The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail

Tyro, Virginia

4.4/5

based on 10 reviews

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Details

Distance

3.01 miles

Elevation Gain

843 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Jess Fischer

The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail is a great hike with a steady, easy elevation gain over the course of 1.5 miles to the summit. In addition this hike is rarely crowded so you'll get the trail to yourself.

Starting at the Upper Crabtree Falls Parking area, continue up the "road" on Shoe Creek Trail for half a mile until you come to the intersection of the Appalachian Trail. That will be the steepest part of the hike. Look for two rocks on either side of the trail with white blazes on them. Take a left up the trail and you'll see a kiosk. Keep hiking for about a mile until you see a huge rock boulder (it's seriously huge) and a sign directing you to The Priest Shelter. Take a right at this sign (don't keep going straight).

Keep a keen eye out for the outlook, there is no definitive trail leading you to the outlook, rather you'll see a clearing past the trees with a bunch of rocks, about 0.3 miles from the last intersection. Sometimes people build rock cairns to signal that you've reached the outlook.

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Hiking

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Forest

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The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail Reviews

Explorer

Jess Fischer

Explorer

The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail

12/02/17

To the review below- The road to the trailhead is a worn-out, back road and you really need coordinates to find it. However if you do decide to follow google maps to upper crabtree falls be warned that you will be hiking thrice as long (as stated below, it'll be 11-12 miles instead of 4). The exact coordinates to the parking area are: 37.824215, -79.082182 Happy trails!

5.0

Milo Rice

The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail

09/18/17

make sure you don't use the directions on the outbound! just type "upper crabtree falls" in your maps. no hate to creator of this but went on a wild goose chase trying to find the place

5.0

Jordan + Jacki Bolt

The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail

06/26/17

Thoroughly enjoyed this hike. Plenty of views along the way, which isn't always the case in the Blue Ridge. Good choice for a less-popular hike.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Spy Rock via Cash Hollow

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Camp near Crabtree Meadows in GWNF

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Crabtree Falls

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Located at mile marker 19 along the Blue Ridge Parkway, 20 Minute Cliff Overlook is super easy to access and has an amazing 180 degree panoramic view. Looking West over the Blue Ridge Mountains, this 2,715 foot overlook has a great view of the Priest to the South, Maintop Mountain and Fork Mountain to the West, and Round Mountain to the Northwest. 20 Minute Cliff Overlook is located 19 miles s...

The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail

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The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Spy Rock via Cash Hollow

Camp near Crabtree Meadows in GWNF

Crabtree Falls

Photograph 20 Minute Cliff Overlook

White Rock Falls Trail

Hike to Wigwam Falls

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