iNaturalist Observations
AT Hightop
Hightop Mountain sits "high" above the southern part of the Shenandoah Valley in Shenandoah National Park. It is the highest mountain in the park south of Swift Run Gap. To reach Hightop involves a short, but steep hike with some very nice views of the mountains to the West. Hightop Mountain is far less known than other popular hikes in the park such as Hawksbill, Stony Man, Old Rag, and Mary's Rock, but it provides a chance to see a more southern part of the park, and of the Appalachian Trail. The trail is especially rocky in the Hightop Mountain area, with lots of rocks to climb off the trail.
Hightop is easily viewed as a prominent feature above Skyline Drive, and takes an hour to an hour and a half to hike round trip. The main out and back hike from Swift Run Gap is 5.6 miles and 1,480ft of elevation gain. You can also shorten the hike by starting at the Hightop Mountain parking area on Skyline drive.
