Blackrock Summit — Attraction in Grottoes

We visited on a Friday afternoon in late May 2023 (Memorial Day Weekend). There were still multiple parking spots available. The lot was quite large and held about 20 cars with handicap parking.

We did the trail counter clockwise which worked out fine for us. Big thing to remember is when coming back from the summit to turn left at the intersection. We had a couple hikers in our group go right instead.

The hike out and back was very short. The view was amazing! The trail around the rocks were well maintained and weren't difficult. We did decide to rock scramble up to the tippy top to get a better view. There are some decent paths up and down but nothing is official so you kind of had to analyze it on the spot. We climbed up mostly on the north facing side which wasn't bad. I think most people climb up from the south facing side as we saw some more established tails as we made our way down. I think we preferred the view looking north over the one looking south. You do NOT have to climb all the way up to get the amazing views. The view from the main trail is also breathtaking.

We did have 7 adults (30 yr olds) and 13, 11, 7 year old climbing over the rock scramble with us. We also had a 1 yr old in a backpack carrier. The climb wasn't too difficult for our 7 year old. I think they had more trouble over at Bearfence rock scramble than this one. The adult with baby backpack carrier did not go up the rock scramble. There were lots of paths to choose from to go up the rocks to the summit. Do watch out for spiders for those of you who don't like them. There were a many spider webs throughout the rocks.

This would be a great place to take beginner hikers who want to try out a rock scramble before taking them to trails like bearfence or old rag. We would totally do this trail again if we were passing through. We did not spend more than an hour here and that includes us climbing to the top and taking lots...

Hiked to Blackrock Summit and it’s definitely one of my new favorite spots on Skyline Drive. The trail is short and easy, making it perfect for a quick adventure with a big payoff. The summit itself is a huge field of boulders, with incredible panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley and beyond.

I’d rate the trail as easy overall, though scrambling up the rocks at the top can be a little challenging but totally worth it. It’s an out-and-back trail, so you can take your time on the way up and down.

Highly recommend this for anyone looking to get a taste of the mountains without a long hike. Perfect spot to sit, soak in the views, and just appreciate how amazing the Blue...

Simply amazing. Easy hike to the top. Not the highest summit in the park, but one of the most fun ones. You get to the top where the path horas around an outcropping of rocks. They are easy to climb and when you get to the top, the view and feeling is amazing. The easiest climb to the top of the outcropping is by, when facing away from the tip of the summit (with the outcropping to your back), on your left hand side. Follow the path a bit further of you came from the other side, and you will find a way to get to the top of the outcropping with...