Humpback Rocks - Milepost 5.8

The view from Humpback Rocks is worthwhile any time of the year, a well-deserved reward after a short but steep hike.

Peter Hamel photo

 

The parkway’s north end offers scenic hardwood forest and sweeping valley vistas. Just over five miles in, Humpback Rocks illustrates the blend of cultural and natural features that defines the rest of the parkway. Hike to high rock outcroppings or explore 1890s farm buildings relocated during parkway construction.

Start your trip at the visitor center and stroll the grounds of the Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm, which depicts life in Appalachia during the 1890s. Step back from today's hustle and bustle to enter a world without electricity or indoor plumbing, and imagine life on a mountain farm over a hundred years ago. The farm has several buildings to explore including the cabin, chicken coup, root cellar, barn, "bear proof" pigpen, and spring house. The farm is open daily in the summer from 10 am to 5 pm.

 

In summer, the historic farm buildings are open for viewing.  In winter, visitors are still able to walk the short trail to tour them.

Peter Hamel Photo

At a Glance:

• Visitor Center with Museum
• Historic farm
• Hiking trails
• Mountain music concerts (check the website calendar for schedule)
• Picnic area
  

Points of Interest:

Visitor Center: Talk to a ranger for information and tour the museum’s exhibits about mountain life. Open seasonally; check the opening schedule for specific dates.

Historic Mountain Farm: During Parkway construction, landscape architects collected historic buildings from the surrounding area and placed them at Humpback Rocks for convenient viewing. Although not in their original location, these buildings help tell the story of early life in the mountains. Tour the collection on a short walk from the visitor center. Buildings open and staffed in summer.

Sleeping and Eating:

Humpback Rocks Picnic Area: Enjoy your lunch outside at the 91-site picnic area. The picnic area offers tables, charcoal grills, and comfort stations. Open seasonally; check the opening schedule for specific dates.

 

Things to Do:

Hiking: The Humpback Rocks area offers three hiking trails and access to the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia. See the Humpback Rocks hiking trails for more information.

Nearby Towns And Access

• Waynesboro, VA: 12 miles

• Charlottesville, VA: 32 miles

• Closest Access Road: Interstate I-64