I'm visiting some family in Virginia and I am planning on doing a 30-35 mile trail run in Shenandoah. I'm training to run the Grand Canyon R2R2R in May. Anyone know a good loop in Shenandoah, preferably with lots of elevation change?

Look at the area around Big Run. It is just south west of loft mountain, south of 33. You can definitely pull together a 30 milers with a bunch of elevation gain. It is also a great place to hike. You also have the AT running along the road to help pull together a loop.

Big Run at SNP:


Big run area


Elevation Profile

That will get you ready for R2R

Edited by gg-man on 02/22/2011 11:33:11 MST.

This 35 mile hike will definitely work you hard with several of the parks most dramatic elevation drops.

http://files.meetup.com/1502009/SNP%20South%20District%2035%20Mile%20Loop.pdf

Beautiful stuff guys thank you very much! If anyone else still has suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

White Oak Canyon parking up either Cedar Run or White Oak Canyon trail and up Hawksbill summit
Go back down the same or the other trail

To lengthen you have 100+ mile of AT to head north or south and back

Also can take the Blue Ridge Parkway south from SNP and check out the Three Ridges Wilderness

Or a little further south down to VA 56 and try The Priest
note: if you park there - you can go up The Priest (south) and go up Three Ridges (north)

The SNP has one of the best set of trip guides I have seen on any of the NPS websites. Here is a link the all the trips.

SNP_Trip_Guides

Take a look at the 3 and 4 night trips they will have several options for trips in the range of miles you are looking for.

Jamie