Stony Man Mountain
The Appalachian Trail skirts the upper slopes of Stony Man Mountain, one of the most iconic locations in Shenandoah National Park. The blue-blazed Stony Man Trail is just a few minutes detour off the Appalachian Trail and well worth the effort. It is a loop trail near the summit that spreads the crowds a bit, as you will likely encounter a lot of people.
WillhiteWeb.com
Hiking Distance: 1.6-mile round trip hike
Elevation Gain: 340 feet
Difficulty: Easy for tourists
Hiking Time: 1 hour
The trailhead is just a minute or two away from the Skyland Wayside. There are actually two trail options out of the parking lot, see map.
Access:
Skyland wayside is down in the trees
At the Appalachian Trail viewpoint just to the north of the summit
Hiking north on the AT skipping the summit still gives this view to the north
Looking north from Stony Man Mountain
Appalachian Trail just north of Stony Man summit
Looking up at Stony Man at the AT viewpoint on the north side of the mountain.
Mountains to the north
Looking NW