The Pinnacle

The Pinnacle is a broad, fairly level rocky outcrop on the Appalachian Trail in northern Shenandoah, reached by a 2.2-mile round trip with about 400 feet of climbing from Pinnacles Picnic Area. Openings near the summit look across Shenandoah Valley toward the long Massanutten ridge. It suits a half-day plan for a compact walk and a real summit view; the route is an out-and-back, not a loop.

Start at Pinnacles Picnic Area on Skyline Drive, near mile 36.7, and follow the white-blazed AT northeast toward Jewell Hollow Overlook. At the junction, keep left on the AT; the right-hand spur leads to the overlook. The path dips below rocky outcrops near Jewell Hollow, then climbs back to the broad summit. Retrace the same trail to return.

The best described viewpoints are south of the highest point, looking west across the valley to Massanutten Mountain. The open rock and ridge make this a good place to pause rather than rush through. For a photo, use an established opening south of the summit and keep some nearby rock at the frame edge to give the distant ridges a sense of scale. Meadow clearings along the route have supported summer wildflowers; goldenrod and Turk’s-cap lily were noted there in July.