Raven Rocks–River Access, 8 sights is an 11.8-mile out-and-back in Rolling Ridge Conservancy near Shenandoah Retreat, VA. The route passes River Access and Raven Rocks. It climbs 1,720 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi367 – 1,595 ft · steepest grade: 22%12.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.13568, -77.86969
Nearest town Shenandoah Retreat, VA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Raven Rocks–River Access, 8 sights
11.8 mi · ▲ 1,720 ft · 4 hr 48 min
Elevation 367–1,595 ft
Out & Back · Rolling Ridge Conservancy
Trailhead: 39.13568, -77.86969
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:14 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftPass River Access.
- 0.8 miBear right, heading N.
- 250 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Ridge to River Trail, heading N.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Ridge to River / Perimeter Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Mission Road, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Ridge to River / Perimeter Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Power Line Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Ridge to River / Perimeter / Power Line Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Grand Boulevard, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Ridge to River / Perimeter / Power Line Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Ridge to River / Power Line Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Ridge to River Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Appalachian Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miReach Raven Rocks, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.8 miTurn left onto Friends Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Grand Boulevard, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Byrd Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto School House Camp Tyler Trail, heading NW.
- 350 ftSharp left onto Perimeter Trail, heading NW.
- 1.8 miBear right onto Ridge to River Trail, heading S.
- 1.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 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 surface
89% dirt10% paved1% gravel
Weather
Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:14 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 6:49 PM for the 7:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:33 PM — 7 min before dark.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- River Access 4.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Appalachian Viewpoint–River Access, 7 sights 14.2 mi · ▲ 2,016 ft
- Fallen Tree–River Access, 4 sights 5.9 mi · ▲ 409 ft
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