Mary's Rock via Appalachian Trail

Mary’s Rock offers one of Shenandoah National Park’s finest summit views, a rocky outcrop providing panoramic vistas of the Shenandoah Valley, surrounding ridges, and on clear days, distant mountain ranges. The trail follows the Appalachian Trail from Thornton Gap, climbing steadily through oak and hickory forest before emerging at the exposed summit rocks. The final approach requires a short scramble over boulders to reach the best viewpoints. The relatively moderate climb and outstanding views make this one of the park’s most popular hikes, with crowds on fair-weather weekends. Multiple access points allow for varied approaches of different lengths, and the summit is ideal for watching sunrise illuminate the valley below.