Shenandoah National Park Things to Do

From many west-facing overlooks you can see a large lake in the valley. It is Lake Arrowhead and serves as a reservoir and a recreation area for the neighboring town of Luray. Lake Arrowhead features 6 picnic shelters for rent (Call 540-743-5511 for availability), fishing, white sand beach and swimming during the summer, ball field, volleyball nets, horseshoe pits, playground, 1 mile trail that circles the lake, and the Edwin Smith scout camping area. The physical address is

Big Meadows Lodge has accommodations ranging from main lodge rooms to detached small cabins, preferred and traditional rooms, suites, and pet friendly rooms - all located within walking distance of the main lodge building in the popular Big Meadows area. The Spottswood Dining Room, New Market Taproom, and Craft Shop are aso located in the main lodge building.

Milam Gap Parking Area (Mile 52.8) | A fairly level hike that takes you through a former homestead on the famous Appalachian Trail.

Facing south from an elevation of 2,455 ft (748 m), the view from Bacon Hollow Overlook stretches out over a broad hollow that descends to the Piedmont in the distance. The Piedmont is the central region of Virginia between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Coastal Plains. Literally meaning foothills, the Piedmont region is known for its rolling hills and rural character.

Facing northwest from an elevation of 3,345 ft (1,019 m), the view from Baldface Mountain Overlook glimpses into the Shenandoah Valley below. You are atop a slope of Baldface Mountain. The peak is on the opposite side of the Skyline Drive to the northeast.

Beagle Gap contains a small parking lot with portable toilets and access to the Appalachian Trail.

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build monuments to honor the people who were displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. Eight counties from which mountain residents were relocated have monuments: Madison, Page, Rockingham, Greene, Rappahannock, Albemarle, Warren, and Augusta. Most of the monument sites include exhibits about the families. We invite you to visit these gateway communities and the beautiful monuments and learn about the people who sacrificed their homes for the establishment of Shenandoah. You can also learn more about this story at Byrd Visitor Center (mile 51). The Warren monument is located at 460 E. Criser Rd., Front Royal, VA 22630 The Warren monument is located on the Happy Creek Trail, next to the Francis Burrell Brooks, Jr. Community Park. Use the parking lot for the park and follow the sidewalk about 200 feet east (toward the nearby bridge) to the paved Happy Creek Trail. Turn left on the trail, and the monument is just ahead on the left. Restrooms are available at the park’s picnic pavilion when it is open.

With over 90 perennial waterways off of the ridge, there are many more small streams that feed into the larger watersheds. Along the Limberlost Trail, two bridges span one of these feeder streams. These will eventually connect to the waters of Whiteoak Canyon, which spill over a series of waterfalls, including the second tallest in the Park, Upper Whiteoak Falls! The water then connects to the Rapidan River, which joins the Rappahannock, which continues to widen on its way out to finally meet the Chesapeake Bay! Not only do the bridges allow access across the water while keeping hikers' boots dry, but they provide a view into beautiful ecosystems. Even in seasons of low water, these small riparian areas are rife with wetland growing plants including ferns. However, when water is flowing early in the summer, the combination of shade and moisture offers a wide array of wildflowers, like jewelweed, and other greenery, like false hellebore.

Brown Mountain Overlook sits at an elevation of 2,844 ft (866 m). This overlook is long, with views from north to south of Two Mile Ridge, Rocky Mount, Rockytop, Trayfoot Mountain, and the Shenandoah Valley.

Browns Gap Parking Area (mile 83) | This circuit hike leads you through designated Wilderness to Upper and Lower Doyles River Falls, as well as Jones Run Falls.

Looking west-northwest from an elevation of 2,890 ft (880 m), you will see the view of an historic community and surrounding hills from the Browntown Valley Overlook

Stop at Buck Hollow Overlook, facing east-northeast from an elevation of 2,710 ft (826 m), and look out over the mountains! Skinner Ridge is visible towards the left, while Buck Ridge makes its way from the right toward the center of the view.

The enrollment period for the CCC was initially for six months, but an enrollee could re-enlist for up to a maximum of two years. Enrollees were required to take an oath, swearing to obey those in authority and follow all rules and regulations. Some of the boys adjusted more easily to a regimented life than others. Those who had come from rural backgrounds tended to have an easier time with the labor than those from more urban backgrounds. Others suffered from homesickness a

Given the speed with which the CCC was started, the first enrollees didn't arrive to finished camps in May of 1933 but rather, in the early months, they lived in surplus WWI tents. As the organization of the CCC evolved, more standardization was introduced into the building of the camps but almost all camps were built around a common open space or "Company Street."Shenandoah National Park had 10 different camps at various times throughout the nine years of the Civilian Conser

In the beginning, the official requirements for being a CCC enrollee were to be a man between the ages of 18-25, unmarried, and in need of assistance. (Although some older WWI veterans were also allowed to enroll.) Unofficially, some of the CCC boys lied about their ages to enter the Corps. CCC enrollees earned 30 dollars a month, a dollar a day, but $25 were automatically deducted and sent back home to their families, thus spreading the economic benefits of the program to th

Mile 41.7, just at the northern entrance to Skyland is the highest point on Skyline Drive at 3,680 feet. The highest point in Shenandoah is the summit of Hawksbill Mountain at 4,050 feet. Getting to the summit entails a relatively short hike of less than 2 miles.

