Parking
Use the Keyser Run parking area on Skyline Drive at milepost 19.4, then cross the road to the AT spur. Parking capacity and trailhead facilities were not confirmed.
Overview
About Hogback Mountain and Thornton River Loop
Why go
- Links Hogback views, poplar forest, and upper Thornton River in one loop.
- A full three-day route for hikers looking for a backcountry camp trip.
Heads up
- Several potential high-water crossings have no listed crossing-by-crossing locations.
- Campsite choice changes the daily mileage and can require retracing Piney Branch.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation1,414–3,432 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 Hogback Mountain and Thornton River 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 area
Keyser Run: A Full Day at Little Devils Stairs0:00 / 0:29
“Up ahead is Keyser Run Parking, the Skyline Drive starting point for Little Devils Stairs. This seven point four mile loop takes about eight and a half hours, so choose it for a full hiking day.”
Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Mount Marshall Overlook: A Piedmont Pause
- Little Devils Stairs Overlook: A Glimpse into the Gorge
- Gimlet Ridge Overlook: Valleys in Layers
- Hogback Overlook: A Quick Valley Panorama
- 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 Hogback Mountain and Thornton River Loop
A three-day backcountry loopHogback Mountain and Thornton River is an 18.4-mile loop from Keyser Run on Skyline Drive.
Hogback Mountain and Thornton River is an 18.4-mile loop from Keyser Run on Skyline Drive. It links the Appalachian Trail, Sugarloaf, Pole Bridge Link, Piney Branch, Hull School, and upper Thornton River before returning north on the AT. Plan on three days and two nights; this is an experienced backcountry trip, not a long day hike. The route combines Hogback views and poplar forest with a long stretch beside the river.
Start at Keyser RunBegin at the Keyser Run parking area at milepost 19.4, then cross Skyline Drive to the AT spur.
Begin at the Keyser Run parking area at milepost 19.4, then cross Skyline Drive to the AT spur. The first day follows the AT to Sugarloaf, Pole Bridge Link, and Piney Branch. Choose a legal campsite along Piney Branch below the Hull School junction. The camp location is not fixed, so the first day's mileage varies; if you camp below the junction, return to it before turning southeast onto Hull School the next morning.
From Hull School to Thornton RiverHull School runs about 1.3 miles to Thornton River.
Hull School runs about 1.3 miles to Thornton River. Follow the river trail for roughly 2 miles to a second camp on its upper reaches. On day three, continue up Thornton River, cross Skyline Drive, and follow the AT north for 7.2 miles back to Keyser Run. The trip plan allows 3.7 to 7.7 miles on day one, 3 to 6 on day two, and 8 to 9 on day three. Those stage distances are approximate and depend on where you camp.
High water and overnight planningSeveral stream crossings can become high water crossings, especially in spring or after heavy…
Several stream crossings can become high water crossings, especially in spring or after heavy rain; their exact locations are not specified. Decide on a turnaround plan before you leave camp. If you camp away from Thornton River, collect water first; there are few places to camp within a mile of Skyline Drive. Overnight camping requires a backcountry permit.
A little park historyThe trip is described for its views, poplar forests, park history, and fishing along the stream.
The trip is described for its views, poplar forests, park history, and fishing along the stream. The area map notes that the park was assembled from 1,081 privately owned tracts across eight counties and asks hikers to respect family cemeteries and leave artifacts in place. It does not identify a particular historic structure on this loop.
Dogs and a shorter startDogs are allowed on leash no longer than six feet.
Dogs are allowed on leash no longer than six feet. Starting instead at the parking area near milepost 21.1 trims about four miles but misses the good views from Hogback; that shorter version is a different trip length.
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.
