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Description: This is a strenuous loop that can be done either as a long day hike or overnight backpacking trip. Just as the AT shuttle through this area has been the hardest backpacking trip I’ve undertaken to date (08-06) this has got to be the hardest day hike yet! The circuit (lollipop in shape) spans 14.4 miles and a total elevation change of around 6800 feet. The vistas and Campbell Creek (could have used a little more water in it) made the effort well worth it. The Campbell Creek Canyon floor is covered in white and pink Trillium Gradiflorum in the spring.

Custom Google Directions

The trailhead is at the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway and VA RT664.

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Zipped National Geographic. TOPO! GPS and Universal GPX Files

GPS Text File for Non-TOPO! Users

Trail Notes: All trail junctions are signed. The Appalachia Trail is blazed white while the Mau-Har Trail is blazed blue. The AT comes through the parking lot in the left hand corner. Pick it up and proceed south along the edge of a grassy meadow. In the summer it is full of wildflowers. At first the trail is flat but will soon switchback up to a ridge. At about 0.80 miles come to a nice but dry campsite to the left and the first vista of the trek to the right. From here you can get a sweeping view to the west and the village of Love in the valley below. Continue on. Descend and in another 0.80 miles arrive at a kiosk on an old woods road. Maupin Fields Shelter is along the trail behind the kiosk. (You will come up from the Mau-Har Tr here later on.) Continue on the AT, passing a sign for the Three Ridges Wilderness along the way. Soon start climbing, steeply at times, to the ridge of Bee Mountain. Once at the top you will enjoy nearly flat walking for the next 1.92 miles before arriving at the next vista. This is a great break spot as you’ll enjoy an unbroken panoramic view with the Priest in the center. To the left you’ll be able to see the summit of Three Ridges and Chimney Rock.

After your break continue to climb to the summit. In 1.03 miles arrive at a signpost marking it. There is a small, dry campsite to the left and another vista looking north. From here begin a steep descent via some pretty rocky switchbacks to a lower ridge where things will flatten out again. In 0.48 miles watch for the fourth vista to the right. Continue south on the AT. At 0.55 miles from the last vista keep an eye out for a small rock outcrop on the right. This is before the actual Chimney Rock Vista. It doesn’t look like much but once you scramble out to its edge you’ll enjoy another great view, this one to the west. Continue on another 0.14 miles to the primary vista, Chimney Rock. Here you’ll get yet another grand view. You’ll see the rock outcrop to the right as you approach it. Drop your packs and take your camera up for more sweeping views.

From Chimney Rock begin another descent. In about 0.5 miles you’ll pass through 2 more vistas. One is at a large flat rock. In another 1.35 miles arrive at a spur trail to the right that leads to Harpers Creek Shelter. If you are backpacking this route I would recommend calling it a day here. The next campsite on water is 2 miles and a nice hill away. Besides the shelter and privy there are several campsites on both sides of the stream. Perhaps the largest and flattest is a little further down the AT where it crosses the creek. It is marked with a sign.

At the Harpers Creek Shelter spur the AT makes a hard left paralleling the creek a short distance before crossing it. Follow this route and in 0.69 miles reach the junction with blue blazed Mau-Har Trail. Turn right onto it. The trail will be mostly flat at first but you will eventually climb up and over another ridge before dropping down into the Campbell Creek canyon (1.55 miles from the last trail junction). There you will find a campsite large enough for about 4 tents and a yellow blazed spur trail to the left that leads to a nice swimming hole and waterfall.

After a refreshing break begin the climb out of the canyon. The trail is pretty rocky with large boulders you have to step up onto. In 1.10 miles from the swimming hole cross the right fork of the creek and turn left, following the left fork. You will get a short respite from climbing, pass a small campsite on the water’s edge to the left and cross the stream twice before climbing to the Maupin Field Shelter. This is about 1.04 miles from the last campsite.

From the shelter take the main spur trail directly in front of it out to the kiosk you passed at the beginning of the hike. Retrace your initial steps back to Reeds Gap and your car.

