AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield (Clarke County, Virginia) 92.jpg
Ser Amantio di Nicolao · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rolling Ridge Conservancy

Appalachian Viewpoint–River Access, 7 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 2,016 ft · 5 hr 44 min

Appalachian Viewpoint–River Access, 7 sights is a 14.2-mile out-and-back in Rolling Ridge Conservancy near Shenandoah Retreat, VA. The route passes River Access before reaching Appalachian Viewpoint at the turnaround, 7.1 miles in. It climbs 2,016 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi367 – 1,680 ft · steepest grade: 21%15.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.13568, -77.86969
Nearest town Shenandoah Retreat, VA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Appalachian Viewpoint–River Access, 7 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 2,016 ft · 5 hr 44 min

Elevation 367–1,680 ft

Out & Back · Rolling Ridge Conservancy

Trailhead: 39.13568, -77.86969

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:12 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass River Access.
  3. 0.8 miBear right, heading N.
  4. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  5. 0.1 miBear left onto Ridge to River Trail, heading N.
  6. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Ridge to River / Perimeter Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miBear right onto Mission Road, heading SE.
  8. 250 ftTurn left onto Ridge to River / Perimeter Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Power Line Trail, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto Ridge to River / Perimeter / Power Line Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.1 miBear left onto Grand Boulevard, heading E.
  12. 0.4 miTurn right onto Friends Trail, heading N.
  13. 1.1 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading E.
  14. 2.5 miTurn right onto Blackburn Trail, heading N.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
  16. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  17. 150 ftReach Appalachian Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.3 miTurn right onto Blackburn Trail, heading S.
  19. 50 ftTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading S.
  20. 2.5 miTurn right onto Friends Trail, heading S.
  21. 1.1 miTurn left onto Grand Boulevard, heading W.
  22. 0.4 miBear right onto Ridge to River / Perimeter / Power Line Trail, heading SW.
  23. 0.1 miBear right onto Power Line Trail, heading S.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Ridge to River / Perimeter Trail, heading S.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right onto Mission Road, heading W.
  26. 250 ftBear left onto Ridge to River / Perimeter Trail, heading W.
  27. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Ridge to River Trail, heading W.
  28. 1.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  29. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  30. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  31. 0.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/appalachian-viewpoint-river-access-out-back-7-sights-23-km

Trail surface

85% dirt13% paved2% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 6:47 PM for the 7:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:32 PM — 7 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Shenandoah Retreat, Virginia