Originally Posted by
Skyline
You can do a four-day hike carrying basically daypacks and cover the entire Central District. For the first day, pack a small iced disposable styrofoam cooler with food to cook that night, and breakfast plus lunch the next day while on the Trail. Food and water for lunch and snacks during today's hike should be included in your daypack.
Definitely make advance reservations for lodging and a shuttle.
DAY 1: Park at Thornton Gap in the morning. Meet shuttle of your choice there. Have driver use Skyline Drive to take you South. Stop off at Lewis Mt. cabins to drop off the cooler. Then continue via shuttle to Swift Run Gap (the dividing point between SNP's Central and South Districts). Hike from Swift Run Gap to Lewis Mt., and stay the night in a cabin. You can buy charcoal, drinks, etc. at the Lewis Mt. Campstore, and cook dinner at your cabin's outdoor grill.
DAY 2: Hike from Lewis Mt. to Big Meadows Lodge. Breakfast from your cooler at the cabin, lunch on the trail, dinner at the dining room at the Lodge. There is also a bar with a less expensive food menu, and entertainment at night.
DAY 3: Breakfast at Big Meadows. Buy boxed lunches, drinks, snacks for lunch at the Lodge before beginning your hike to Skyland. Repeat the Big Meadows experience at Skyland.
DAY 4: Breakfast at Skyland, boxed lunches for the trail. Final leg of hike back to Thornton Gap where you've parked.
If you have two vehicles, you can eliminate the shuttle by parking one at Swift Run Gap before driving the other vehicle to Thornton Gap on Day 1, and then retrieving it after completing the hike on Day 4. Depending upon where you live, it may or may not actually save you money to bring a second vehicle. Last time I looked you should expect to pay $50 to $80 for a shuttle as described, unless you find a trail angel to do it for less.
In the shoulder seasons, like April and part of May, and after October, you'll need to verify operational dates for Lewis Mt. and Big Meadows Lodge (not to be confused with Big Meadows Wayside--a grill and store about a mile from the Lodge). Skyland traditionally opens late March and closes right after Thanksgiving. Lewis and BML have shorter seasons.