Hiked right over the top on the AT and took the side trail to get the view also. We came up from Front Royal with a stay in the shelter halfway up- a lot of uphill to get there
vbeckman74 - Oct 9, 2022 6:03 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2022
Great geological formations
Short trek to cool rocks.
Jeremy Hakes - Oct 26, 2015 1:56 pm Date Climbed: Oct 23, 2015
Also nice!
Saw a nice buck deer on the hike, too.
technicolorNH - May 14, 2015 4:45 pm Date Climbed: May 13, 2015
Last of three peaks for the day
The exposed rock formation on the south side makes this peak a geologic treasure.
I did this hike on the way back from Front Royal to Charlottesville. Ran into a couple from Kosovo in the parking lot and ended up chatting with them the whole way. I found this to be a short, easy, enjoyable hike through the woods. The viewpoint to the left (west) seemed to be further away than the sign indicated. The viewpoint to the right (east) was right at .1 mile, and had great views. Not a lot of human development visible, which was a nice change from other summits in Shenandoah NP.
tioga - Jul 29, 2013 9:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2013
Section Hike of At
Climbed this peak on a 4-day section hike of the AT with my brother's. We only hit the north view, therefore touching the 'true' summit. We were on our way to Tom Floyd wayside for the night.
Stu Brandel - Nov 5, 2012 6:10 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2012
Crisp Late Fall Day
Just accents of snow left on the mountain from the superstorm Sandy snowfall.
Hiked the AT to Compton Gap then followed trails along Skyline over to Little Devils staircase where we hit up Three Sisters Mountains, tiny Fork Mountain and Hogback. It was in Mid August and was incredibly hot!
CheesySciFi - Sep 20, 2007 11:10 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2006
A real workout
Hiked up the AT from outside the park.
AirborneBuff - May 11, 2007 5:07 pm Date Climbed: May 10, 2007
Route Taken: AT from Rockfish Gap
Hiked from Rockfish Gap as part of a 5 day hike on the AT through SNP.
A great hike is to go up a side trail from Route 601 to the AT and up it to Compton Peak, then down the AT and the Dickey Ridge Trail to the Hickerson Hollow Trail with a short road walk back to the start.
SteveinFXBG - Jan 16, 2007 4:38 am Date Climbed: Jan 15, 2007
Is it really January?
We had the day off, and the weather was warm so my wife and I went out hiking and made it up this peak. It was a nice hike, good views and didn't see another person on the trail. I can't complain about that.
Jerry L - May 7, 2006 10:31 pm Date Climbed: May 6, 2006
Route Climbed: AT (SOBO) Date Climbed: April 9, 1999
From the journal:
I finally crossed the border into the Park and was rather surprised at the subtle differences that could be detected. The leaves weren't yet out on the trees, but bloodroot and other wildflowers decorated the forest floor in great profusion. There was less highway noise and things seemed more peaceful. I could feel an incipient sunburn coming on and there were actual black flies. Neither of these were problems I had anticipated given my treatment on the last two trips in the area.
In any case, the day wore on. Off a short side trail I found the Fort Windham Rocks, Catoctin lava outcroppings in the middle of the woods perhaps 50' tall. Potential climbing sites? I bouldered around a bit in my boots (certainly not the best for the activity) and determined that yes, there was some definite possibility. I humped over Compton Peak, the first mountain of the trip and saw the hazy views.
Scattered showeres and a hint of thunderstorms earlier in the day gave way to concerted rain and distinct thunder around six.
Route Climbed: Appalachian Trail - Compton Gap Date Climbed: 1/29/2005
It was about 30 degrees, and getting colder throughout the day. The trail was covered in snow, but not too hard to hike. The two viewpoints were nice, since the sky was partly cloudy, but the clouds/sun produced some interesting skylines.
wildfam - Jul 7, 2023 5:41 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2021
AT Section HikeHiked right over the top on the AT and took the side trail to get the view also. We came up from Front Royal with a stay in the shelter halfway up- a lot of uphill to get there
vbeckman74 - Oct 9, 2022 6:03 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2022
Great geological formationsShort trek to cool rocks.
