Sunset Hike To Blackrock Summit - 3.5 Miles - South District SNP - Moderate

The refreshing mountain air and a sunset from a beautiful mountain summit, doesn’t that sound like a great way to cap off a weekend. This planned hike will take place within the Southern District of the Shenandoah National Park. It will include a 2.5 mile along the Appalachian Trail (AT) to the summit of Blackrock Mountain and then a short retrace to the Blackrock Summit parking lot along the Skyline Drive.

PLEASE NOTE: This outing will require a short car shuttle at the beginning and the end of our outing.

After gathering at the Blackrock Summit parking lot, we will car shuttle to Browns Gap. Starting from the Browns Gap parking area along the Skyline Drive, we will access the AT heading South. We will gradually ascend about 500 feet covering 2.5 miles. We will then reach the summit of Blackrock - which has a unique boulder field, offering open views of the surrounding landscape. Sunsets from this vantage point are often described as spectacular.

From our perch on Blackrock Summit, we will settle in to watch the sunset as it cast its rays and shimmering light across the Shenandoah Valley. This is also a great spot for having dinner - so make certain to pack something to eat.

After viewing the sunset, we will retrace our hike path for about 0.5 miles back to the Blackrock Summit parking lot.

What to Wear and Bring:

> temperatures in the mountains will be cooler, so it is always important to dress in layers (it is always better to have too many layers with you, instead of not having enough)
> hiking apparel should include moisture wicking clothing such as polyester and/or merino wool as a base/skin layer
> depending on how cool or windy it might be, bringing a pull-over micro-fleece is always a good idea
> a good pair of broken-in hiking shoes/boots
> wool/merino hiking socks (such as Smart Wool)
> snack food and/or dinner food items
> a HEADLAMP or small flashlight - to be used during the return hike back to the parked vehicles

National Park Pass - if you have one

Hope you will be able to participate in what will be a wonderful outing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia.