Group on top of Hawksbill during the 2019 SDM.

Sophie Speidel

July 4 Trifecta Day 1: Sophie’s Death March

Also known as “Shenandoah’s National Park’s greatest hits,” this 24-mile loop’s highlights include White Oak Canyon, Hawksbill, Stony Man, all connected by beautiful ridge running on the Appalachian Trail.

Date
  • Fri Jul 3, 2026
Start location
Start time
  • 7:00 am
Distance
  • 24.2 miles
Total ascent/descent
  • 5,200 feet
Run organizer

This year, Sophie’s Death March will be the opening event of the July 4 holiday weekend’s Trifecta runs. This clockwise loop begins with a climb up Whiteoak Canyon and its numerous waterfalls, culminating with a summit of Hawksbill, the highest point in Shenandoah National Park. From there, we traverse the Blue Ridge northward on the Appalachian Trail to Skyland, with a coffee shop and a general store stocked with drinks and snacks (please bring means of payment on the trail with you). Then it’s off to Stony Man and Little Stony Man, followed by a descent down Nicholson Hollow to the Weakley Hollow and Berry Hollow Fire Roads back to Whiteoak Canyon. Bring your chair and some refreshments for the traditional Party in the Cedar Run after your finish!

More details on the loop, including turnsheets, are on Furbutt’s Favorites.

Sophie Speidel and friends on Hawksbill
Sophie Speidel invites you to her eponymous death march.

Last updated November 30, 2025