Hawksbill is a nice, easy 2.9 mile trail. At it’s peak at 4,049 feet, it’s the highest point in elevation in Shenandoah. Enter at Thorton Gap(second from north Shenandoah entrance) and go south until mile marker 45. The ride in was 1.5 hours from Alexandria, VA early on a Sunday morning. You’ll find a small parking lot for Lower Hawksbill Gap at mile marker 45 in Shenandoah National Park. The first 1 mile is quite steep, but that’s when you hit the summit. There is a raptor release station at the top(not sure if it’s still in use). From there, you take the Salamander trail for 1.9 miles. It’s a nice easy loop around the bottom side of the cliff you just hiked, Bright blue trail markers the whole way back to the parking lot. If you’re ambitious, this is a nice hike to do early in the morning, then you can pop on down to the Big Meadows area and hike Dark Hollow Falls(about 1 mile there and back) and Rose River Loop(about 4 — 5 mile loop).
