Upper Hawksbill Trail
Trail names: Upper Hawksbill Trail
Location: Upper Hawksbill Trailhead, Skyline Drive, Shenandoah Valley National Park, VA
Permitted uses: Hiking, Nature Study, there is a picnic table at the Byrds Nest 2 Shelter but no trash bins. Pack out all the trash. Foraging small amounts of fruits,mushrooms and nuts for personal use are allowed. For more information please follow the link below:
https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/management/collecting-plants.htm
Prohibited uses: The taking of plants, animals or cultural artifacts is illegal. Hunting is prohibited. Feeding wildlife is illegal. Bicycles and all motorized vehicles are limited to paved roads only. Camping is not allowed at the Hawksbill Summit. No camping is allowed within 100 yards of the Shelter or in the area of the Hawksbill Summit above 3600’. The Byrds Nest 2 Shelter is for Day use only. Campfires are prohibited.
Hours: The Shenandoah Valley National Park is always open. However the Skyline Drive,which is the only road through the Park is sometimes closed due to inclement weather.
Fees and Parking: There is a fee to enter the Shenandoah National Park. If you enter on foot, the fee is $15.00 per person. If entering via private vehicle, with up to 4 persons over the age of 16 in the car, the fee is $30.00 per car. Persons who are under the age of 16 are not included in the 4 person limit. Those entering by motorcycle are charged a $25.00 fee. If you are part of a Commercial enterprise, Educational Group or a Non Commercial vehicle with more than 16 persons entering the park, there is a fee schedule on the Parks website with fees ranging from Zero to $200.00 depending on the organization and the amount of people in the vehicle. A more economical way to use the park, especially if you plan to hike more than one day, is to buy an annual pass for $55.00, or if you qualify, a Senior annual pass for $20.00 or a Senior lifetime pass for $80.00. There are several free passes available to Military members, Veterans and Gold Star Family members as well as an Access pass for those with permanent disability, Families with a 4th Grader and Volunteers. Cash is NOT accepted for payment so be prepared with an alternate means of payment: either a Credit, Debit card or Mobile payment. These are the ONLY accepted means of payment as of 7/1/2025 when the park went completely cashless. Children under the age of 16 are free and are not required to have a pass. This trailhead has abundant parking as well as parking reserved for those with disabilities.
Pets: Pets must be on a leash at all times. Leashes must be no longer than 6 feet in length.
Accessibility: This hike was not wheelchair accessible.
Hiker amenities: At this trailhead there is an information Kiosk with a posted map. There were no restrooms or trash bins at this trailhead.
Length and Trail information: This hike was done as an out and back hike and was approximately 2.27 miles long. This hike is considered easy. The hike is blazed with a blue trail marker.
Our goal for this hike was to reach the Byrds Nest 2 Shelter and then hike to the Hawksbill Summit and Observation Point. We stopped to read the information at the Kiosk and then we headed down the flat gravel path to begin our hike. We were hopeful to be able to see some views from the summit as our weather that day had some breaks in the cloud cover. The hike through the forest was filled with stops to identify some of the plants that flank the trail side and to enjoy the birdsong. The hike was well marked and well traveled and the substrate was not difficult to navigate although sections were rocky with a steady incline toward the summit. We were lucky to have some breaks in the cloud cover when we reached the Byrds Nest 2 Shelter and were able to get some lovely views of the valley below. After a short visit at the Shelter, we headed a short distance to the Hawksbill Summit. There is an observation platform with a low rock wall installed for hikers to take a break and take in the views. Installed in the wall are two metal identification plaques. By rotating a dial you can point to a distant mountain and learn the name of the mountain you are looking at. We thought this was a pretty cool feature and would encourage visitors to look for it while you are at the summit.
