Humpback Gap Overlook — Attraction in Waynesboro

What a fantastic experience. I recently hiked the Humpback Gap Overlook Trail, and it was one of the most enjoyable, rewarding hikes I’ve done in the Blue Ridge area. It strikes that sweet spot—moderate difficulty, but not too hard—which makes it great for anyone in decent shape without being a serious mountain climber.

The trail starts off with a pretty steady incline, and yeah, you’ll feel your legs working, especially in the first half mile. There are rocky sections and some uneven terrain, but nothing too technical. I saw families, solo hikers, and even a few dogs along the way—everyone taking their time and enjoying the climb at their own pace. I’d definitely recommend good hiking shoes, especially if it’s been raining.

What makes this trail so special is how quickly you’re rewarded with views. You climb through beautiful shaded forest and then reach open rock formations near the summit with breathtaking panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains. I found myself stopping a few times just to breathe it in. Once at the overlook, I sat for a while and just took in the scenery—it’s peaceful, inspiring, and a perfect place to recharge.

The hike is about 1.7 miles round trip if you do just the out-and-back to the main overlook, but you can extend it and continue along the ridge if you’re up for more adventure. Either way, it doesn’t eat up your whole day, which I really appreciated.

The parking area fills up fast, especially on weekends, so I recommend arriving early. There are no bathrooms on site, so plan accordingly.

In summary, this hike has everything I want in a mountain trail: a little workout, a lot of beauty, and a big payoff at the top. Highly recommend it if you're passing through the area or looking for a solid Blue...

Quite the hike, but the view was worth it! There were steps along the way, but of course I personally think it's harder than just walking up a steep incline since I'm short so it requires quite the effort to hike up the step lol. There were also rocky areas and a little bit of climbing over rocks, but it really wasn't too bad. I actually preferred that. We only went to the Humpback Rock. The sign and what I've read said it should take about 40 min to an hour. It took us a little less than 40 min with our two dogs. We actually parked by the visitors' center not realizing where the trail started exactly. Was a little bit of a walk to get to the trail, but wasn't too bad. We passed along an old cabin and the historic farm, which was quaint. Highly recommend this hike if you're up for it! Our dogs loved it; love climbing over the rocky areas and practically dragged my husband to the top of the rocks when we got to...

I'll start by saying if you can do it, it's absolutely breathtaking and worth it once you get to the top of the humpback rocks!!!! But The hike to the rocks is absolutely brutal!!! I am not in shape but I am a frequent hiker and usually don't have any problems on a "moderate" hike but this is by far the hardest hike I've done to date (and I've done alot). I seen other experienced hikers that were very much in shape who were struggling a good deal. The 800 foot elevation gain in such a short distance is part of what makes it challenging but it's also the terrain. You have to pay attention, it's very steep and it's a lot of climbing over rocks. I wouldn't do it after a recent rain. It hadn't rained in 5 days but it was still very wet and slippery for the last 1/2 mile. Lots of loose rocks and a several false trails so do your research and pay attention. Challenging, a little dangerous, but...