Pocosin, Laurel Prong & Slaughter Loop

This 28.9-mile loop starts at South River Picnic Area and links South River Falls, Pocosin Mission, the Appalachian Trail, Laurel Prong, Rapidan Camp, Mill Prong and Slaughter Trail before returning to the same access. The park’s current trip listing gives a 27.5–29-mile, three-night range; the mapped line uses a half-mile campsite leg on Slaughter each way. Plan four hiking days and roughly 22 hours on foot; that is a practical estimate, not a published time, and excludes camping and long breaks. The itinerary is classified as Experienced. The optional 0.3-mile Bearfence viewpoint spur is not part of this route line.

Overnight backcountry use requires a permit and fee; arrange it through Recreation.gov and check the current camping-zone map before choosing camps. The trip sheet’s specific campsites and restrictions date from 2006, so use current rules for your dates. Water needs planning too: the early Pocosin leg is flagged as a place to carry water, and no dependable refill point was verified for this route. An old mention of Bearfence Spring is not a guarantee that it will be flowing or safe to drink.

Start from the South River Falls Trail access at South River Picnic Area, on Skyline Drive around mile 62.8. The overlook comes about a mile in and faces the 83-foot South River Falls; this circuit passes the viewpoint but does not descend to the waterfall’s base. Continue by the short connector to South River Fire Road, then turn onto Pocosin Trail. The first day is about three miles, with a backcountry campsite search on the Pocosin leg. The next morning, finish the trail at Pocosin Mission. Its stone ruins mark a mission built in 1902 by Episcopal missionary Frederick W. Neve.

Pocosin Fire Road climbs to the Appalachian Trail; follow the AT north for about 5.6 miles. A side trail to Bearfence Rocks adds 0.3 mile if you want the view, but it is optional and excluded from the stored route. Laurel Prong leaves the AT and follows an old road trace toward Rapidan Camp. The full approach to camp is about 2.8 miles; the old itinerary suggests looking for a campsite along Laurel Prong before reaching the camp area. Check today’s zone rules rather than relying on those dated campsite directions.

Rapidan Camp was the rustic retreat of Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover; historic buildings and exhibits remain there. From camp, the route follows the yellow-blazed Mill Prong Horse Trail for about 0.8 mile, then the blue-blazed Mill Prong Trail for about a mile to the AT. Turn south and continue about 5.2 miles. The AT and Slaughter Trail connect by a short Bearfence Hut Road segment, which the older directions gloss over as a left turn; confirm this junction on a detailed current trail map. Slaughter is a campsite spur, not a new through-loop: hike 0.5 to 1 mile out and back to the AT. The stored line uses the short end of that range; a more distant campsite makes the trip longer. On day four, return uphill to the AT and follow it about 6.2 miles back to South River Picnic Area.

The park describes its trails generally as steep and rocky; the two middle days are long, and campsites can take work to find. No full-route elevation gain is published. Park at South River Picnic Area on Skyline Drive; the park entrance fee applies. The mapped route begins at the signed trail entry about 130 meters from the picnic-area parking pin. Pets are allowed on this route on a leash no longer than six feet.