The following is taken from Guide to Paths in the Blue Ridge,
The Appalachian Trail and Side Trails, PATC. The Calvary Rocks
parking lot is now called the Rip Rap Trail Parking lot.
This trail is a circular route, affording access to the region adjacent to Rip Rap Hollow, a wild picturesque ravine west of the main ridge in the southern section of the Shenandoah National Park. (This is the valley south of that thru which the Blackrock Gap Road passes.) Near the apex, or most western point of the trail, is the spectacularly located Rip Rap Lean-to. The northern portion of the trail follows Calvary Rocks Ridge west for 1 mi. to the jutting boulders on its summit with an overlook across a sheer rock chimney north over the Blackrock Gap valley. From the ridge the trail descends thru the miniature canyon of Rip Rap Hollow. The southern portion of the route leads back to The Appalachian Trail along Wildcat Ridge with views of Crimora Lake and the region to the south.
This circuit may be made either from The Appalachian Trail or from
the Skyline Drive; on the latter, the terminus of the trail is at the
Calvary Rocks and Wildcat Ridge Parking Areas, respectively.
Along Rocks Mtn., west of Calvary Rocks, the route is paralleled by a
fire-trail on the crest of the ridge while the Rip Rap Trail is in the
ravine to the east; the two routes join on Wildcat Ridge.
The traverse of this trail involves considerable exertion. From The
Appalachian Trail to the Rip Rap Lean-to involves a descent of 1,350
ft.; beyond, the trail drops 100 ft. farther before it returns via
Wildcat Ridge, involving a climb of 1,450 ft. back to The Appalachian
Trail at a distance of 5.58 m. south of Blackrock Gap. From the Skyline
Drive at the Calvary Rocks Parking Area back to the Wildcat Ridge
Parking Area, it is 6.77 m.
The route is marked by signs at junctions; the graded trail is unmistakable, however.
The beginning of this trail may be reached from The Appalachian Trail, 2.48 m. south from Blackrock Gap or from the Calvary Rocks Parking Area on the Skyline Drive. This Area is 2.6 m. south of Blackrock Gap and 6.9 m. north of Jarmans Gap. From Parking Area, follow side trail west for 100 yds., then turn left uphill, north, on Appalachian Trail, for .38 m. to beginning of Rip Rap Trail.
From knob (2.48 m. on Appalachian Trail south of Blackrock Gap) (0 m.), follow graded trail west, descending steeply. Reach sag between Rocks Mtn. and the main ridge at .6 m. Beyond, ascend steadily. At .97 m. rough trail to left leads 25 yds. up to high sheer projecting Calvary Rocks (2,850 ft.). Use care here. Beyond, descend gradually west along north slope of Calvary Rocks Ridge.
At 1.18 m. turn sharp left (south). (Right fork leads 25 yds. to edge of cliffs, affording fine view north; crosses deep rock chasm on bridge with spectacular views.) Trail leads south, slabbing slope on south side of ridge above Paine Run with slight descent. Along this section are fine views west over Shenandoah Valley toward the Alleghenies and of the Trayfoot Range.
At 1.75 m. turn sharp left from ridge down into Rip Rap Hollow. (Right fork is narrow fire-trail which leads along Crest of Rocks Mtn. for about 3 m. to its south end (Davis Mtn.), descends the ridge, crosses a wood road app. 1/4 m. down stream below Rip Rap Lean-to, then ascends Wildcat Ridge, rejoining this trail at 4.51 m.) At 2.45 m. trail follows along stream on west side of Rip Rap Hollow. At 2.82 m. side stream comes in on left. Beyond, trail descends steeply thru rocky chasm. Route here is very spectacular. Cross stream at 3 m.
At 3.04 m side trail leads right 50 yds. over bridge across stream~to open Rip Rap Lean-to (1,650 ft.). (Structure is spectacularly located, facing east toward a high ridge. In front of lean-to is deep pool at base of sloping falls covered with green moss. Here is a growth of rhododendron. Lean-to is equipped with wire bunks, accommodating 6 persons.)
From lean-to, descend steadily, crossing stream several times. At 3.64 m. turn sharp left across triangle formed by two roads, where old road continues ahead (west) down Meadow Run. (Lean-to may be approached by this road.)
