Parking
Park at the Skyland Amphitheater at mile 42.5 on Skyline Drive; the trailhead is just uphill from the amphitheater.
Overview
About Millers Head Trail
Why go
- A broad valley panorama from the former tower platform.
- Optional short viewpoints at Bushytop and along the ridge.
Heads up
- The return is a steep climb over the same rocky trail.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation3,412–3,753 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 Millers Head Trail, 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
Millers Head: A Walk to the Old Fire Lookout0:00 / 0:25
“Up ahead is the Millers Head trailhead at Skyland Amphitheater, for a walk to a stone lookout over valley farms and ridges.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Skyland: Valley-View Dining and Resort History
- Skyland Stables: A Slow Ride Through the Woods
- Upper Whiteoak Falls: A Canyon Hike from Skyline Drive
- Stony Man: Keep Going to the Higher Viewpoint
- 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 Millers Head Trail
Is this the right hike?Millers Head Trail is a 1.
Millers Head Trail is a 1.6-mile out-and-back from Skyland Amphitheater to a stone platform at the former fire-tower site. The path drops through woods and along a rocky ridge to a broad Shenandoah Valley view. Allow about two hours. It’s a good short hike if you want a memorable overlook without committing half a day; the catch is the return, which climbs the same rocky trail.
The walk outThe trail starts just uphill from the amphitheater, crossing a grassy patch before entering the…
The trail starts just uphill from the amphitheater, crossing a grassy patch before entering the woods. A short spur leads to Bushytop, with a northwest-facing view over the valley; retrace that spur to rejoin the main path. Farther along, the route bends across rocky ground on a narrow ridge. Another small spur looks south toward Hawksbill.
At the former tower siteA final short climb reaches the maintained platform where the fire tower once stood.
A final short climb reaches the maintained platform where the fire tower once stood. The open view stretches across the valley to the ridges on either side. This is the main payoff, so give yourself a few minutes here. For a photo, include the low stone wall in the foreground to show the overlook as well as the view.
Access and footingPark at the Skyland Amphitheater at mile 42.5 on Skyline Drive; the trailhead is just uphill.
Park at the Skyland Amphitheater at mile 42.5 on Skyline Drive; the trailhead is just uphill. Follow the blue blazes and retrace your steps from the platform. The footing is rocky, and the steeper uphill work comes on the return. Pets are allowed on a physical leash no longer than six feet. The park entrance pass is required, but there’s no separate trail fee or reservation. This route is not ADA accessible.
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.
