Black Friday Hike-Lewis Peak-9 miles-Moderately Strenuous

Starting Point - Brown Gap Parking Area

Ending Point - Brown Gap Parking Area

Hike Distance/Rating - 9 Miles/Moderately Strenuous

PLEASE NOTE - This is a moderately strenuous hike in the South District of Shenandoah National Park. There are no vetting questions to be answered for this hike. This is not a hike for novice or beginner hikers. This hike will include rocky trails and multiple rockfalls in the late fall/early winter. Hikers will need to be physically prepared and properly equipped to hike to this remote part of Shenandoah National Park.

Trailhead GPS Coordinates - 38.240861, -78.710976

Hike Highlights - Appalachian Trail, Big Run Loop Trail, Rockytop Trail, Lewis Peak Trail, Lewis Peak Summit Trail, Multiple Ridgeline Vistas, 360 Degree Views from Lewis Peak

Hike Details - After eating turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and those other Thanksgiving foods, you are going to need to burn those calories. There is no better way to burn those calories than to head to Shenandoah National Park and hike out to the summit of Lewis Peak. We are going to meet at the Rockfish Gap entrance on Afton Mountain and form carpools to the Brown Gap Parking Area. Upon arriving at the trailhead, we will hike the Appalachian Trail northbound about a half mile to the junction with the Big Run Loop Trail. We will turn left onto the Big Run Loop Trail and hike to the junction with the Rockytop Trail. We will continue straight on the Rockytop Trail past the Austin Mountain Trail to the junction with the Lewis Peak Trail. We will continue to the Lewis Peak Summit Trail. Along the way, we will have multiple ridgeline vistas before reaching the Lewis Peak Summit Trail. We will climb to the summit of Lewis Peak and enjoy the 360 degree views from Lewis Peak. After enjoying the views, we will retrace our steps back to our cars at Brown Gap. We will carpool back to Rockfish Gap. There will be an optional post hike at a local brewery following the hike.

What to Bring - Broken in Hiking Boots, Trekking Poles, Lunch/Snacks, 3 to 5 Liters of Water, First Aid Kit, Good Day Pack, Camera, Tick Repellent, Money for Your Driver, Layers of Clothing for colder fall and winter hiking, Beanies/Gloves