Many families who lived in the mountains had private family cemeteries. Although only a few gravestones are left, generations of the Foxes are buried here. Observe your surroundings. Can you imagine what this spot would have been like when the Fox family still held funerals here? What did this space mean to the family?If you are visiting in spring, you may discover flowers that the Fox family planted years ago - frilly old fashioned daffodils and narcissuses, deep purple bear

People once called this place home. Remnants of their lives and the impact they had on this land are still evident if you know where and how to look. In this hollow are the stories of people and a history obscured by the wild, rapid pace of natural flux.

As the trail turns a sharp right, you are very near the location of a barn that belonged to a neighbor of the Foxes, Edgar Merchant. A short section of the trail here is on the Merchant property. Today, the rock foundation of Merchant's barn lies under thick spicebush and multiflora rose.After the turn, you will be walking along an old county road which once connected the Fox family to the town of Front Royal. To your left (and possibly not even visible through the dense fore

There is not much left of the Foxes and their lives here. These rock piles are one of the few large, visible artifacts of the Fox's farm. What could these rocks be? A wall, a fence, part of a barn, a house? Lemuel Fox Jr. said that he would add rocks to the piles as he found them while plowing the cornfields. The original purpose of these rock piles is unknown.

The family that chose this hollow as their home were named Fox. Thomas and Martha Fox started farming here - on this ground - in 1856. Their son Lemuel Franklin Fox and his wife, Lucy, planted bluegrass pastures, corn, and wheat after Lemuel returned from the Civil War. Lemuel's grandson Lemuel Fox Jr. courted his future wife, Maude Vaught on the family property. By the time of the establishment of Shenandoah National Park, the Foxes and extended family lived in several frame

Are you thinking like an archaeologist? When do you think people made this? Who made this?If you guessed that the Fox family did not build this you would be correct. This is a springbox built after the Fox family left. At one time this springbox helped provide a water supply to the dining room at Dickey Ridge Lodge, currently Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. Though the Fox family did not build this springbox, they did use the water here for their farming and other daily needs. Op

A stable water source would have been one of the most important factors in finding a place to live for Thomas and Martha Fox when they began farming here in the 1850s. This water not only provides for farming and human life, but also for a wide variety of plant and animal life as well. One of the reasons Shenandoah is so lush, and how much of the vegetation here seems to grow faster than other places, is the prevalence of water sources like this one here.

When Lemuel Fox Jr. walked here with Park Rangers in 1976 he told them that when he was a young man in the 1920s he once attached a windmill to this tree. "[The sycamore] was the only tree on this hill then," Lemuel said, "All the rest of it was cleared from here." Most of the older growth forest was cut down long ago to make way for farmland in the 1800s and early 1900s. Certain trees, maybe a tall red oak here, a white pine over there, or this sycamore before you were spare

As you approach the third trail post, take a second to look out at the clearing. As the forest opens up, imagine what the whole hollow would have looked like if it were cleared like this. When you think about living in the mountains, do you think of a hollow - low, narrow, enclosed on either side - or do you think of a home with a sweeping view? The cleared pastures and farmland certainly would have created some views for the Fox family, but the view was a secondary considera

Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (Mile 4.6) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. Discover the cultural history of Shenandoah National Park as you pass by historic rock walls, a cemetery, and periwinkles planted by former residents. This hike is also a designated TRACK Trail, featuring a self-guided brochure designed for kids.

The Frazier Discovery Trail overlaps with several other trails, and each trail junction is marked with a stone post. At the top of the bluff near the overlooks, the Appalachian Trail connects with the Frazier Discovery Trail, briefly meeting for 500 feet, and then turning away to continue the loop. By following the metal bands and directional arrows at either junction, hikers can either continue along the 1.3 mile loop, or keep on the Appalachian Trail North or South.

The Frazier Discovery Trail overlaps with several other trails, and each trail junction is marked with a stone post. By following the metal bands and directional arrows, hikers can either continue along the 1.3 mile loop to the left, or turn to the right to find the Loft Mountain campstore, amphitheater, and campground.

Loft Mountain Wayside (mile 79.5) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This hike features several picturesque overlooks as it passes through woodlands of varying ages on Loft Mountain.

