Appalachian Trail: Big Meadows & Hawksbill

There is much to see on this hike, but it is sound you may remember most. The ever present winds circling through the Franklin Cliffs sing in multiple tones. They construct chords, that at times sound downright rehearsed. It is the unique exposure of the rocky ledges and their position above two hollows that give the effect. In Shenandoah National Park, perhaps more than any other place along the AT, there is a blending, almost a blurring, of natural history with the history of people in the place. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Big Meadows, near the beginning of this hike. From the trailhead at Milam Gap, follow a meadow briefly and enter the woods. Still to be seen, but not bearing fruit, are many Milam apple trees, the most common variety grown by mountaineers who settled the Blue Ridge. Natural history features: Big Meadows; Franklin Cliffs; Hawksbill Mountain Social history features: Tanners Ridge Cemetery; Big Meadows; Redgate Fire Road.