Appalachian Trail over Hightop - Powell Gap to Swift Run Gap (Further Afield - FA): C3

Where: Shenandoah National Park AT shuttle hike.  We will hike the northernmost six miles of the trail in the Southern District.  Meeting point will be Oilville Park and Ride at 7:20 for 7:30 departure.  If you are not in the RVA area, contact the hike leader to make arrangements to meet at the trailhead.

When: September 19, 2026 (Saturday)

Registration link: At the bottom of the email about this event will be a URL with the name of the hike that takes you to the ODATC page for this hike. On that page is a button to register. Alternatively, if you go to the calendar on the ODATC website and click on the link to this hike, it goes to that same page with the same register button.

Meeting Place and Time: Meeting point will be Oilville Park and Ride at 7:20 for 7:30 departure.  Bring $10-15 to give to your driver.  If you are not in the RVA area, contact the hike leader to make arrangements to meet at the trailhead.

Hike Leader: Art Ritter o2behiking@yahoo.com

Hike Details:  We will shuttle cars to start the hike at Powell Gap and go northbound to Swift Run Gap, gaining and losing about 1,700 feet of elevation over six miles of hiking.  The first half of the hike is mostly uphill, while the second half is mostly downhill.  We will move at a moderate pace.  This is a great hike for introducing oneself to AT hiking.  Along the way, we will pass the Hightop Hut (water source and outhouse), Hightop Spring, and Hightop itself with its nice westward views.  Bring water and a trail lunch.  I'll have a filter if anyone needs to get water at the springs.  Dogs are allowed but must be leashed.  I am fine if some hikers want to move at a faster pace as long as they stop periodically for everyone else to catch up.

We will stop briefly at Swift Run Gap to arrange shuttles to Powell Gap while leaving at least one car at Swift Run Gap.

Register for this hike using the registration link.

Contact Hike Leader for more details.

Happy trails!