Appalachian Trail - Tanners Ridge Road
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Black bears are common throughout Shenandoah and are frequently seen near old homestead clearings where fruit trees still produce. Make noise on the trail and store food in your car, not your pack, at the trailhead.
Trail Details
- 1
Park at the Tanners Ridge Overlook off Skyline Drive near mile marker 52.8 — it fills quickly on fall weekends, so aim to arrive before 9am if you're visiting between late September and early November.
- 2
Bring a field guide to old Appalachian homestead plants: you'll likely spot daffodils, day lilies, or apple trees growing in unexpected spots — these are survivors from the original settlers' gardens and easy to miss if you're not looking.
- 3
Walk slowly around the stone foundation remnants and look for the subtle terracing in the hillside — the mountain families shaped this land extensively, and the contours of their work are still readable if you stop and study the ground.
Photos
NPS
