Pocosin Trail

Why hike it

This is a low-key, history-forward walk through quiet woods. If you’re chasing big vistas, skip it. But if you like old stonework, a rustic CCC cabin, and a peaceful forested ramble with very little effort, Pocosin delivers.

Route overview

The hike is an out-and-back totaling about 2.2 miles, mostly on a wide gravel/dirt fire road with gentle grades (roughly 450 feet of elevation change). From the Skyline Drive pull-off (near mile 59.5), descend the Pocosin Fire Road. In about 0.2 miles you’ll pass the CCC-era Pocosin Cabin. Continue down to the junction and follow the spur to the Pocosin Mission ruins; return the way you came.

What you’ll see

• Pocosin Cabin (circa 1937), built by the CCC and now maintained for rental by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club; there’s often a breezy porch with a partial eastern peek if unoccupied.
• The Upper Pocosin Mission site—stone foundations, steps, and a collapsed chimney—and an overgrown cemetery across the way. It’s a tangible slice of early 20th-century life in these mountains.
• Forest the whole way: ferns, seasonal wildflowers, and typical Shenandoah wildlife (think deer and birds). Shade is excellent in summer. Views are limited—this hike is about ambience and history, not panoramas.

Best time to hike

Spring through fall is prime: wildflowers in spring, cooler air and color in fall, and summer shade that keeps things comfortable. Winter is doable but expect icy patches. Weekends see a small parking lot fill early; weekdays are wonderfully quiet.

Tips and comparisons

• Keep kids and dogs close around the ruins; there can be old glass and rusted metal.
• No facilities here—bring water and be self-sufficient.
• Building a longer day or overnighter? From the mission area, you can return to the fire road and climb 1.1 miles to the Appalachian Trail, then link with Laurel Prong per an NPS-described itinerary.

Bottom line: Underrated if you value history and solitude; underwhelming if you want waterfalls or sweeping overlooks.