The Best Hikes in Shenandoah National Park for Epic Photos

Shenandoah National Park is one of the most scenic hiking destinations on the East Coast. With over 500 miles of trails — including a stretch of the Appalachian Trail — the park is full of panoramic overlooks, forested paths, waterfalls, and rocky summits that are just as rewarding to hike as they are to photograph. Whether you’re planning a casual hike, scouting locations for photos, or dreaming up an adventurous photo session in the mountains, knowing which trails offer the best views (without overwhelming crowds) makes a huge difference.

I’m a Shenandoah-based photographer who has spent nearly a decade exploring and photographing this park. I primarily photograph engagement sessions and elopements here, but I also work with couples, adventurous families, and maternity clients who want photos that feel natural, connected, and rooted in the landscape. Because I hike these trails regularly, I pay close attention to things like light direction, trail difficulty, seasonal changes, and crowd patterns — all the little details that turn a pretty hike into an incredible photo location.

This guide breaks down some of the best hikes in Shenandoah National Park for photos, whether you’re looking for sweeping mountain views, quieter trails, or easily accessible overlooks that still feel wild. If you’re interested in engagement or elopement photography in the park, you can explore my Shenandoah packages here. And if you’re ready to start planning your own photo adventure, you can inquire using the button below.

Best Hikes in Shenandoah National Park for Photos: Quick Look

Listed from easiest to hardest hikes

Blackrock Summit

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: ~1 mile round trip
• Elevation Gain: ~100 feet
• Why it’s great for photos: Wide-open rock formations with expansive views and minimal effort.
• Good to know: Blackrock Summit is the closest hike to Charlottesville, making it a popular and convenient option.

Little Stony Man

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: ~0.8 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: ~300 feet
• Why it’s great for photos: A short hike to a single overlook with beautiful valley views.
• Good to know: This trail is especially great for dogs and works well for low-stress photo sessions.

Stony Man

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: ~1.6 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: ~340 feet
• Why it’s great for photos: One of the most scenic and popular hikes in the park.
• Good to know: Stony Man features three distinct summit viewpoints, which helps spread out crowds and offers variety.

Mary’s Rock (from Meadow Spring Parking Area)

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: ~2.7 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: ~750 feet
• Why it’s great for photos: A longer, more adventurous hike with dramatic, elevated views.
• Good to know: Mary’s Rock is the closest major summit hike to Washington, DC and tends to be busier, especially on weekends.

Hawksbill Summit

Good to know: Hawksbill features a stone viewing platform, making it one of the most recognizable viewpoints in the park.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: ~2.1 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: ~500 feet

Why it’s great for photos: The highest peak in Shenandoah National Park with sweeping mountain views.

Below, I go into more detail on each location. I cover what the hike is like, seasonal views, and crowd levels. I also explain why each spot works so well for photos. This section breaks down the best hikes for Shenandoah National Park photos so you can choose the right trail for your plans.

Mary’s Rock

There are a few legends about how Mary’s Rock got its name. My favorite dates back to the early 1700s, when a large Rappahannock County landowner named Francis Thornton had a daughter named Mary who reportedly climbed to the summit and returned with a bear cub under her arm.

I’ve actually seen a black bear while hiking to Mary’s Rock, so that story may have a hint of truth.

Mary’s Rock is the eighth highest peak in Shenandoah National Park and offers sweeping views of the valley below. It’s also the longest hike I typically suggest to couples. It’s my favorite winter option because it’s one of the few major summits accessible without using Skyline Drive. That means we can often avoid road closures due to snow or ice.

There are several ways to reach the summit, including from Jewell Hollow Overlook on Skyline Drive (about 6 miles round trip), Panorama parking area near Thornton Gap (about 3.7 miles round trip), and Buck Hollow off Route 211 near Sperryville (about 9 miles round trip). When photographing couples, I usually park at the Meadow Spring parking area, which offers the shortest and easiest ascent to the top.

From Meadow Spring, hikers follow the Appalachian Trail for a steady but manageable climb. The hike is moderately difficult, but very doable with a relaxed pace and time for breaks. The trail is also dog-friendly, making this a great option for couples who want to include their pup.

At the summit, hikers are rewarded with roughly 270-degree views across Shenandoah National Park and out over Page County to the west. Because of the wide visibility, Mary’s Rock works beautifully for both sunrise and sunset photos. It’s almost always windy at the top, though, so layers are essential—especially in winter and during late fall or early spring.

