Season Visited: Fall
Trail Length: 8.6 miles (about 3.8 miles on Day One and 4.8 miles on Day Two)
Time to Hike: 2 days
Difficulty Level: 4
Shenandoah National Park in November is a VERY different place than it is in October. If you recall from my previous post, the park is a zoo in October. After the first week of November, it really felt like a ghost town. It might also have had something to do with the fact that I went on a weekday and that it was raining, but I could not believe how few people I saw during my overnight backpacking trip. Fortunately, that's just the way I like it.
I followed this itinerary and this map for my trip.
The hike starts at the South River Picnic Area. This place has a ton of parking, so finding a spot is not a concern for this hike. There are picnic tables and even a bathroom at the trailhead, so you can have one last snack and potty break before you start eating in the dirt and peeing behind trees.
On the day I went I was lucky enough to spot an absolutely amazing rainbow on Skyline Drive in between storms, so here are some pictures of that!
After taking in the views and parking, hike South River Falls Trail. I've visited this trail before (twice, actually) and wrote about it here. The part that leads you to the lookout is relatively easy, although of course it was muddy in the November rain! The overlook for the 83-foot falls is one mile in to the hike. You can get to the base of the falls by going a little farther. The trek down to the base is steep and strenuous, especially on the way back up, and is not counted in the overall mileage. Due to this and the mud issues I was having, I decided not to make the trek. It is absolutely worth it in nice weather and if you haven't seen it before, however.
Hiking to the falls.
A few fall colors left.
Looking to the falls.
Just past the lookout it went from cloudy to sunny, but then went right back to pouring rain after this.
After completing South River Falls Trail, turn left to connect to the South River Fire Road, and then turn right on the fire road. I've written about how soul-crushingly awful this fire road is before, but I only had to hike a mile of it this time, so I made it through in relatively high spirits. After this you turn left on Pocosin Trail and find a place to camp. The trail widens out before narrowing down again, and it is relatively easy to find a spot.
It's fun to see the falls, but I really found the second day of this hike to be the true highlight. The rest of Pocosin Trail the next day is really interesting. The trail is quiet and filled with history. I came in close proximity to a beautiful deer, who didn't mind at all that I was in his foraging grounds. The best part is the Mission Ruins at the end of Pocosin Trail, before you turn left onto Pocosin Road. Sadly, my camera died that morning right after I woke up (I didn't realize non-lithium batteries couldn't survive near-freezing temperatures) and I couldn't get pictures of the ruins. They are really neat, however, and are well-worth the trip. You can find some pictures of them on this site.
I did manage to take a few photos with my phone on the Appalachian Trail, however (not sure why I didn't think of that sooner), which is where you end up after Pocosin Road with a sharp left turn. If you look up and to your left just before intersecting with the AT, you will see the PATC Pocosin Cabin, which offers a very slight short cut. Even in the nasty November weather, there was a group of people relaxing in the cabin after an overnight stop, and there were actually quite a few people on the AT itself. The AT continues back almost the entire way to the picnic area, before you make a quick right and end up right where you started.
Beautiful Appalachian morning after the storm.
A little climb on the AT.
Overall I found this to be a very nice overnight backpacking trip. It's not outrageously strenuous but it certainly gives you a work out! I must have a soft spot for the falls, because I seem to keep returning to them. November in Shenandoah is a great time to find solitude, but remember to prepare for the weather. November nights in the mountains are freezing - sometimes literally. It is generally the last month I'll venture out into the wilderness without specialized, four-season equipment, and I'm always sure to have all the proper layers and gear.
Be prepared, savor the wilderness no matter what the weather, and never stop wandering.