Download
Preview
Add to list
More
7.2 km
~2 hrs 1 min
344 m
Loop
“Follow white blazes through rooty climbs to a hush-shaded lakeshore—muddy, magical, and weather-dependent.”
I’m missing a few key specifics to make this accurate (there are multiple “Lake Thompson” locations and many Appalachian Trail access points). Share either a HiiKER link or the trailhead coordinates (lat/long) (or the nearest town/state), and I’ll convert them to the nearest known address/landmark and tailor the route description.
While you grab that, here’s a planning-ready description for a ~7 km / 4.3 mi, ~300 m / 985 ft medium out-and-back style hike to a lake reached via the Appalachian Trail, written in a way that will snap into place once you confirm the exact trailhead.
By car: Most Appalachian Trail day hikes begin from a signed AT road crossing or a small hiker pull-off. Expect limited parking (often 5–20 vehicles), no services, and occasional seasonal road-shoulder restrictions. Arrive early on weekends.
By public transport: AT trailheads are often rural. The most workable approach is usually: - Bus or rail to the nearest larger town, then - A local taxi/rideshare to the trailhead (service can be spotty), or - A pre-arranged shuttle (common in AT communities). Once you tell me the state/town or coordinates, I’ll give the most realistic transit chain and the closest stop.
With ~300 m / ~985 ft of gain over ~7 km / ~4.3 mi, this typically hikes like a steady climb to the lake with a few short steeper pitches: - 0.0–1.5 km (0.0–0.9 mi): Settling in—often a moderate grade as the AT leaves the road crossing and commits to the ridge/valley line. - 1.5–3.5 km (0.9–2.2 mi): The main work—where most of the elevation is usually gained. Expect sustained uphill and a couple of brief “step-up” sections over rock or roots. - 3.5 km (2.2 mi) to the lake (~3.5 km / 2.2 mi one-way if out-and-back): Grades often ease as you approach flatter terrain near water, though some AT approaches drop slightly to a shoreline (meaning a small climb back out on the return).
Plan on 2.5–4 hours total for most hikers depending on breaks, footing, and how long you linger at the lake.
The Appalachian Trail is generally well-marked with white blazes, but don’t rely on blazes alone—side paths to viewpoints, campsites, or water can be confusing near lakes.
Even without the exact state pinned down yet, a “lake via AT” hike of this length commonly includes:
If the lake has established backcountry sites nearby, you may see: - Fire rings (sometimes illegal depending on land rules), - Flat tent pads, - Short spur trails to water access.
Because the Appalachian Trail spans many ecosystems, the exact species list depends on your state/section, but these are common patterns:
Wildlife you should plan around: - Black bears: Present across much of the AT corridor. Keep food secured; don’t leave packs unattended at the lake. - Deer and small mammals: Common; also a tick indicator. - Snakes: In warmer months, watch sunny rock edges and log crossings. - Loons/waterfowl (some regions): If present, give shoreline nesting areas space.
Surfaces
Ground
Unpaved
Dirt
User comments, reviews and discussions about the Lake Thompson via Appalachian Trail, Virginia.
average rating out of 5
0 rating(s)