Compton Peak
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The rock scramble near the columnar jointing requires careful footing on uneven basalt — the geometric edges can be sharp, and the surface gets slick when wet or icy.
The western overlook has no railing or barrier at the cliff edge, so keep children and pets well back from the drop-off.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Take the right spur first to the western overlook, then backtrack to the left spur for the columnar jointing — doing it in this order means you finish at the geology, which is the more interesting stop and usually has fewer people.
Park at the Compton Gap lot at mile 10.4 on Skyline Drive — it's small and unmarked enough that it rarely fills, even on peak fall weekends when every other lot along the Drive is overflowing.
The columnar jointing formation is slightly off the obvious path at the summit area — look for a faint scramble trail to the left that drops down to the exposed rock face. Most hikers miss it entirely and only see the overlook.
Photos
NPS
