Parking
Use Meadow Spring parking at Skyline Drive mile 33.5; the trail starts at the south end of the lot. A separate Buck Hollow foot access on U.S. 211 has a four-to-five-car pullout. This mapped loop starts at Meadow Spring.
Overview
About Buck Hollow and Buck Ridge Loop
Why go
- Buck Hollow follows a rocky stream through a shaded hollow.
- The stair climb has a memorable trail-building story.
Heads up
- Loose footing, steep grades and several rocky stream crossings.
- Most Buck Ridge views are screened by trees.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation1,217–2,887 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 Buck Hollow and Buck Ridge Loop, 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
Meadow Spring: Summit View or Hidden Falls0:00 / 0:32
“You're approaching Meadow Spring, a starting point for Marys Rock and Hazel River Falls.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Hazel Mountain Overlook: Rock and Ridge Layers
- Buck Hollow Overlook: A Sunrise View Across the Ridges
- Tunnel Parking Overlook: A View and a Road-Building Story
- Pinnacles Overlook: Old Rag Across the Valley
- 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 Buck Hollow and Buck Ridge Loop
A steep loop into Buck HollowBuck Hollow and Buck Ridge make a 5.9-mile loop from Meadow Spring on Skyline Drive.
Buck Hollow and Buck Ridge make a 5.9-mile loop from Meadow Spring on Skyline Drive. The route descends beside Buck Hollow’s stream, climbs Buck Ridge on a long wooden stairway, then follows the short Hazel Mountain Trail connection back to the parking area. Allow about 3 to 4 hours and expect roughly 1,700 feet of climbing. It suits hikers who are comfortable with steep, rocky ground and repeated creek crossings; most of the ridge stays under trees, with only occasional mountain views. This route closes at Meadow Spring and leaves the separate Marys Rock summit hike out of the distance.
Down through the hollowFrom the lot, follow the short access to blue-blazed Buck Hollow.
From the lot, follow the short access to blue-blazed Buck Hollow. The trail drops steadily over dirt and loose rock. It can be slick and muddy after heavy rain, so take care on the downhill. Near the bottom, the slope eases and the path follows Buck Hollow, crossing it several times over rocks. Water can run low in summer, and the crossing stones can shift after high water. There is no confirmed drinking-water source along the route.
The Buck Ridge stairsAt the low junction, turn onto Buck Ridge for the climb back toward Skyline Drive.
At the low junction, turn onto Buck Ridge for the climb back toward Skyline Drive. The sharpest pitch gains more than 400 feet in less than a third of a mile, using over 600 wooden steps. A former trail overseer recalled that crews and volunteers built the locust-wood staircase over nearly two years, setting the steps into rock and anchoring them. The grade eases beyond the stairs but keeps climbing. Look for brief mountain glimpses through the trees and a rock outcrop with a clearer view; there is no long stretch of open summit scenery.
Back by Hazel MountainNear the top, follow the yellow-blazed Hazel Mountain Trail connector toward Meadow Spring to…
Near the top, follow the yellow-blazed Hazel Mountain Trail connector toward Meadow Spring to close the circuit. Stay on the short link back to the parking area rather than continuing onto other Hazel Mountain routes. The loop includes the Buck Hollow and Buck Ridge trails, not the longer Marys Rock outing.
Start and trail rulesPark at Meadow Spring at Skyline Drive mile 33.5 and begin at the south end of the lot.
Park at Meadow Spring at Skyline Drive mile 33.5 and begin at the south end of the lot. The park also identifies a separate foot access at the Buck Hollow pullout on U.S. 211, with parking for about four to five cars; this route is mapped from Meadow Spring. Pets are allowed on this trail but must stay on a physical leash no longer than six feet. Carry water before you leave the lot.
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.
