Shenandoah National Park: Limberlost Trail (Blog Hike #64)

Trail: Limberlost Trail

Hike Location: Shenandoah National Park

Geographic Location: southeast of Luray, VA (38.58547, -78.38324)

Length: 1.4 miles

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: April 2000

Overview: An easy trail through an ancient hemlock forest in Shenandoah National Park.

Park Information: https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm
Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=447238
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: The trailhead for the Limberlost Trail is at mile marker 43 of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.  The closest access for Skyline Drive from outside the park is given by US 211 from Luray.  From US 211, go south on Skyline Drive 10.5 miles to the signed paved parking area for Limberlost Trail on the left.

The hike: For my general comments on Shenandoah National Park, see the Fox Hollow Trail description.  The Limberlost Trail, located near Skyland at milepost 43 of Skyline Drive, is one of the shortest and easiest hiking trails in the park.  With its firmly packed gravel surface and lack of steps, it is also the only wheelchair-accessible trail in the park.  Nevertheless, the trail provides an interesting walk through a wide variety of forests.

From the parking lot, the trail goes straight and to the right across the road.  On my visit, I hiked the trail clockwise by going straight at this point and using the trail coming in from the right as the return portion of the loop.  The trail begins meandering through young oak forest with an occasional red cedar while heading gently downhill.  The trail soon intersects the Whiteoak Canyon Trail for the first of two times.  Getting lost is nearly impossible as long as you remember to stay on the gravel trail at each intersection.

Hiking the Limberlost Trail

           After crossing the Whiteoak Canyon Trail for the second time, the trail enters a grove of very large hemlock trees.  Take a minute to consider all the events these trees have lived through during their several hundred year life.  The trail crosses a fire road and spring-fed creek before taking a right turn and ascending moderately out of the hemlocks. 

Large hemlock tree

           After another right turn, the trail enters an area dominated by young maple and ash trees.  The understory consists of a dense layer of mountain laurel, honeysuckle, and paw paws.  The forest slowly changes back to the oak and cedar combination as the trail heads north to close the loop, thus ending the hike.