South District Highlights in 7 Days

This is a roughly 59.1-mile advanced backpacking loop from Doyles River Parking Area on Skyline Drive. It strings together Doyles River and Jones Run, the North and South Forks of the Moormans, Turk Branch, Wildcat Ridge and Riprap, then the Paine Run–Trayfoot–Furnace ridge sequence, Austin Mountain, Rockytop, Lewis Peak and Big Run. It finishes at Big Run Overlook; the short walk across Skyline Drive closes the loop at the same parking package. The mapped line includes Lewis Peak Trail out and back; the optional Furnace Mountain Summit spur is excluded.

Plan around the seven-day itinerary. The park rates it advanced: campsite finding and navigation are part of the trip, and daily camp locations are flexible rather than fixed coordinates. The published overall range of 59.1–69.2 miles conflicts with the printed daily ranges, which add up to 53.8–66.3 miles. This mapped through-route measures 59.1 miles; campsite choices can change the total. No complete elevation-gain or reliable total hiking-time figure is published, and no food or resupply services were verified along the route.

The opening day descends 2.2 miles on Doyles River Trail, then follows Jones Run upstream for about 2.5 miles before turning south on the Appalachian Trail. Both sections stay close to streams; marked upper and lower falls break up the Doyles stretch. This is a through-route, so the walk continues from the falls rather than climbing back to the parking area.

The North Fork Moormans gravel road briefly leaves and re-enters the park boundary. Beyond it, the river trail follows an old road bed downstream. Near Sugar Hollow Reservoir, follow the signed road-and-river connector to the gravel parking area, cross the North Fork to the yellow gate, then climb South Fork Moormans River Road before turning onto Turk Branch. These road, parking and river links are part of the itinerary; it is not one continuous, waymarked tread.

After Turk Branch, the route returns north on the Appalachian Trail, drops onto Wildcat Ridge, crosses Riprap, and reaches Blackrock Gap before following Paine Run and climbing Trayfoot Mountain and Furnace Mountain. The Furnace summit is an optional half-mile each way and is not included in the mapped distance. Rockytop is rougher, with talus underfoot and west-facing views toward Massanutten Mountain and Lewis Peak.

The itinerary walks Lewis Peak Trail to a remote campsite and retraces it the next day before continuing along Rockytop to Big Run Portal. The final section follows Big Run upstream for two to four miles depending on camp location, then takes Big Run Loop to the overlook. Several crossings interrupt the streamside route, and the final Skyline Drive crossing returns you to Doyles River parking.

A backcountry camping permit is required. Use the current map for camping zones and route access; camps must be at least 10 yards from streams. Crossings on North Fork Moormans and Big Run Portal can reach knee-to-waist depth in high water, especially in spring and after heavy rain. Leashed pets up to six feet are allowed on the route. The trailhead's parking capacity, toilets and potable water were not confirmed.