In 150 ft. turn sharp left and cross stream (3.67 m.). Fol low old road, then trail, up Wildcat Ho]low. At app 3.75 m.,across stream, is conspicuous cave at base of cliffs.
At 4.17 m. turn sharp right from old trail, crossing stream in 100
ft. Trail leads south steep]y up north slope to low gap on Wildcat
Ridge. Reach crest at 4.51 m. and bear left, ascending steadily,
slabbing north side of knob ( Fire-trail, descending Rocks and Davis
Mtns., which forked right at 1.75 m., comes in on right here.) Slab
around to east slope of knob, coming into sag at 4.76 m. Beyond, ascend
along south slope of knob. At 4.9 m. are views southwest of Crimora
Lake in Dorsey Hanger Hollow. Trail affords fine view south. Trail then
slabs along north slope of ridge to high point at 5.3 m. from which it
descends for 350 ft., then continues to ascend along north slope of
ridge to high point at 5.77 m., then descends again. From sag at 5.9 m.
ascend steadily, bearing right. Route affords view of Turks Mtn. (2,950
ft.) to south.
Reach Appalachian Trail at 6.2 m. (To right, leads .34 m., with slight ascent, to Skyline Drive, where Appalachian Trail crosses Skyline Drive. To left it is 3.1 m. back to north intersection of Rip Rap and Appalachian Trails.)
From intersection with Appalachian Trail (6.2 m.), continue ahead (east) with slight ascent. At 6.33 m. reach Wildcat Ridge Parking Area on Skyline Drive. (To left on Drive leads 4.8 m. back to Blackrock Gap and 21.7 m. farther to Swift Run Gap to right it is 13.3 m. to U. S. Route 250 in Rockfish Gap.)
From Wildcat Ridge Parking Area on Skyline Drive (O m.), follow
graded trail west. Cross Appalachian Trail at .13 m. (To right it is
5.58 m. to Blackrock Gap and to left it is 5.82 m.to Jarmans Gap.)
Descend steadily, bearing right with views of Turks Mtn. (2,950 ft.) to south. From sag at .43 m., ascend for .13 m., then descend steeply to .96 m.; beyond, trail ascends for 350 ft., then descends steadily down crest of Wildcat Ridge. Here are fine views to south and of Crimora Lake in Dorsey Hangar Hollow.
At 1.82 m. in sag on Wildcat Ridge, turn sharp right down north
slope of ridge. (Ahead, fire-trail, ungraded, leads down over end of
Wildcat Ridge and along crest of Rocks Mtn., rejoining Rip Rap Trail at
4.58 m.) Reach base of ridge, cross stream and, at 2.16 m., turn left
down ravine on trail following course of o]d wood road. At app. 2.58
m., across stream, is conspicuous cave at base of cliffs.
At 2.66 m. cross stream and turn sharp right on graded trail across triangle formed by old wood roads. In 150 ft. turn sharp right with old road coming in on left up Meadow Run. (Lean-to may be approached by this road.)
Ascend steadily, crossing stream several times. At 3.29 m. side trail leads left 50 yds. over bridge across stream to Rip Rap Lean-to. (For lean-to, see NORTH TO SOUTH data.)
Beyond lean-to, ascend steeply up miniature canyon of Rip Rap Hollow. From 3.88 m. trail ascends south slope of Calvary Rocks Ridge. On crest of ridge, at 4.58 m., turn sharp right. (Fire-trail which continues ahead at 1.82 m. comes in on left here.) Ascend steadily along Calvary Rocks Ridge. At 5.15 m. side trail comes in on left. (Leads 25 yds. to edge of cliffs, affording fine view north; trail crosses deep rock chasm on bridge with spectacular views north over Paine Run and of Trayfoot Mtn.) Ascend steadily. At 5.36 m. rough trail to right leads 25 yds. up to high sheer projecting Calvary Rocks (2,850 ft.). Use care here. Beyond, descend. From sag at 5.73 m. ascend steeply. Reach Appalachian Trail at 6.33 m.
To left on Appalachian Trail leads 2.48 m. to Blackrock Gap. To reach Calvary Rocks Parking Area on Skyline Drive, go right (south) on Appalachian Trail for .38 m., then turn left on graded trail, reaching Skyline Drive in 100 yds. farther. (To left on Drive it is 2.6 m. to Blackrock Gap, 24.3 m. to Swift Run Gap; to right it is 6.9 m. to Jarmans Gap.)