Trails / Virginia / Shenandoah National Park

Neighbor Mountain and Jeremys Run Loop

Shenandoah National Park, North District (Elkwallow, Skyline Drive mile 24)

Jeremys Run is a trout stream that drains the western side of Shenandoah’s North District, and the loop over Neighbor Mountain and back up the run is one of the park’s standard overnight trips. Virginia Trail Guide calls it “the most popular backpacking loop in the park’s northern district.”

The route follows the Appalachian Trail along the crest, drops down a long ridge with views of Massanutten Mountain, and climbs back through a stream valley with more than a dozen fords.

The hike

The park’s trip guide (#12) starts at the Elkwallow Picnic Area at Skyline Drive mile 24. A connecting trail of less than 100 yards leads down to the Appalachian Trail. MyHikes passes the Jeremys Run Trail junction at 0.3 mile; that’s the return route. Stay on the AT south, climbing to a high point near the Thornton River Trail junction. The NPS guide gives 3.6 miles on the AT to the yellow-blazed Neighbor Mountain Trail; Virginia Trail Guide reached it at “just over 4 miles” from the car.

The NPS guide gives Neighbor Mountain Trail 4.6 miles. Virginia Trail Guide says the summit has a cement post but no view. Farther down, the trees open up. Virginia Trail Guide saw Massanutten and Three Sisters across a 2012 burn, and MyHikes describes views of Kennedy Peak and Duncan Knob. Fire returned in March 2024, when the Rocky Branch fire burned about 3,400 acres in Page County, including part of the park. WUSA9 reported that Neighbor Mountain, Jeremys Run, and the nearby AT later reopened along with the rest of the park’s trails.

Switchbacks lead down to Jeremys Run. Turn right, upstream, on the blue-blazed Jeremys Run Trail. MyHikes puts the first crossing 0.2 mile up and a waterfall at 0.4 mile, with a large group campsite on the opposite bank. Both the NPS guide and MyHikes count 14 crossings in all. Virginia Trail Guide calls some of them “rocky and can be challenging.”

Near the top of the valley, the trail passes the Knob Mountain Cutoff junction, then climbs steeply, about 0.8 mile per MyHikes, to the AT. Turn left on the AT for 0.3 mile and walk about 100 yards back to Elkwallow.

The NPS guide suggests three days: a first night on Neighbor Mountain and a second about 0.5 mile up Jeremys Run from the junction. In spring, winter, or after heavy rain, it says the trip should only be taken “with the proper gear and mindset.”

For a shorter Shenandoah overnight, see Hazel Mountain and White Rocks. The AT in both directions is covered on the Shenandoah National Park AT page.

Tips

Bring shoes for wading. Fourteen crossings can be knee to waist deep after rain, says the NPS.
Carry water for the ridge. The NPS calls the Neighbor Mountain camp dry.
Watch for ticks and poison ivy. MyHikes reviewers report both, especially on Neighbor Mountain.
Elkwallow Wayside is open April 29 to November 8 in 2026, per the park’s operating dates.
Save the climb for fresh legs. Reviewers call the final pull up from Jeremys Run the hardest part.

Camping

A backcountry camping permit is required for every night, bought through Recreation.gov or by phone at (877) 444-6777; the park says permits aren’t sold in the park, and you must carry a printed or digital copy. The park’s 2026 compendium caps groups at 10 people and limits you to two consecutive nights at one location, 14 consecutive nights, and 30 nights a year. Camp at least 10 yards from water, 20 yards from trails, 50 yards from other parties and from building ruins, and a quarter mile from Skyline Drive, developed areas, and the park boundary. Campfires are prohibited away from hut and shelter fireplaces. Store food in a bear-resistant container or hang it at least 12 feet up.

Inside Intel: MyHikes readers single out the waterfall site across the run, about 0.4 mile above the first crossing. Rob (2016) called it “a beautiful, secluded site,” and Matt S. (2010) wrote, “Everything you could ask for was right there - water, flat spot for tent, plenty of trees for your bear bag.” Virginia Trail Guide also rates the site above the waterfall the best on the run. Reader Jimmy (2015) warns that sites along the run “do fill up quickly.”

Trail facts

Distance: About 14 miles (NPS); 14.7 miles (Virginia Trail Guide)
Route type: Loop (AT south, Neighbor Mountain Trail, Jeremys Run Trail)
Difficulty: Strenuous; 14 stream crossings
Campsites: Dispersed; NPS suggests Neighbor Mountain (dry) and Jeremys Run about 0.5 mile above the junction
Water: Jeremys Run; AT spring 0.9 mile south of the Neighbor Mountain junction (NPS); treat all water
Permits: Backcountry permit required (Recreation.gov)
Food storage: Bear-resistant container, or hang 12 feet up
Dogs: Allowed on a 6-foot leash
Trailhead: Elkwallow Picnic Area, Skyline Drive mile 24
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Fourteen crossings of Jeremys Run:

Jeremys Run is crossed 14 times, and the NPS says the fords can be knee to waist deep after rain. Five tips to make them go easier, from water shoes to pack straps.

Read the crossing tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.