Shenandoah National Park, VA
Two nights on the trail, three waterfalls, and a point-to-point finish.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Shenandoah Tour Guide
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
Loft Mountain Wayside: Milkshakes and a Short Hike“You're coming up on Loft Mountain Wayside, a handy seasonal stop for sandwiches, milkshakes and a break from driving. I'd look for a black raspberry milkshake if you want a treat.”
Plays on the road 0.1 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“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
Loft Mountain to Jones Run is a two-night, roughly 9-mile point-to-point backpacking itinerary from Loft Mountain Wayside at Skyline Drive mile 79.5 to Jones Run Parking at mile 84.1. It links Frazier Discovery Trail, the Appalachian Trail, Doyles River Trail, and Jones Run Trail, passing Upper and Lower Doyles River Falls and Jones Run Falls. This is a three-day walk, not a 9-mile day hike. The 9-mile label is a planning estimate: campsite placement changes the second day, and the listed legs add up to about 9 to 10.2 miles.
Cross Skyline Drive from the Wayside and climb about 0.7 mile on Frazier Discovery Trail to the Appalachian Trail. The grade gets very steep in places. The route takes only part of the 1.2-mile Frazier loop, including a rocky ledge with a view over the wooded ridges. From the junction, head south on the AT for about 2 miles to Loft Mountain Campground, the first night's stop.
From camp, return to the AT and continue about 2 miles, then turn onto Doyles River Trail for roughly 2.2 miles. That day's total is about 3.8 to 5 miles, depending on where you camp. The trail passes Upper Doyles River Falls, marked at 28 feet, and Lower Doyles River Falls, marked at 63 feet. Camp at a suitable backcountry site downstream of the Doyles River and Jones Run confluence.
Follow Jones Run Trail uphill about 2.5 miles to the parking area. The route passes the 42-foot Jones Run Falls and crosses a stream. Keep to the trail near the falls; the wet rocks are dangerous, and the crossing can be unsafe in icy or flooded conditions.
Stage a vehicle at each end or arrange a pickup. The first night is at Loft Mountain Campground or a cabin; the second is backcountry camping and requires a backcountry permit. The park entrance fee applies whether you drive in or hike in. Dogs are not allowed on Frazier Discovery Trail, a required part of this route. If you only want Jones Run Falls as a day hike, the separate 3.2-mile round trip from Jones Run Parking is a much shorter option.
Wildlife
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.
Keep exploring
ChallengingBig Run, Doyles River, and Frazier Loop18.1 mi · 12.5 hr · At the trailheadThree waterfall valleys make this a serious backcountry loop.
ModerateBig Flat Mountain Loop4.7 mi · 2.8 hr · At the trailheadCampground paths lead to Appalachian Trail views over Massanutten.
ModerateLoft Mountain Loop2.1 mi · 1.8 hr · 0.1 mi awayFrazier rocks, Appalachian Trail views, and a fire-road return loop.
ChallengingPatterson Ridge - Big Run Portal Loop11.4 mi · 8 hr · 0.1 mi awayCreek crossings lead to a hard climb and a wide ridge panorama.
ModerateFrazier Discovery Trail1.2 mi · 1.3 hr · 0.1 mi awayA short climb to rocky overlooks above Loft Mountain's forest.
ChallengingPatterson Ridge Trail6.2 mi · 4.5 hr · 0.1 mi awayA strenuous ridge out-and-back with a long climb from Big Run.ChallengingDoyles River–Jones Run Loop8 mi · 5.5 hr · 1.3 mi awayThree waterfalls, two creek trails, and an Appalachian Trail return.ChallengingJones Run, Big Run & Brown Mountain Backpacking Loop29 mi · 20 hr · 1.3 mi awayThree waterfalls and four days around a rugged mountain watershed.
Food · At the trailheadLoft Mountain WaysideA practical mile-79.5 break for shakes, souvenirs and picnic tables.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayRockytop OverlookA quick pull-off with a wide view across the southern Blue Ridge.
Campground · 1.2 mi awayLoft Mountain CampgroundA ridgeline camp with sunset views and waterfall hikes nearby.
Scenic pullout · 1.4 mi awayBig Run OverlookA Skyline Drive overlook with a public seasonal photo station.
Lodging · 1.4 mi awayDoyles River CabinA CCC cabin stay with a porch over Cedar Mountain.
Scenic pullout · 1.5 mi awayIvy Creek OverlookWeaver, Loft, and Flattop line up across this quick roadside stop.
Scenic pullout · 2.1 mi awayDoyles River OverlookA south-facing cove view with a history worth pausing for.
Scenic pullout · 2.1 mi awayBrown Mountain OverlookA long roadside view over Big Run and the Blue Ridge.Parkwolf’s Shenandoah ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
