Parking
Roadside on Woodward Road/VA 600 opposite the gated Hungry Horse Lane entrance. The access sheet lists space for only 1–2 vehicles outside the gate; there is no developed trailhead lot.
Overview
About Sam's Ridge - Catlett Spur Loop
Why go
- A full forest circuit links several ridges, hollows and streams.
- Early-June mountain laurel and a limestone sinkhole add variety.
Heads up
- The Sam’s Ridge climb and return are steep, with little switchback relief.
- Only 1–2 roadside parking spaces are identified at the gate.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation1,010–2,743 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 Sam's Ridge - Catlett Spur 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 tourMore stories near here in the app
- A Shell That Closes
- Turkeys in the Treetops
- Hazel Mountain Overlook: Rock and Ridge Layers
- 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 Sam's Ridge - Catlett Spur Loop
The routeThis 8.5-mile lollipop loop starts on Woodward Road/VA 600, walks a 0.
This 8.5-mile lollipop loop starts on Woodward Road/VA 600, walks a 0.3-mile lane and a short Hazel River segment, climbs Sam’s Ridge, then circles Broad Hollow, Hazel Mountain, Catlett Spur and Catlett Mountain before retracing the ridge. Allow about 5½–6 hours. Most of the route is wooded, with streams and a limestone sinkhole rather than a named panoramic summit. The stored GPS line measures 8.46 miles; published totals for this named loop range from 8.2 to 9.4 miles, so use the mapped line as the distance basis.
Climb and circuitSam’s Ridge climbs steeply with little switchback relief, then eases near a saddle.
Sam’s Ridge climbs steeply with little switchback relief, then eases near a saddle. Broad Hollow links it to Hazel Mountain, which descends through forest past small streams. Catlett Spur climbs again and steepens before Catlett Mountain drops through a hollow. Hazel Mountain and Broad Hollow return you to Sam’s Ridge for the steep descent.
Laurel and limestoneMountain laurel patches along Sam’s Ridge bloom around early June.
Mountain laurel patches along Sam’s Ridge bloom around early June. On Catlett Mountain, a sinkhole marks a collapse in porous limestone. Expect woodland tread more than a panoramic payoff; the sinkhole is the loop’s most distinctive mapped landmark.
Access and petsThe walk-in begins opposite Hungry Horse Lane. Follow the gated lane 0.
The walk-in begins opposite Hungry Horse Lane. Follow the gated lane 0.3 mile to Hazel River Trail; this access crosses private property and is for pedestrians, so do not drive up the lane. Parking is on the roadside outside the gate, with space for only 1–2 vehicles. No toilet or potable water is identified at this access. Pets are allowed on park trails 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.
