Parking
Use the park-mapped Panorama Upper Parking Area by Thornton Gap on Skyline Drive, near milepost 31.5. The published itinerary identifies the entry at mile 31.6; follow the marked access to the Appalachian Trail.
Overview
About Pass Mountain & Jeremys Run Loop
Why go
- A continuous backcountry circuit links the AT ridge, Neighbor Mountain and Jeremys Run valley.
- The two-night itinerary gives the long route a clear three-day structure.
Heads up
- Fifteen stream crossings can become hazardous after spring rain.
- The trip requires an overnight permit and current campsite-zone planning.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation1,138–2,933 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 Pass Mountain & Jeremys Run 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
Panorama: The Climb to Marys Rock0:00 / 0:24
“Panorama is coming up, with the trail to Marys Rock's open summit view across the valley toward Massanutten Mountain.”
Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Squirrel's Nighttime Glide
- Wilderness Within the Park
- Tunnel Parking Overlook: A View and a Road-Building Story
- Buck Hollow Overlook: A Sunrise View Across the Ridges
- 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 Pass Mountain & Jeremys Run Loop
The routeThis is the published 22.4-mile, two-night loop from Thornton Gap.
This is the published 22.4-mile, two-night loop from Thornton Gap. Hike north on the Appalachian Trail, turn onto Neighbor Mountain Trail, descend into the Jeremys Run valley, follow the creek upstream to the AT, then head south to your start. You walk part of the AT in both directions. A route traced from the mapped trail lines measures about 23.4 miles, so confirm the discrepancy against the current backcountry map and leave room for the longer line.
Two nights in the backcountryPlan on three days, not a long day hike.
Plan on three days, not a long day hike. A backcountry camping permit is required, and the current camping-zone map determines where you may stay. The suggested itinerary places the first overnight on Neighbor Mountain and the second along Jeremys Run, but campsites are not signed; choose only a legal site shown by current rules. Keep camp at least 10 yards from water and 20 yards from trails. Fires are allowed only in park-built fireplaces at AT huts and day-use shelters.
Jeremys Run and waterThe route follows Jeremys Run upstream for 5.4 miles and crosses the stream 15 times.
The route follows Jeremys Run upstream for 5.4 miles and crosses the stream 15 times. High water can reach knee to waist height in spring or after heavy rain. Carry a treatment method and don't rely on a spring without checking current conditions; the itinerary mentions springs on the opening AT stretch but does not verify their present flow or water safety.
Access and dogsStart at Panorama Upper Parking Area by Thornton Gap.
Start at Panorama Upper Parking Area by Thornton Gap. The backcountry map labels the lot at Skyline Drive mile 31.5; the itinerary lists its entry at mile 31.6. The AT is a short walk from the lot. Dogs may join on this route on a physical leash no longer than six feet.
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.
