Page County Highpoint Trip Report

Hawksbill (4,050 ft)

Date: August 21, 2003
Author: Gene Daniell

Hawksbill, which is the highest point in Shenandoah National Park and can be ascended by several easy, enjoyable trails, is clearly the high point of Madison County. It is without question the most popular hiking objective in the park. It is also listed as the high point of Page County, but for some unknown reason the USGS quad seems to show the county line running a bit to the north of the summit at about the 4040-foot level, or about 10 feet below the summit. Assuming that the county line does not follow the crest of the ridge and thus does not pass over the summit, there are some outcrops to the north of the summit that seem to be in about the right location and have about the right elevation. If not, the high point of Page County might (gasp!) be somewhere on the sheer northern cliff of Hawksbill.