TrailTRAIL 2 North District
Compton Peak
TRAIL USE
Day Hiking
LENGTH
3.2 miles, 2–3 hours
VERTICAL FEET
±560'
DIFFICULTY
–12 3 45+
TRAIL TYPE
Out-and-back
START & FINISH
N38° 48.395'
W78° 10.854'
FEATURES
Summit
Ridgeline
Autumn Colors
Great Views
Geological Interest
FACILITIES
None
This out-and-back day hike takes the lesser-used approach to a mountaintop, with two good vistas from rock protrusions along its flanks. The Appalachian Trail (AT) is your host along the way to these two outcrops.
Best Time
For this highland vista hike, the clearer the sky, the better the views.
Finding the Trail
From Front Royal, take Skyline Drive south 12.4 miles to the Jenkins Gap Parking Area, located on the right at milepost 12.4 on Skyline Drive, just before the Jenkins Gap Overlook, which is on the left (east). The hike starts on the Jenkins Gap Trail, which leaves from the parking area, not the overlook.
Trail Description
Begin this walk on the Jenkins Gap Trail.
This climb to a first-rate vista isn’t too steep.
Swing around the southwest side of Compton Peak. Switchback on some elaborate stone steps built during a trail reroute. The trail regains the ridgecrest. Southward views of North Mount Marshall and South Mount Marshall open. Step over a little spring branch at 0.9 mile.
Pass through a flat then climb a bit more to reach a four-way trail junction at 1.3 miles.
The second vista is more challenging to reach and less inspiring. If you have made it this far, go ahead and check out the second view. Backtrack to reach the AT and