Stony Man

If Mary’s Rock is my pick for the winter months due to accessibility, Stony Man is where I usually shoot in other seasons. It’s easy to get to — about a half mile each way — and absolutely gorgeous. Stony Man is the second tallest peak in Shenandoah National Park and one of only two over 4,000 feet. It’s also the most popular place I shoot for couples coming from DC or staying in Luray.

Stony Man is one of the most popular sunrise spots in the park, and it can be packed in October. I strongly recommend scheduling sessions on weekdays to avoid crowds. Sunrise is ideal, but like Mary’s Rock, the summit offers roughly 270-degree views, so it works well for sunset sessions too.

The most common way to reach Stony Man is from the Skyland Resort parking area. Many of my couples stay overnight at Skyland and drive just five minutes to the trailhead to meet me. For those not staying in the park, the drive to the trailhead is typically about an hour on the winding 35 mph parkway. From the Skyland parking area, hikers briefly hop onto the Appalachian Trail until a junction, then it’s another 0.3 miles to the summit.

For sunrise sessions, I like to reach the summit about 20 minutes before the sun comes up. Factoring in the short walk, we usually meet about an hour before sunrise. Like Mary’s Rock, Stony Man can be very windy, so layers are always a good idea, even in summer.

Little Stony Man

A few miles down from the Stony Man parking area is the Little Stony Man lot. I shoot at Stony Man far more than Little Stony Man, simply because there’s more to see and photograph, but Little Stony Man is still a lovely hike and well worth a visit — especially if you’re bringing a dog. (Stony Man is among the few trails in Shenandoah National Park where dogs are not allowed.)

For pleasure hiking, Little Stony Man and Stony Man can be enjoyed as a 3.4-mile loop. For photo sessions, we usually just hike the .9-mile out-and-back trail to the lookout.

To access it, park at the Little Stony Man parking area, just before mile marker 40 on Skyline Drive, and follow the signs to the summit. The overlook faces west, making it a better option for sunset photography than sunrise, as the sun will be in the background.

Blackrock Summit

This is the location I shoot at the most — and it’s also the spot that almost every other Charlottesville-based photographer uses most often. However, because there aren’t clear east-facing views of the mountains, it’s not nearly as popular for sunrise as Stony Man or Hawksbill.

Blackrock Summit is one of my favorite spots in Shenandoah and has actually superseded Stony Man as the place I work the most. It’s also a great option for couples coming from Charlottesville. The trail starts at the Blackrock Summit parking area, just north of mile marker 85 on Skyline Drive.

The hike is only about half a mile each way and is the flattest option on this list. While the trail itself is easy, the summit requires some rock scrambling to reach the best viewpoints.

With roughly 270-degree views, Blackrock works well for either sunrise or sunset. Like the other hikes, evenings can get busy, so weekday sessions are the best way to avoid crowds. There are far fewer people in the park on a Tuesday or Wednesday compared to a Saturday

Hawksbill Summit

Hawksbill Summit is the tallest peak in Shenandoah National Park, offering some of the best views for Shenandoah National Park photos. The hike isn’t far from Skyline Drive — about two miles round trip — but reaching the top requires a bit of effort.

There are two main trails to the summit: Upper Hawksbill and Lower Hawksbill. Lower Hawksbill takes a more direct route, climbing about 800 feet in less than a mile. It’s the fastest way up but also the steepest. Upper Hawksbill is slightly longer at about a mile each way but much less steep, making it my preferred route for photography sessions. For pleasure hiking, the two trails can be combined into a three-mile loop. Keep in mind that the parking areas for Upper and Lower Hawksbill are different, so be sure to check which trailhead you need before you start.

The summit offers roughly 270-degree views and is great for either sunrise or sunset photography. Because it’s the tallest peak in the park, Hawksbill is very popular with visitors. To avoid crowds, sunrise sessions and weekday hikes are your best bet.

Hawksbill Summit is a must-visit for anyone looking for scenic Shenandoah hikes for photos, with dramatic mountain vistas and a classic overlook perfect for couples, families, or adventurous solo sessions.

Shenandoah National Park is packed with incredible trails, each offering unique views and photo opportunities. Whether you’re looking for a quick, easy hike like Blackrock Summit, a dog-friendly adventure at Little Stony Man, or a dramatic mountaintop experience at Hawksbill or Mary’s Rock, there’s a trail for every skill level and season. These best hikes for Shenandoah National Park photos provide a mix of accessibility, scenery, and natural beauty to help you capture stunning memories. If you’re planning a photography session, adventure hike, or just a day exploring the park, these trails are some of my top recommendations.