Parking
Use designated Nicholson Hollow parking on Skyline Drive near milepost 38. The park itinerary also lists Corbin parking for this circuit.
Overview
About Nicholson Hollow - Corbin Mountain Loop
Why go
- Several stream crossings lead to cascades and swimming holes in Nicholson Hollow.
- Indian Run and Corbin Mountain turn the river-valley walk into a full circuit.
Heads up
- The upper Nicholson Hollow approach is repeated on the return.
- High water can make the repeated Hughes River crossings unsafe.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation1,266–3,153 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 Nicholson Hollow - Corbin Mountain 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
Stony Man Mountain Overlook: The Roadside View0:00 / 0:16
“You're nearing Stony Man Mountain Overlook, a roadside view north across wooded ridges and valley fields. Look for Hughes River Gap, the notch cutting through the ridge line.”
Plays on the road 0.3 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Corbin Cabin Cutoff: A Steep Walk to a Log Home
- Little Stony Man: A Short Climb Above Skyline Drive
- Hemlock Springs Overlook: The Missing Hemlocks
- Pinnacles Picnic Grounds: Lunch and a Four-Sided Fireplace
- 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 Nicholson Hollow - Corbin Mountain Loop
A long circuit with a shared approachThis 11.6-mile loop starts at Nicholson Hollow parking near milepost 38 on Skyline Drive.
This 11.6-mile loop starts at Nicholson Hollow parking near milepost 38 on Skyline Drive. Follow Nicholson Hollow Trail downhill for about 1.7 miles, turn right onto Indian Run for another 1.7 miles, then left onto Corbin Mountain Trail for 3.8 miles. Rejoin Nicholson Hollow and climb roughly 4 to 4.5 miles back to the car. The upper stretch of Nicholson Hollow is walked in both directions, so some ground repeats. Allow a full day, around 8 to 10 hours with breaks and stream crossings.
Check the river before you commitThe route crosses the Hughes River several times in Nicholson Hollow.
The route crosses the Hughes River several times in Nicholson Hollow. It can rise to knee or waist depth in spring or after heavy rain, so high water can make this loop unsafe. The turns in this hollow can also be confusing: watch for the concrete trail posts and bring a detailed topographic map.
The hollow is the rewardThe route moves from a mountain ridge down into a wooded river valley and back out again.
The route moves from a mountain ridge down into a wooded river valley and back out again. Nicholson Hollow has cascades and swimming holes; one large pool with a small waterfall lies downstream of the recommended campsite area. Treat that as an optional short exploration, since the itinerary does not give a precise spur distance. The pool and boulders make the route's clearest photo stop.
Trailhead and overnight plansStart from Nicholson Hollow parking on Skyline Drive near milepost 38; the park itinerary also…
Start from Nicholson Hollow parking on Skyline Drive near milepost 38; the park itinerary also lists Corbin parking for this circuit. Dogs are allowed on this route on a physical leash no longer than six feet. If you make this an overnight hike, a backcountry camping permit is required and must be obtained online or by phone; there is no paper or in-person registration.
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.