Printable/Downloadable Directions and Trail Notes

Critique This Outing

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Name: CRaig Hike: AT- Mau-Har Trail loop
Date: Aug 10-12, 2008 Rating: 5

Critique: This was a great experience! MY brother and I hiked it (began mid-day Sun and ended mid-day on Tues) and broke it up over 3days and two evenings. This allowed us to stop when we wanted to and enjoy the incredible views and scenery. This also allowed us to go hit the "hay" early and wake up late each morning (later than a work day). Like the other postings here, it is a tough workout on your legs (I couldn't imagine doing it in a single day, unless you are hiking for a workout/exercise and not for pleasure.

All the trails were marked well and all but two places were difficult to maneuver due to a downed tree.
We took the AT trail first then met up with the Mau-Har Trail the second part. The toughest part of the trail was between Harpers Creek Shelter and second Campbell Creek campsite, then it leveled out on the way back to Maupin Field Shelter.

We saw deer our first morning at the Maupin Field Shelter area (lots of separated camp sites) and then in the same area the next afternoon. Plenty of wild animals passed by during the night at Campbell Creek camp site. Possibly due to Campbell Creek actually having cascading water for us and the local inhabitants to drink from. My brother's dog alerted us during the evening.
Due to little rain the previous weeks, Harper's Creek was virtually dry except for a small pool of water due to light rains on our first evening. IF the area doesn't get much rains you may want to stock up on your water supply for the Hike along the AT.
IF you are allergic to bees, don't stop at Bee Mountain to see the views, You don't want to have any medical conditions while on the trail.

Enjoy your hike!

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Name: B. Gordon Hike: AT-Mau-Har Trail Loop
Date: 5/10/2008 Rating: 5

Critique: As advertised, this is a very strenuous hike. We did it as an overnight, staying at the Harpers Creek Shelter area and were the only ones camping there. The creeks are really flowing right now so if you can break free soon get out and see them. From other reviews it seems that the creeks can turn to a trickle quickly as we get into the summer months and no rain. The trillium and rhododendron are blooming and were beautiful. Don't miss the yellow blazed side trail to see the waterfalls on Campbell Creek on the way up the Mau Har Trail, a worthwhile side trip. I highly recommend using trekking poles for this hike. An excellent hike and even better done over 2 days.

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Name: Nicholas Hike: AT/Mau-Har Loop
Date: 2/16-17/08 Rating: 4.5

Critique: Great hike, tremendous overlooks, always going either up or down. About half hour into the hike, while resting on a large boulder, we were lucky enough to see a doe and fawn come into view and then (mistakenly on their part) nearly run straight into us as they sensed our presence, getting to within about 7 yards before veering off course and into the woods.

There was good water at Maupin Fields shelter - we started very light on water to conserve the weight for a bit, and then filled up there. Campbell Creek was running strongly. Continued on the AT after Maupin Fields, and the trail climbed almost continually, with a few flat spots, up to the summit of Three Ridges. With the leaves gone, the views were excellent along the way. Before the summit, we saw a print from a large cat of some type, probably close to three inches long from heel to tip of the claws, but we never saw the print's owner.

After the summit came the most difficult part of the day in the switchbacks. The problem was that on large sections of the trail, there were thick beds of leaves sometimes covering the trail up to a foot and a half deep. They were very slippery, and covered up some pretty big rocks. You almost had to shuffle your feet as you went through. Also, this section of the trail was a bit difficult to follow because it was invisible beneath the leaves and there were not many blazes from the summit south to Harper's Creek.

Harper's Creek Shelter is in great shape. The creek was flowing strongly. The only drawback was there was no firewood around, so rather than two hours of gathering wood and carrying it some distance, we went without a fire.

The Mau-Har was the most difficult aspect of the loop. There were a number of major tree falls which completely blocked the trail. Tree falls by Campbell Creek required some difficult detours, one of which consisting of not-too difficult rock climbing. Once the trail moved away from the water, it got easier.

Hike would have been a 5 if not for the tree falls which added unnecessary difficulty to an already difficult hike.

