Discover Virginia’s Gem: Shenandoah’s Highest Peak Offering Panoramic Views of the Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains

The everlasting Blue Ridge Mountains forge some of the most sublime views on the East Coast (and maybe even rival the towering peaks of the Rockies and Sierra Nevada out west!). As a scenic province of the ancient Appalachian Mountains, the Blue Ridge range earns its colorful nomenclature from the distinct “blue” tinge its mountains take on when seen from a distance. The range stretches from Pennsylvania to Georgia, but most of the top Blue Ridge scenery is found within the mountainous regions of Virginia and North Carolina. Virginia’s Blue Ridge province, in particular, contains many of the state’s most beautiful scenes and destinations, like the quiet, artsy, beautiful Blue Ridge river town of Buchanan. Yet when it comes to individual mountain destinations, few spots in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Range surpass the panoramic beauty of the magnificent Hawksbill Mountain. 

Hawksbill Mountain is the highest point within Virginia’s extraordinary Shenandoah National Park. Located just an hour from Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport, Shenandoah as a whole is one of the main crown jewels of the entire Blue Ridge province, with a breathtaking expanse of forested mountain summits and immense valleys stretching over a hundred miles down the Virginia countryside. The hike up Hawksbill Mountain is among the most immersive in Shenandoah, offering a full experience of the complex and vibrant ecosystem that calls the park its home. And once you get to the Hawksbill Summit, you’ll be rewarded with awe-inspiring, 360-degree views of some of the most magnificent landscapes on the East Coast!

Abundant, accessible scenery is kind of Shenandoah National Park’s thing. The scenic paradise of Shenandoah has long been lauded as perhaps the most accessible national park in the U.S.! Most of the park’s prime observation viewpoints sit right along the central Skyline Drive scenic route, and many of the park’s facilities and hiking trails are fully accessible. So, you don’t have to hike up to the top of a mountain to find amazing scenery when you visit Shenandoah National Park. Still, the summit of Hawksbill Mountain is more than special enough to justify the extra trip! Hawksbill Mountain reaches an altitude of 4,051 feet, making it the highest summit in the entire park, and only one of two Shenandoah Peaks that exceed 4,000 feet in elevation. The Hawksbill summit is relatively clear of trees and excess vegetation, meaning that you’ll have no obstructions when you gaze out at the marvelous scenery. On clear days, the Hawksbill summit gives you perfect, panoramic shots of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Piedmont Range stretching miles into the horizon. 

The summit even includes an excellent stone observation platform that complements, rather than detracts from, the natural scenery. The Hawksbill observation platform is accessible from all main summit hikes, so no matter which route you take, you’ll end up with one of Shenandoah’s best views! And if you’re a fan of birdwatching, the Hawksbill summit is also the nesting ground for a thriving population of peregrine falcons! These remarkable birds can often be seen patrolling the skies above Hawksbill Mountain in search of prey, and the Hawksbill Observation Platform gives you a front-row seat for this unforgettable birdwatching experience!