Parking
Designated parking for about 10 cars is at Little Devils Stairs parking area off Route 614. Do not block the road or gate.
Overview
About Keyser, Piney, and Jeremys Run Circuit
Why go
- Links several stream valleys and ridgelines in one full backcountry circuit.
- Combines the Appalachian Trail with quieter named park trails.
Heads up
- The four-day trip requires three nights of backcountry planning and many stream crossings.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation1,158–2,966 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 Keyser, Piney, and Jeremys Run Circuit, 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
Keyser Run Boundary: A Backcountry Starting Point0:00 / 0:27
“You're nearing the Keyser Run boundary parking area off Route six fourteen, a starting point for planned backcountry trips.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Mount Marshall Overlook: A Piedmont Pause
- Keyser Run: A Full Day at Little Devils Stairs
- Little Devils Stairs Overlook: A Glimpse into the Gorge
- Rattlesnake Point Overlook: Tiny Bubbles in the Rock
- 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 Keyser, Piney, and Jeremys Run Circuit
Route and commitmentThis is an experienced backpacking loop planned over four hiking days and three nights,…
This is an experienced backpacking loop planned over four hiking days and three nights, starting and ending at Keyser Run Boundary off Route 614. The official trip distance is 25 miles; the stored main-route line measures 24.3 mapped miles. Campsite choice and retracing to camp can change the distance walked.
Follow the loopFrom the boundary, follow Keyser Run Fire Road and Hull School Trail to Piney Branch, then take…
From the boundary, follow Keyser Run Fire Road and Hull School Trail to Piney Branch, then take the Appalachian Trail to Jeremys Run. Continue to Neighbor Mountain Trail, pass Byrd’s Nest #4, descend the service road to Skyline Drive, cross the drive, and return on Hull School and Keyser Run Fire Road. Byrd’s Nest #4 is day-use only, not an overnight shelter.
Camps and water crossingsThe four-day plan includes three backcountry nights, so plan at least two legal sites; current…
The four-day plan includes three backcountry nights, so plan at least two legal sites; current rules cap a stay at one campsite at two consecutive nights. The optional Pole Bridge Link camp spur can add up to 0.6 mile each way. Jeremys Run has 15 stream crossings, which can be knee- to waist-deep in spring or after heavy rain. Piney Branch has fewer crossings, but some may also be difficult. Recheck conditions before committing to a crossing.
Access and rulesUse the designated Little Devils Stairs parking area for the Route 614 boundary access and keep…
Use the designated Little Devils Stairs parking area for the Route 614 boundary access and keep the road and gate clear. A backcountry permit and park entrance fee or pass are required, even when entering on foot. Keep pets on a physical leash no longer than 6 feet. Confirm current access, campsite availability and regulations before departure.
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.
