Parking
Use the Milam Gap parking area on Skyline Drive, the trailhead named in park directions. Follow the northbound Appalachian Trail from the lot; navigate by the named gap because published milepost labels differ.
Overview
About Appalachian Trail - Tanners Ridge Road
Why go
- A gentle walk past old farm traces and a named family cemetery
- Wild apple trees and seasonal birds add interest along the way
Heads up
- The final mile retraces the route, and the turnaround is a road junction
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation3,238–3,300 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Shenandoah alerts
- ClosureOld Rag Trailhead main lot closedThe Old Rag Trailhead main parking lot is closed to vehicles and pedestrians for infrastructure improvements; use the existing overflow lots. - Work is expected to be completed by November 2026.Official details
- ClosureBackcountry camping and zone closuresBackcountry camping is prohibited on the Appalachian Trail from Lewis Mountain to Big Meadows, and the Naked Creek backcountry zone is closed.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Shenandoah Tour Guide
Your drive to Appalachian Trail - Tanners Ridge Road, narrated.
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 trailhead
Milam Gap: The Walk to Rapidan Camp0:00 / 0:37
“Milam Gap is coming up, where you can hike to Rapidan Camp, Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover's mountain retreat.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Naked Creek Overlook: Elkton Beyond the Ridges
- Tanners Ridge Overlook: A Field Above Stanley
- Big Meadows: Deer and a Break from the Forest
- When Big Meadows Was a Glider Field
- 146 audio storiesacross Shenandoah’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Bald Eagle, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 163 trails, 142 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Appalachian Trail - Tanners Ridge Road
Know the routeThis 2.
This 2.1-mile round trip follows the northbound, white-blazed Appalachian Trail from Milam Gap parking area to Tanners Ridge Road, then returns on the same path. It is described as fairly level, with about 175 feet of gain and a typical time of 1.5 hours. Published distances vary from 2.1 to 2.2 miles; this entry uses the National Park Service figure. At Tanners Ridge Road, turn around: the A.T. continues beyond the junction, but that stretch is not part of this hike.
Old farm tracesThe route crosses a former homestead.
The route crosses a former homestead. Watch for stone walls and traces of old roads in the woods; they are easy to pass if you focus only on the tread. The short walk is most rewarding if you like noticing how people once lived in these mountains.
The turnaroundAt Tanners Ridge Road, the park map marks the Thomas-Meadows family cemetery.
At Tanners Ridge Road, the park map marks the Thomas-Meadows family cemetery. This is a quiet historical endpoint rather than a summit or a named scenic overlook. Take a moment to identify the junction, then retrace the A.T. to Milam Gap.
Apple trees and birdsWild apple trees remain around former home sites.
Wild apple trees remain around former home sites. They provide food for white-tailed deer and habitat for birds. Spring brings breeding warblers; late-summer mixed flocks may include vireos and several warbler species. These are seasonal possibilities, not guaranteed sightings, so the birds are as much a reason to listen as to look.
Access and rulesStart at the Milam Gap parking area on Skyline Drive and follow the northbound A.T.
Start at the Milam Gap parking area on Skyline Drive and follow the northbound A.T. The hike is listed for year-round access; a park entrance fee applies, with no separate activity fee or reservation for this walk. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. The route is not listed as ADA-accessible.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Shenandoah
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.
