Sight · Shenandoah National Park
A short climb for a long look along Massanutten Mountain.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Shenandoah Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Shenandoah National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Shenandoah audio tourRecorded for this area
Big Meadows Lodge: A Meal and a Short Viewpoint Walk“Big Meadows Lodge is coming up, a seasonal stop for a sit-down meal in a timber-and-stone building from nineteen thirty-nine.”
Plays on the road 0.3 mi from Blackrock at Big Meadows in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Blackrock is a small rocky summit and overlook near Big Meadows Lodge. It makes an easy add-on if you want a short walk to exposed rock and a broad look across the Shenandoah Valley; the climb is brief but steep. The Appalachian Trail passes just below the rocks. This is the Big Meadows Blackrock, separate from Blackrock Summit farther south in the park.
The view takes in the long Massanutten Mountain ridge across the valley. Sunset is a good reason to linger; valley lights can appear as it gets dark. For photos, frame the ridge above the valley from the rocks, then stay for the evening lights if they show. Bring a flashlight for the walk back.
Wildlife
325 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
21 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
1,036 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
167 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
93 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
24 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Shenandoah. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyBlackrock at Big Meadows0.2 mi · 15 min · 0.1 mi awayA quick climb to a broad Massanutten view.
ModerateLewis Falls Trail2.8 mi · 4 hr · 0.3 mi awayAn 81-foot waterfall and ridge views reward this rocky loop.
EasyStory of the Forest Trail1.8 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.8 mi awayAn easy woods loop past a stream and air-quality station.
ChallengingRapidan, Fork Mountain & Rose River Circuit22.9 mi · 16 hr · 0.8 mi awayAn overnight circuit through Hoover’s historic Rapidan Camp.
ModerateDark Hollow Falls1.4 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.9 mi awayA shady creek descent, a waterfall, and a steep climb back.
ModerateRose River Falls Loop4 mi · 4.5 hr · 1.3 mi awayRocky streamside loop to a waterfall, with an uphill finish.
ChallengingBig Meadows and Laurel Prong Loop19 mi · 15 hr · 1.3 mi awayA two-night loop links Big Meadows, Lewis Falls, and Hoover’s retreat.
EasyAppalachian Trail - Tanners Ridge Road2.1 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.9 mi awayAn easy A.T. walk to old farm traces and a family cemetery.
Lodging · 0.2 mi awayBig Meadows LodgeA rustic Skyline Drive stay, with dinner and valley views.
Picnic area · 0.3 mi awayBig Meadows Picnic GroundsA table-and-grill break with a 1930s CCC backstory.
Campground · 0.4 mi awayBig Meadows CampgroundA leafy base near the meadow, waterfalls, and visitor center.Sight · 0.6 mi awayLewis FallsA steep, rocky loop to an 81-foot waterfall.
Food · 0.7 mi awayBig Meadows WaysideA practical food and supply stop on the park's central stretch.
Visitor center · 0.8 mi awayHarry F. Byrd Sr. Visitor CenterSee how the park was made before you head out exploring.
Scenic pullout · 0.8 mi awayTanners Ridge OverlookLook across the field toward Stanley and the Shenandoah Valley.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayBig MeadowsAn open break from the forest, rich in wildlife and rare wetlands.Parkwolf’s Shenandoah ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
