Little Stony Man Cliffs

Little Stony Man Cliffs is a rocky outcrop above Skyline Drive, separate from the higher Stony Man Summit and the roadside overlook. A short spur brings you to open ledges with a wide view west across the Shenandoah Valley. It is a strong choice if you want a broad panorama without the longer Stony Man outing. Plan for about an hour and less than a mile round trip; the climb is steep and rocky in places.

Start at the small paved Little Stony Man parking area on the west side of Skyline Drive at milepost 39.1. It has about eight spaces and can fill quickly on busy days. Take the connector to the Appalachian Trail and continue toward Little Stony Man; after the view, retrace your steps or stay on the trail toward Stony Man Summit for a longer hike. Skyland farther south is the nearest named food stop, with a dining room and a grab-and-go counter.

Skyline Drive curls through the wooded slopes below the ledges, with Skyland beneath you and Page Valley farther out. Lake Arrowhead is a small landmark on the valley floor. For a photo, keep a bend in the road low in the frame; it gives the cliffs and valley a sense of scale. Clear air makes the biggest difference: summer haze can flatten the distant view, while early or late light can bring the ridges into relief.

These ledges are greenstone, basalt from lava flows about 570 million years ago. The flows are part of the Catoctin Formation; Shenandoah had no volcanoes, and the lava probably came through fissures far to the east. During Appalachian mountain building, heat and pressure changed the basalt. Minerals including chlorite and epidote gave it a green tint, though weathered faces can look gray or rust-red.

The rock is uneven and exposed, with a few short scrambling steps at the outcrop. It can be slick after rain or in winter. Climbers use some faces for routes and rappels, so stay clear of anyone on the rock.