Stony Man is the second-highest peak in Shenandoah National Park, at 4,011 feet, and the overlook below it is one of the most photographed spots on Skyline Drive. The mountain gets its name from the profile of its cliffs, which look from the valley like the face of an old man lying on his back, with a craggy brow, nose and chin. If you see it or not depends on the angle and your imagination, but the view from the top is easy to appreciate: the Shenandoah Valley opens out to the west, the Massanutten range stands in the middle, and on a clear day the Allegheny ridges stack up to the horizon.
The overlook on the road is a short stop, but the real prize is a walk. A path of about a mile and a half leads from the Skyland area to the summit through oak, hemlock and mountain laurel, and it is mostly gentle, though the final stretch over bare rock needs sturdy shoes. Skyland itself began in the 1890s as a mountain camp for city people, founded by a man who loved the place and wanted to share it. It grew into a resort, and today the lodge still welcomes guests, with big views from the dining room.
Those cliffs are made of ancient greenstone, a volcanic rock from around five hundred million years ago, and in their cracks grow rare plants that have survived on the high ledges since the ice age. Peregrine falcons have returned to some of the Shenandoah cliffs after being wiped out by pesticides, and ravens are common. In spring the whole slope is bright with trillium and wild azalea, and autumn is the busy season for photographers.
For riding, Skyline Drive at this point is gentle, with easy bends and a low speed limit that keeps traffic slow and polite. The park rangers do patrol, and wildlife on the road is a real concern, particularly at dusk. Fog and cloud can swallow the view quickly, which is a pity if you have climbed for it, so check the forecast and go early.
Luray is the nearest town, about eleven kilometres away down the hill, and Stanley is not much farther. Neither is far, but the Drive itself has few places to refuel, so plan your tank before the climb. Skyland has a restaurant and a gift shop in season, and the big overlooks have restrooms and water.