Big Meadows Amphitheater to Fishers Gap - Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park

Our late May 2019 trip to Shenandoah National Park turned into an early June trip with our short hike on the Appalachian Trail from the Big Meadows Amphitheater north 1.5 miles to Fishers Gap. The trail climbs 60 feet in the first ¼ mile at an average grade of less than 5%. It then descends 500 feet in the remaining 1¼ miles at an average descending grade of 7½%. 

For the first 0.6 miles, the AT forms the unofficial northern and eastern boundary of the developed Big Meadows area and passes near numerous campsites. The trail passes Davids Spring at 0.7 miles and crosses the resulting stream at one mile. The stream from the spring flows north into Little Hawksbill Creek.

Topographic map with GPS route

Elevation profile

Northbound AT at the Amphitheater trail marker

Grass and ferns along the trail

The AT goes left while a side-trail heads up to the Big Meadows campground

Which is the AT and which is a social trail?

Campground

Typical trail conditions beneath a white blaze

Davids Spring

More campsites

Water bar

Stream from Davids Spring

Thicker and taller understory

Another water bar

Side-hill descent

Trailside boulder

Between a rock and a hard place

Typical trail conditions

A side-trail leads to Skyline Drive's Fishers Gap Overlook in 60 yards

Continuing north past the trail marker leads to...

...a clearing and great view from Fishers Gap on the AT

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/.