Jeremy Hakes - Oct 26, 2015 1:56 pm Date Climbed: Oct 23, 2015
Also nice!Saw a nice buck deer on the hike, too.
technicolorNH - May 14, 2015 4:45 pm Date Climbed: May 13, 2015
Last of three peaks for the dayThe exposed rock formation on the south side makes this peak a geologic treasure.
wanderweg83 - Sep 7, 2014 9:16 am
Compton PeakI did this hike on the way back from Front Royal to Charlottesville. Ran into a couple from Kosovo in the parking lot and ended up chatting with them the whole way. I found this to be a short, easy, enjoyable hike through the woods. The viewpoint to the left (west) seemed to be further away than the sign indicated. The viewpoint to the right (east) was right at .1 mile, and had great views. Not a lot of human development visible, which was a nice change from other summits in Shenandoah NP.
tioga - Jul 29, 2013 9:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2013
Section Hike of AtClimbed this peak on a 4-day section hike of the AT with my brother's. We only hit the north view, therefore touching the 'true' summit. We were on our way to Tom Floyd wayside for the night.
Stu Brandel - Nov 5, 2012 6:10 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2012
Crisp Late Fall DayJust accents of snow left on the mountain from the superstorm Sandy snowfall.
mtwashingtonmonroe - Sep 17, 2012 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2012
Great MountainGreat peak in the North District!!!!!! Nice and interesting view to the north
hightinerary - Oct 21, 2011 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Oct 16, 2011
OKNot a bad little peak...
MtMtnHiker - Mar 16, 2011 10:02 pm
AT section hikeLast peak I crossed on an AT section hike. Found some good apples in an abandoned orchard from back before the area was a park.
TrekAdam - Dec 14, 2008 3:01 pm
Summer ClimbHiked the AT to Compton Gap then followed trails along Skyline over to Little Devils staircase where we hit up Three Sisters Mountains, tiny Fork Mountain and Hogback. It was in Mid August and was incredibly hot!
CheesySciFi - Sep 20, 2007 11:10 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2006
A real workoutHiked up the AT from outside the park.
AirborneBuff - May 11, 2007 5:07 pm Date Climbed: May 10, 2007
Route Taken: AT from Rockfish GapHiked from Rockfish Gap as part of a 5 day hike on the AT through SNP.
Buz Groshong - Feb 12, 2007 2:03 am
Climbed it many timesA great hike is to go up a side trail from Route 601 to the AT and up it to Compton Peak, then down the AT and the Dickey Ridge Trail to the Hickerson Hollow Trail with a short road walk back to the start.
SteveinFXBG - Jan 16, 2007 4:38 am Date Climbed: Jan 15, 2007
Is it really January?We had the day off, and the weather was warm so my wife and I went out hiking and made it up this peak. It was a nice hike, good views and didn't see another person on the trail. I can't complain about that.
Jerry L - May 7, 2006 10:31 pm Date Climbed: May 6, 2006
Route Climbed: Appalachian TrailBeautiful trail.
CharlesD - Jan 29, 2005 11:48 pm
Route Climbed: AT (SOBO) Date Climbed: April 9, 1999From the journal:
I finally crossed the border into the Park and was rather surprised at the subtle differences that could be detected. The leaves weren't yet out on the trees, but bloodroot and other wildflowers decorated the forest floor in great profusion. There was less highway noise and things seemed more peaceful. I could feel an incipient sunburn coming on and there were actual black flies. Neither of these were problems I had anticipated given my treatment on the last two trips in the area.
In any case, the day wore on. Off a short side trail I found the Fort Windham Rocks, Catoctin lava outcroppings in the middle of the woods perhaps 50' tall. Potential climbing sites? I bouldered around a bit in my boots (certainly not the best for the activity) and determined that yes, there was some definite possibility. I humped over Compton Peak, the first mountain of the trip and saw the hazy views.
Scattered showeres and a hint of thunderstorms earlier in the day gave way to concerted rain and distinct thunder around six.
hgrapid - Jan 29, 2005 11:14 pm
Route Climbed: Appalachian Trail - Compton Gap Date Climbed: 1/29/2005It was about 30 degrees, and getting colder throughout the day. The trail was covered in snow, but not too hard to hike. The two viewpoints were nice, since the sky was partly cloudy, but the clouds/sun produced some interesting skylines.