Unpopular opinion: taking the longer route through the Shenandoah in October beats the shortcut every time

Logan Young · 2026-09-30T00:50:03.617644+00:00

So I had 4 days off work and two ways to do a loop out of Skyland. Option A was the classic 28 mile figure eight past Marys Rock and Stony Man. Option B was a 41 mile route that swings way west toward Big Meadows and back on the AT. Everyone I asked said take the short one, more time to chill at camp, less wear on the knees. I went with the long one. Took me 3 days instead of 2 and I was wrecked by the end. But around mile 30 near the Hawksbill area I hit this ridge at sunrise with fog sitting in the valley below and I did not see one other person for almost 6 hours. The shortcut crowd was elbow to elbow at the shelters. My knees hated me and I ran out of water between two springs that were bone dry. Still would do it again. Anyone got a longer Shenandoah loop they'd take over the classic one? Trying to plan something for April and I want to go weird with it.

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Unpopular opinion: taking the longer route through the Shenandoah in October beats the shortcut every time | Backpacking Routes - Babble Community