Compton Peak Trail, located in the north district of Shenandoah National Park, is a 2.4 mile moderate, out and back hike that boasts summit views and unique geological formations. This trek is not crowded, unlike many other short summit hikes in SNP. It is a great excursion for families and adults who want to peer into the valley below or gaze up at towering, rock columns formed millions of years ago.
Our first hike to Compton Peak
My first opportunity to hike Compton Peak was July 2, 2016, and I blew it! My husband and I were section hiking the Appalachian Trail northbound through Shenandoah National Park. We parked at Neighbor Mountain Parking Area, near milepost 27, walked the tiny connector trail and followed the white blazes to Compton Gap. Our hike was 18+ miles and instead of turning onto the Compton Peak trails a mile before our final destination, we marched past. Why?
Neither of us can recall a sound reason. Based on the timestamp of my map and photos, it was not getting dark. I am certain that there was not a thunderstorm to chase us off-trail, as I vividly remember the only dangerous weather during the AT-SNP venture, and it was not that day. (Plus a google search of weather history proved that it was a sunny 90 degrees). Maybe I was tired, as I had wrapped up 2 years of cancer treatments the month prior, and was still getting back to “normal”. My pace, however, was steady, fluctuating between 19 and 24 minute-miles, so exhaustion doesn’t seem very likely. My only conclusion is that I had AT “tunnel vision”. I was hyper-focused on those bright white marks and either didn’t notice the blue blazes or, worse, I didn’t care.
A wiser wanderer
What a difference a few years and a several hiking projects make! During the early AT days, I worked hard to get from point A to B. Along the way, I missed out on views, taking unplanned pathways and exploration. My hiking style changed in 2017 and has continued to evolve. I still hustle along the trail, but often it is to make up for the time that I spent exploring rocks, trees, flowers, views and wildlife, and not because I “need” to finish 20 miles under 8 hours. Hiking all of Shenandoah’s trails has given me the opportunity to make up for the missed blue blazes off the AT. We have since hiked the Compton trails twice, taking time to look up, down and all around!
An adventure reminder: Stop and wonder while you wander along the trails.
Hiking to Compton Peak
Trailhead parking
Compton Peak is closest to the Front Royal park entrance and only 6 miles south of the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (Skyline Drive milepost 4.6). The Compton Gap Parking Lot, at milepost 10.4, has space for 14-16 vehicles. A trailhead sign includes a map and information about the accessible hikes from the parking area.
Hiking the Compton Peak trails
Cross Skyline Drive and follow the white Appalachian Trail blazes southbound. The trail gradually climbs in elevation. After .8 mile, the Compton Peak trail intersects the AT, a stone mile marker designating the pathway to both the East and West Peaks. Sky blue blazes mark the trail pathways. I suggest hooking a left and trekking to Compton Peak East first since this spur trail is more challenging than its western counterpart. The .2 mile walk to the rock formation is downhill and includes some narrow rocky sections.
Compton Peak East
The top of the rock formation will appear on your right. Be sure to continue down the trail to see the underside of rock mass. It is from below that you will see the remarkable columns of stone, although hints of columns are visible from the top section.. We climbed atop the formation on our way back to the AT with the hopes of seeing a view of Mount Marshall. Unfortunately, the view was obstructed in both 2020 and 2023.
The path to the underside of the columnar mass is rocky and a bit steep, so use caution. The path levels out, but remains rock strewn, with many that wobble and shift. Vegetation that includes thorny plants creep and wind along sections of the rocks.
Retrace your steps to the AT, cross the trail and continue on the rocky path to Compton Peak West for fabulous northern views of the national park. Be cautious as you step to the overlook as there is a big step down to access the outcropping.
The overlook provides northwestern views of Shenandoah National Park. If you look carefully, you can see Skyline drive traversing Dickey Ridge.
Return to the parking area by walking from the overlook to the AT marker and turn left. The AT path is downhill, .8 mile to Compton Gap parking lot.
Follow the blazes
If you are used to using a compass, you may be confused about the peak names. The Compton Peak East trail follows a south and slightly eastern direction, whereas, the West trail is north-northwest. If you don’t care about cardinal directions, just stick to the blazes and you will be fine! The trails are well marked.
Compton Peak Trail Map and Details
Access my map on AllTrails by clicking the map image below.
| Hike difficulty classifications (link) | |
|---|---|
| Route type | Out and back |
| Trail difficulty level | Moderate |
| Geographic location | Shenandoah National Park, North Section |
| Trailhead parking options | Compton Gap Parking Lot, milepost 10.4 |
| Trail amenities | None. Restrooms available at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, milepost 4.6 |
| Elevation - trailhead | 2,405' |
| Elevation - highest peak | 2,907' |
| Elevation gain | 700' |
| Total mileage | 2.4 miles |
| Water sources | None on the trail. Water available at Dickey Ridge Visitors Center, milepost 4.6 |
| Highlights | Northern views of SNP (West Peak) and columnar jointing (East Peak) |
Columnar Jointing
A geologic wonder is located on Compton Peak East. It looks as if someone stacked stone columns onto a large pile in the middle of the forest. This extraordinary rock mass was formed 570 million years ago as the result of volcanic activity. The stone columns are made of basalt, the earth’s most common volcanic rock and most abundant bedrock. Basalt is located on ocean floors and under much of the land surfaces. Compton Peak is unique because, as the magnesium and iron lava cooled, the basalt contracted and cracked into prismatic columns. The process is similar to when a mud puddle dries. As the water evaporates from the mud, it contracts and cracks into a geometrical design. Columnar jointing occurs when the hot lava cools and pools into multisided columns.
Learn more about columnar jointing
Read more about my adventures in Shenandoah National Park
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