The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail

Upper Crabtree Falls Parking
4.4
10 Reviews
The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail
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Details

Distance
3.01 miles
Elevation Gain
843 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back

Features

Forest
Wildlife
Dog Friendly
Scenic
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About this place

Added by Jess Fischer

The Priest via Shoe Creek Trail is a great hike with a steady, easy elevation gain over the course of 1.5 miles to the summit. In addition this hike is rarely crowded so you'll get the trail to yourself.

Starting at the Upper Crabtree Falls Parking area, continue up the "road" on Shoe Creek Trail for half a mile until you come to the intersection of the Appalachian Trail. That will be the steepest part of the hike. Look for two rocks on either side of the trail with white blazes on them. Take a left up the trail and you'll see a kiosk. Keep hiking for about a mile until you see a huge rock boulder (it's seriously huge) and a sign directing you to The Priest Shelter. Take a right at this sign (don't keep going straight). 

Keep a keen eye out for the outlook, there is no definitive trail leading you to the outlook, rather you'll see a clearing past the trees with a bunch of rocks, about 0.3 miles from the last intersection. Sometimes people build rock cairns to signal that you've reached the outlook.

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Monica Tretola
3/17/2023
It was ok
We hiked up from Crabtree falls trail and all in all it was 9 miles about
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Nick Palastro
8/9/2020
A Solid Workout with a View
I did the extended version of this hike along the AT which had the full 3100ft of elevation gain so if you wanted a ...
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Sam Brandt
5/22/2018
The Priest
A long an bumpy road to get to the trail head. Once you park at the trail head you’ll walk all the way ...
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Jess Fischer
12/2/2017
Added Coordinates to Parking Area
To the review below- The road to the trailhead is a worn-out, back road and you really need coordinates to find it. However if ...
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Milo Rice
9/18/2017
you should read this
make sure you don't use the directions on the outbound! just type "upper crabtree falls" in your maps. no hate to creator of this ...
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Jordan + Jacki Bolt
6/26/2017
Great views along the way
Thoroughly enjoyed this hike. Plenty of views along the way, which isn't always the case in the Blue Ridge. Good choice for a less-popular ...
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Matt Van Swol
8/31/2016
Views
Easily one of the best views of the entire blue ridge. Gotta go do this!
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Laura Williamson
7/20/2016
10/10 Would Recommend
When you get to the trail head, make sure you go left unless you want to hike the 11-12 mile loop. When going to ...
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Deirdre O'Connor
6/9/2016
Best Memory Of The AT
Steady climb to the top, steep decent to the road/creek. Nice camping spot near the creek at the bottom. MAKE SURE to stop in ...
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Pheylan Martin
4/4/2016
Decent
Long!! Much longer than listed anywhere official or otherwise. We clocked our mileage. Still, nice because it's not popular so you mostly have the ...
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