Mary's Rock Out-and-Back

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Get hiking fast at Thornton Gap by hiking to Mary's Rock from the Panorama Parking Lot. This heavily traveled route starting from the large parking area just south of the entrance to Skyline Drive offers a beautiful 360-degree view from the rocks at the summit after a moderate 1.9-mile hike up a rocky trail. Out and back, return the way you came for a total of 3.8 miles.

Handicap accessible bathrooms at the Panorama parking area.

After entering Skyline Drive at the Thornton Gap entrance and heading south, one immediately comes to the Panorama parking lot on the right just across state route 211. With accessible running-water bathrooms it's a popular stopping point for people coming from distance before heading to their destination further along the Drive.

With access to the AT and Mary's Rock from the parking lot, it's also one of the busiest destinations along Skyline Drive, since it's the first trail access after getting on the Drive southbound. I think that adds some "spur of the moment" hikers who may not have planned a particular destination but just decided to "head up to Skyline Drive".

If you want to get hiking as soon as possible, this is it! There is also room for larger groups to meet up at Panorama. You definitely won't be alone on this trail, especially on weekends, but the parking lot is large enough to handle the crowd.

The hike up the AT is fairly smooth at first but becomes fairly rocky after a few switchbacks. With leaves on the trees there are few points with a view along the way, although you can hear the traffic on 211. The trail is a steady upward climb at an intermediate hiking level, nothing too dramatic until you come to the big boulders at the summit. There is plenty of room for a couple dozen hikers at the top, with many vantage points and higher rocks to climb up. Please be careful.