It’s thru-hiker season at Sky Meadows State Park. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is encouraging long hikes and using this iconic trail.

Hikers at Sky Meadows State Park have the opportunity to walk on the iconic Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

The 2,190 mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T. for short) is the world’s longest hiking-only continuous footpath. It is estimated that 300 million hikers visit this trail every year. Although most of these visitors are day-hikers, the number of completed thru-hikes has increased dramatically over the last couple of decades. Last year was an exception when the ATC discouraged thru-hiking in 2020 because of pandemic safety concerns. 

The AT spans across 14 states, from Georgia to Maine, and Virginia has the distinction of being the state with more miles of the trail than any other (555.1 miles). Fun fact: two Virginia State Parks are part of the network of public lands through which the AT passes (Sky Meadows State Park and Grayson Highlands State Park). The trail is managed by a unique patchwork of public and private partnerships, with the National Park Service (NPS) at the top, delegating day-to-day management of the trail to the ATC. The ATC works through dozens of local AT clubs, including the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC),  which maintains the AT portion that passes through Sky Meadows State Park.

The AT connects a unique patchwork of partnerships, including public and private lands, non-profit environmental groups, and State and Federal government agencies.

Options for accessing the AT from Sky Meadows State Park include South Ridge Trail to North Ridge Trail, or for the most direct but also most challenging hike, take North Ridge all the way up. One of the most beautifully scenic options for accessing the AT is taking Piedmont Overlook Trail to the Ambassador Whitehouse Trail. The Ambassador Whitehouse Trail connects park visitors to the AT and provides them with the visual treat of the Piedmont Memorial Overlook.

The view from the Piedmont Memorial Overlook on Ambassador Whitehouse Trail exists as a beautiful way to access the AT from Sky Meadows State Park, thanks to the Piedmont Environmental Council.

As always, we ask visitors to “know before you go” and take a look at the park trail guide ahead of time to plan their route. You can even download the Avenza App for a geo-referenced park map using your smartphone’s GPS to pinpoint your location in the park.

The AT is a 1.3-mile hike to the campground at Sky Meadows and a 1.7-mile hike to the park Visitor Center.

Interested in a section hike of the AT, or even a thru-hike? The backcountry hike-in campground at Sky Meadows is a great place to start as an introduction to backpacking, being a one-mile hike from the overnight parking area. It is also a great place for thru-hikers to stop for a rest on their journey. Reservations are encouraged. However, there is an option for AT hikers to check-in and self-pay, using the designated “AT Site” at the campground, rather than adding the extra miles to their hike to check-in at the park Visitor Center. Of course, AT Hikers are welcome to take the time to hike down to the Visitor Center, where they can purchase a variety of snack items for the trail and fill up on cold drinking water.

AT Hikers have the option of self-check-in or use the honor payment system at the designated “AT Site” in the campground.

Section-hikers can also utilize the park’s overnight parking area (for up to 14 days) by registering at the Visitor Center during open hours or at the overnight parking kiosk after hours. Sky Meadows State Park is about a three-day hike from Harpers Ferry and a two-day hike from Shenandoah National Park.

Sky Meadows State Park is a great starting point for longer section hikes of the AT.

Section-hikers and thru-hikers alike should always follow the Leave No Trace principles, the first of which is “plan ahead and prepare.” It is the hiker’s responsibility to research the trail regulations, such as restrictions on camping or campfires along the sections of trail they are traveling. The ATC website has many handy resources, including an interactive map and a chart of camping and fire regulations by state, to assist hikers in the planning process. For further questions on camping or accessing the AT from Sky Meadows State Park, feel free to call the park or stop by the Visitor Center. Happy Hiking!