Big Meadows and Laurel Prong Loop

Big Meadows and Laurel Prong is a 19-mile backcountry loop from Fishers Gap Overlook on Skyline Drive. It follows the Appalachian Trail to Big Meadows, visits Lewis Falls, returns to the AT at Milam Gap, then turns onto Laurel Prong toward Rapidan Camp. The return uses Mill Prong Horse Trail, Rapidan Fire Road, Stony Mountain Trail, Rose River Fire Road and Rose River Loop to reach Fishers Gap again. It is a multi-day route assembled from several trails, separate from the shorter Laurel Prong day loop that starts at Milam Gap.

The park’s suggested itinerary spreads the distance over three days: roughly 1.5 miles to Big Meadows on day one, 7.5–8.5 miles on day two, then 9–10 miles on the final day. Plan on about 15 hours of hiking across the trip, with the third day the longest. The usual plan pairs a first night in the Big Meadows developed area with a backcountry night along Laurel Prong. Treat this as a backpacking itinerary, not a day hike with a long return drive.

The Big Meadows section follows the AT into the campground area, then heads south toward Lewis Falls. The route drops steeply over rocky footing to the falls viewing platform and continues by a short gravel connector back to the AT. This is the most awkward footing on the route; allow time at the overlook before continuing south past Milam Gap. Big Meadows is also a distinctive high-elevation wetland, with rare fen plant communities around the open meadow. Stay on signed trails and campground roads through this sensitive area.

South of Milam Gap, the AT leads to Laurel Prong Trail. Follow it toward Rapidan Camp, a quiet streamside stretch that ends in the former presidential retreat of Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover. The route turns there onto Mill Prong Horse Trail and then right at the Mill Prong Trail junction. The camp area and its preserved buildings make a worthwhile pause, but overnight sites must be selected outside the no-camping buffer around Rapidan Camp.

From the Mill Prong junction, the itinerary follows a yellow-blazed connector to Rapidan Fire Road, then Stony Mountain Trail and Rose River Fire Road. Rose River Loop finishes the circuit at Fishers Gap. Expect stream crossings along the Laurel and Mill Prong corridor; high water can make them harder. This final stage is long enough that a late start or a slow pace on wet crossings can squeeze the afternoon.

Start and finish at Fishers Gap Overlook, Skyline Drive milepost 49. Entering the park requires an entrance pass. Backcountry camping requires a permit, and the park’s campsite-distance rules apply near buildings, facilities and Rapidan Camp. Dogs are allowed on the trail segments in this route when kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Check current park and Skyline Drive conditions before committing to the overnight plan.