rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)

The trail passes through a boulder field

More trailside rocks

Skirting a rock outcrop

Note the white blaze painted on the fallen tree

Undulating trail through open forest

Waterbars are plentiful

Trail dips and rises

Typical trail conditions

Skyline Drive is visible in the distance

Smith Roach Gap at Skyline Drive

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/.