Mountain · 2 routes
Kennedy Peak
2,563 ft · Virginia
- Summit
- 2,563 ft
- Routes
- 2 ways up
- Season
- Year-round
Routes up Kennedy Peak
- Kennedy PeakEasyabout 179 ft of climbing0.5 mi round tripSee the route
- Massanutten Mtn TrailModerateabout 1,396 ft of climbing3.2 mi round tripSee the route
| Kennedy Peak | Massanutten Mtn Trail | |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing | About 179 ft | About 1,396 ft |
| Round trip | 0.5 mi | 3.2 mi |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Terrain | Hike | Hike |
| Season | Year-round | — |
About Kennedy Peak
Kennedy Peak is a summit of 2,563 feet in the Lee Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest in Virginia, about 6 miles from the town of Luray. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Luray show May highs around 74°F and September highs around 78°F, while the peak sits higher than that station, so expect cooler temperatures on top. Several trails start close by. The Stephens hike is under a mile away, and the Massanutten Mtn Trail is about a mile off. Camp Roosevelt offers camping roughly 1.7 miles away, and the Massanutten Trail for mountain biking is about 1.9 miles away.
Forecast on Kennedy Peak
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Questions about Kennedy Peak
How tall is Kennedy Peak?
2,563 ft (781 m).
How many routes go to the summit of Kennedy Peak?
2: Kennedy Peak and Massanutten Mtn Trail.
What is the shortest route up Kennedy Peak?
Kennedy Peak, about 0.5 mi round trip.
When is the best time to climb Kennedy Peak?
Year-round.
Mountains nearby
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: Apr–Oct. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 66–85°F and lows of 41–62°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Luray 5 E, VA weather station, 8.1 mi away. High / low in °F, and days with snow.
- Jan43° high23° low2 days with snow
- Feb47° high26° low2 days with snow
- Mar55° high32° low1 days with snow
- Apr66° high41° low
- May74° high50° low
- Jun81° high58° low
- Jul85° high62° low
- Aug83° high61° low
- Sep78° high54° low
- Oct67° high43° low
- Nov57° high34° low
- Dec47° high28° low1 days with snow
The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this spot, so expect it to run cooler up here.
Where it is
- Lee Ranger District · Ranger district
- George Washington and Jefferson National Forest · National forest
- Nearest town
- Luray, Virginia · 5.7 mi
Conditions
Active alerts for Lee Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
Vehicle requirements for use of Peters Mill Run/Taskers Gap Trail System
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
The abandoned Powells Fort Organization Camp is closed to all entry
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- StephensHiking0.7 mi
- Massanutten Mtn TrailHiking1 mi
- Camp RooseveltCamping1.7 mi
Massanutten TrailMountain bikingPhoto: jimmytoering from Maryland, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.9 mi- Spacious Skies Campgrounds - Shenandoah ValleyCamping3.9 mi
- Elizabeth FurnaceRock climbing4.3 mi
- IGR East sideRock climbing6.5 mi
- Lee Ranger DistrictLake fishing6.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Is Kennedy Peak open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. It doesn't name Kennedy Peak, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Road Closures James River and Warm Springs Ranger District
Agency closure covering George Washington and Jefferson National Forest · USFS · George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
Bolar Mountain Recreation Area - Twin Ridge Road Closure
Agency closure covering George Washington and Jefferson National Forest · USFS · George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail Closure Update
Agency alert covering George Washington and Jefferson National Forest · USFS · George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area: Forest Service Road 84 Closed Beginning 9/1/25
Agency alert covering George Washington and Jefferson National Forest · USFS · George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Kennedy Peak
Best months: March–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
43° / 23°
9 wet · 2 snow
Feb
47° / 26°
8 wet · 2 snow
Mar
55° / 32°
11 wet · 1 snow
Apr
66° / 41°
12 wet
May
74° / 50°
12 wet
Jun
81° / 58°
11 wet
Jul
85° / 62°
11 wet
Aug
83° / 61°
10 wet
Sep
78° / 54°
9 wet
Oct
67° / 43°
9 wet
Nov
57° / 34°
9 wet
Dec
47° / 28°
9 wet · 1 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Luray 5 E, VA, 8.1 mi away at 1,400 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
