Hawksbill Summit
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia · 4,050 ft
Typical peak
Oct 5 – Oct 13
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunset
Shenandoah's high point, with a stone viewing platform above talus slopes and a relict stand of balsam fir and red spruce. Ridges run north and south below the rock, and the color line works down them through October so you can shoot the same frame three weeks running.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Park at Hawksbill Gap, milepost 45.6 on Skyline Drive, and climb the Lower Hawksbill Trail 1.7 miles round trip with 690 feet of gain.
What turns here
- mountain ash
- red oak
- red maple
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 9Typical color progression for Hawksbill Summit. No change from Sep 1 to Sep 18. First color from Sep 18 to Sep 27. Approaching peak from Sep 27 to Oct 5. Peak from Oct 5 to Oct 13. Past peak from Oct 13 to Oct 23. Bare from Oct 23 to Nov 6.
Hawksbill Summit is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 18
1 night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
56°F / 36°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Hawksbill Summit on October 9, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:50 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 97° | 7:16 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 36 min of low, warm light | 7:52 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:01 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 35 min before sunset | 6:09 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 263° | 6:45 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:11 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 28m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.