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Name: Ian Hike: AT/Mau-Har, 3 Ridges Loop
Date: 8/07 Rating: 5

Critique: A friend and I did this loop. We started at the Tye, went north on the AT and came back vai Mau-Har the next morning. This direction is extremely strenuous. Get your pack as light as you can and get ready for lots of switchbacks, unending relentless switchbacks. First hike I've been on where my calves literally stopped working for a while.

The trail has great views. There were a surprising amount of people on it the weekend that we went but I must say it was a surprisingly beautiful weekend to go hiking.

We split the hike at the Maupin Field Shelter where the AT and Mau-Har's northern most intersection is, 1.6 miles from the Reed's Gap parking lot. Taking the Mau-Har back the next morning was nice. Not nearly as painful as the way up and over the three ridges.

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Name: Jay GA>ME05 Hike: AT - Mau-Har Loop
Date: 7/4/07 Rating: 5

Critique: This makes for a spectacular and rugged day hike. Shed the heavy backpacking equipment, and all of this elevation change goes much easier. We did it in about 9 hours, at a leisurely pace. Be sure to climb down to the lovely swimming pools and waterfall on the Mau-Har section. Thru-hikers, if you take the blue blaze and skip 3 ridges, I think it'll give you a good taste of hiking in the north. LOVELY COUNTRY!

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Name: Treebeard Hike: AT-Mau-Har
Date: 4/21/07 Rating: 5

Critique: This was a great backpack. The one word that I have used to describe the hike is "relentless". This is because you are either going up or down (very little to no level walking) on some difficult terrain. Just when you are catching your breath from a challenging uphill, down you go. I guess this is what you need to do to cover the almost 8000 feet of elevation change over 14 miles. The vistas are numerous and some are spectacular. Hiking upward along a cascade was beautiful with nice waterfalls and flora along the way. It was also nice to see the beginning of the wild flowers starting to pop.

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Name: Tony Hike: AT-Mau-Har
Date: 4/21/2007 Rating: 5

Critique: This is an excellent hike with many beautiful vistas along the AT, and small waterfalls and pools on the Mau-Har. The elevation gain for the entire circuit is nearly 4,000ft, so with a backpack of 30+ pounds this is a very strenuous hike. However, definitely a must-do for any serious backpacker in the Old Dominion. You just can't beat all the scenery in this part of the state!

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Name: Rick Hike: Three Ridge Trail/Mau-Har Trail
Date: 10/13-10/15/06 Rating: 5

Critique: Thank you so much for this site. I went on this hike about 5 years ago and I couldn't figure it out until I found it here. So, thank you first of all.

The map was helpful and your description was just as helpful. A couple things for improvement. The Route marker is VA Rt 664 not 644. However, mile marker 13 was precise. Also, we weren't sure if the distance on the topo provided were crow's flight or actual distance in steps.

It was a perfect weekend provided one had an adequate sleeping bag. I did not but my buddies had great sleeping bags. Needless to say, I froze, they didn't. I just didn't think it would be that cold. The rest of the trip was great! We took pictures and videos of our adventure and met a few people along the way. That's it for now. I'll have to write more later. Thanks!

The Rt # has been changed. All trail segment distances are "as walked".

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Name: Mad Hatter Hike: Mau Har-AT
Date: January 01, 2000 Rating: 5+

Critique: Did this hike as part of a backpack on Y2K evening (on the way down we heard Japan had passed into 2000 without problems) to prove camp stoves are not affected by ushering in a new century. We parked at a road at the Harpers Creek Shelter end of the AT and camped near that shelter. On the overcast second day we did the circuit with its strenuous climb up to Chimney Rocks and along Three Ridges. Views were clear though I could only remember Chimney Rocks. We ate lunch at the Mau Har shelter, and ventured to the Mau Har Trail, not knowing it was not the pleasant walk presupposed by the map. Yes, rocky boulder-strewn footing, but a nice creek, with water at that time. When we reached the southern end and wanted to exit the drainage, it seemed like we went up, and up, and. I let out a colorful word about the continued relentless uphill since at that time we were tired. Finally the AT appeared and we joyfully returned to our campsite. Though no rain, the over
cast kept the area warmer, and on our return day the sun appeared. Since my friend relished steep uphills, I told her The Priest, the next uphill south from where we parked would suit her.

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