Our late May 2019 trip to Shenandoah National Park continued with another short hike on the Appalachian Trail. This time the route was the 2.8-mile segment from Bootens Gap north to Milam Gap in the Central District of the park.
From Bootens Gap, the trail climbs at an average 12% grade for 0.9 miles to the summit of Hazeltop at 3812 feet, passing the Laurel Prong Trail junction halfway up the mountain. For the most part, this is a direct assault on the mountain. However, there are a series of short switchbacks beyond the Laurel Prong Trail junction. From the summit, the trail descends the remaining 1.9 miles at a more leisurely average rate of 5½% to the Mill Prong Trail junction and Milam Gap.
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Topographic map with GPS route
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Elevation profile
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Bootens Gap trail marker
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Typical trail conditions
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This is a relatively young forest with a few much larger and older trees
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The climb is steeper than it appears
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Sidehill climbing
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Laurel Prong Trail junction |
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The understory neatly hides this fallen tree
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Sit a spell
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More typical trail conditions
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Trailside boulder garden
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More boulders
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A denser understory...
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...gives way to a bit more open space
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One of several switchbacks on the climb to Hazeltop
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Open forest near the summit
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Another rock garden
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The reward after the climb
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The trail widens
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Long gentle descent
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Mud caused by recent heavy rains
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A field of ferns
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The white blaze of the AT
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Wildflower in bloom
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Typical trail conditions for the gentle descent
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A stone wall holds the trail in place
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Large ferns
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Approaching the Mill Prong Trail junction
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Blue-blazed Mill Prong Trail
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Crosswalk on Skyline Drive at Milam Gap
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Approaching the Milam Gap parking area
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AT passes the Milam Gap trail kiosk
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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.
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