Top Trails: Shenandoah National Park describes the classic destinations and lesser-known jewels in 50 must-do hikes that explore the heart of the park.

Johnny Molloy is a writer and adventurer based in Johnson City, Tennessee. His outdoor passion was ignited on a backpacking trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while attending the University of Tennessee. That first foray unleashed a love of the outdoors that led Johnny to spend more than 4,000 nights backpacking, canoe camping, and tent camping throughout the country over the past three decades. If you put the days of camping all together, that is nearly 11 straight years of camping out. Friends enjoyed his outdoor adventure stories; one even suggested he write a book. He pursued his friend's idea and soon parlayed his love of the outdoors into an occupation. The results of his efforts are more than 60 books and guides. His writings include hiking guidebooks, camping guidebooks, paddling guidebooks, comprehensive guidebooks about a specific area, and true outdoor adventure books covering all or parts of 26 states. Though primarily involved with book publications, Johnny also writes for magazines and websites. Furthermore, he is an outdoors columnist and feature writer for his local paper, the Johnson City Press. He continues writing and traveling extensively throughout the United States, endeavoring in a variety of outdoor pursuits.
Johnny is an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Johnson City, Tennessee. He is also a Gideon. His non-outdoor interests include reading, Christian studies, and University of Tennessee sports.

Shenandoah National Park Map

Shenandoah National Park Trail Features Table

USING TOP TRAILS

• Organization of Top Trails


• The Region


• The Areas


• The Trails


• Choosing a Trail


• Location


• Features


• Best Time


• Difficulty


• The Elevation Factor



INTRODUCTION TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK


• Shenandoah National Park: An Overview


• Getting There and Getting Around


• Lodging


• Waysides


• Camping


• Geography and Topography


• Flora


• Fauna


• When to Go


• Weather and Seasons


• About the Trails


• Trail Selection


• Key Features


• Multiple Uses



ON THE TRAIL


• Have a Plan


• Before You Go


• Carry the Essentials


• Useful but Less-Than-Essential Items


• Trail Etiquette



CHAPTER 1


• North District


• Dickey Ridge Historic Hike


• Compton Peak


• Big Devils Stairs Vista


• Sugarloaf Loop


• Overall Run Falls


• Little Devils Stairs Loop


• Overall Run Loop


• Heiskell Hollow Loop


• Elkwallow Loop


• Piney River Falls


• Knob Mountain and Jeremys Run Loop


• Neighbor Mountain and Jeremys Run Loop


• Thornton River Loop



CHAPTER 2


• Central District


• Marys Rock via The Pinnacle


• Hazel Falls and Cave


• Hazel Country Loop


• Corbin Cabin Hike


• Old Rag Loop


• Stony Man Loop


• Robertson Mountain


• Falls of Whiteoak Canyon


• Cedar Run Falls


• Hawksbill Summit


• Rose River Falls Loop


• Lewis Spring Falls Loop


• Hazeltop and Rapidan Camp Loop


• Staunton River Loop


• Bear Church Rock via Staunton River


• Bear Church Rock from Bootens Gap


• Conway River Loop


• Bearfence Mountain Rock Scramble


• Pocosin Mission


• South River Falls Loop



CHAPTER 3


• South District


• Hightop


• Rocky Mount Loop


• Rocky Mountain Loop


• Loft Mountain Loop


• Patterson Ridge Loop


• Big Run Loop


• Rockytop and Big Run Loop


• Austin Mountain and Madison Run Loop


• Falls Loop from Browns Gap


• Trayfoot Mountain Loop


• Furnace Mountain via Blackrock


• Blackrock Loop


• Big Branch Falls via Moormans River


• Moormans River Loop


• Chimney Rock


• Turk Branch Loop


• Turk Mountain



Appendix: Local Resources


Index


About the Author