Continuing our late May 2019 trip to Shenandoah National Park, we hiked another short segment of the Appalachian Trail. This segment was 2.6 miles from Milam Gap north to the Big Meadows Amphitheater. Along the way, we passed the Tanners Ridge Cemetery at 1.1 miles, Lewis Spring at 1.6 miles, and a fantastic viewpoint at 2.2 miles.
For the first 0.6 miles, the trail was fairly level with an elevation range of only 25 feet. This section was often muddy due to recent rains and poor drainage. In the next 0.5 miles, we climbed three hills of 40- to 50-foot height before reaching Lewis Spring. From Lewis Spring, the trail climbs 300 feet to the viewpoint in 0.6 miles for an average grade of 9½%. The trail then descends 100 feet in the final 0.4 miles with an average grade of less than 5%.
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Topographic map with GPS route
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Elevation profile
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Narrow and dry footpath
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Wide and muddy footpath
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A new social path on right avoids muddy track on left
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More mud
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Rocks embedded in the trail near a culvert
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Follow the blazes
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Water bar with flowing water
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A muddy mess beyond the water bar
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Approaching Tanners Ridge Cemetery |
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The trail makes an angled crossing of Tanners Ridge Fire Road
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The northbound trail marker is hidden from the road
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No horses
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A straight and level trail
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Passing a rock outcropping
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Lewis Spring
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The trail crosses another fire road
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Beginning the ascent
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Trailside boulders
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Sidehill climbing
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More boulders
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Nearing the summit
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A short social trail to the left leads to...
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...a fantastic view of Roundhead Mountain and the Town of Stanley
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Another view
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Back on the trail
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The trail narrows
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Amphitheater trail marker
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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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