Bootens Gap to Milam Gap - Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park

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.

Topographic map with GPS route

Elevation profile

Bootens Gap trail marker

Typical trail conditions

This is a relatively young forest with a few much larger and older trees

The climb is steeper than it appears

Sidehill climbing

Laurel Prong Trail junction

The understory neatly hides this fallen tree

Sit a spell

More typical trail conditions

Trailside boulder garden

More boulders

A denser understory...

...gives way to a bit more open space

One of several switchbacks on the climb to Hazeltop

Open forest near the summit

Another rock garden

The reward after the climb

The trail widens

Long gentle descent

Mud caused by recent heavy rains

A field of ferns

The white blaze of the AT

Wildflower in bloom

Typical trail conditions for the gentle descent

A stone wall holds the trail in place

Large ferns

Approaching the Mill Prong Trail junction

Blue-blazed Mill Prong Trail

Crosswalk on Skyline Drive at Milam Gap

Approaching the Milam Gap parking area

AT passes the Milam Gap trail kiosk

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/