While the geology of Shenandoah lies underfoot and forest, there are still many spectacular reminders of what makes the mountains. Along the Frazier Discovery Trail, this geology is laid out as Greenstone, a metabasalt (former volcanic stone that underwent change). Known for its often green hue, the Greenstone that makes the overhanging cliffs and rocky outcroppings of Frazier offer more opportunity to find other hidden "gems." A close look at the most prominent cliff along the trail may provide the viewer a deeper glimpse into the stone's history. Bubble rocks (or amygdaloidal greenstone) are pockmarked by round blotches that started as pockets of gas which cooled within the lava. A close look at these bubbles (amygdules) may reveal a crystalline appearance as quartz (white), feldspar (orange and pink), and epidote (green) filled in later. Similarly, cracks that formed during the cooling period of the volcanic stone now appear as veins of minerals, offering striking contrast to the grey-green of the Greenstone itself. The jagged appearance of the cliff's top is from the squeezing and folding that occurred while the mountain was uplifted and born. These ragged fractures are known as rock cleavage. Over tens of housands of years, the softer mineral eroded away, leaving a walking space beneath the cliff and a beautiful view of these many geologic processes.

Looking north from an elevation of 2,675 ft (815 m), Gimlet Ridge Overlook views the gently descending slope of Gimlet Ridge into the valleys below.

From Gooney Manor Overlook you are looking southwest from an elevation of 1,930 ft (588 m) into Browntown Valley and the hills beyond.

Facing northwest at an elevation of 2,085 ft (635 m), Gooney Run Overlook looks down upon Browntown Valley.

Hawksbill Gap Parking Area (mile 45.5) | A circuit hike to Shenandoah’s highest peak. The viewing platform on top of Hawksbill offers a magnificent 360-degree view of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.

Hawksbill Gap Parking Area (mile 45.5) | A shorter, yet steeper route to Shenandoah’s highest peak. The viewing platform on top of Hawksbill offers a magnificent 360-degree panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.

Upper Hawksbill Parking Area (mile 46.5) | A hike to the top of Shenandoah’s highest peak, offering 360-degree views of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.

Looking southeast from an elevation of 2,770 ft (844 m), the view from Hazel Mountain Overlook includes the granodiorite rock formation and Hazel Mountain in the distance

Meadow Spring Parking Area (mile 33.5) | A trail that leads you through a rugged section of the Park to an exceptional waterfall.

While much of what is now Shenandoah National Park would have looked much different to the earliest resort guests of Skyland, some historic remnants of nature remain. In the early 1900s, Addie Nairn Pollock, owner of Massanutten Lodge and wife of Skyland Resort's main proprietor, loved the hemlock groves of the Blue Ridge Mountains as much as Park visitors do today. Prior to the Park establishment, timber operations took place along the ridge, collecting wood for construction material as well as to produce charcoal for copper kilns. One area slated to be fallen was in the area of what is now the Limberlost Trail. Addie, being a great admirer of the woodlands around her resort home, took pity on the grove of a hundred old hemlocks, and purchased the land to spare them. The hemlocks reminded her of the setting of one of her favorite novels at the time - A Girl of the Limberlost - which takes place largely in the Limberlost Swamp of eastern Indiana, and so the Limberlost became an attractive jaunt for resort guests. Unfortunately, in modern times, the Eastern Hemlock is so to speak once again "under the axe" as it is one of many trees threatened by invasive species. When the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, an aphid-like pest, was introduced to this area, Shenandoah lost about 90% of its hemlocks. If you look at the base of some hemlocks, you may notice a white painted dot. This is a sign that rangers have treated the tree to protect it from this invasive pest. Shenandoah's biological technicians and pest management rangers are always working to help eradicate invasive insects and plants that negatively impact the forest.

Looking north from an elevation of 3,385 ft (1031 m), Hogback Overlook extends 0.2 miles along Skyline Drive, making it the longest overlook in the park.

Hogwallow Falts Overlook faces southeast from an elevation of 2,665 ft (812 m). You are looking down to Rappahannock County and the town of Flint Hill.

Look northwest to the Shenandoah Valley from an elevation of 2,580 ft (786 m) at Horsehead Overlook. You are looking into Augusta County in the southern Shenandoah Valley.

Indian Run Overlook faces east and sits at an elevation of 2,400 ft (731 m). Indian Run is a stream that has formed the hill in front of you through the slow process of erosion.

Iron Mike stands outside Byrd Visitor Center. This statue was donated to the Park to honor the young men in the Civilian Conservation Corps who, together, built much of the infrastructure of Shenandoah National Park still in use today.

Facing east from an elevation of 2,890 ft (880 m), you will look out to the rolling ridges of Shenandoah National Park from Ivy Creek Overlook. The Appalachian Trail intersects with this overlook, as well.

Jenkins Gap Overlook peers onto the Piedmont from a small window above the v-shaped intersection of two hills. Looking east, and at an elevation of 2,355 ft (717 m), you are peering into a hollow formed by the Bolton Branch of the Burgess River.

Looking west from Jeremys Run Overlook, at an elevation of 2,410 ft (734 m), you will see the hollow formed by Jeremys Run cutting between Neighbor Mountain on the left and Knob Mountain on the right.

Facing north-northwest at an elevation of 3,320 ft (1,011 m), you can see the Blue Ridge Mountains descend into the valley from atop the Jewell Hollow Overlook.

Jones Run Parking Area (mile 84.1) | This hike takes you over a mountain stream, through the forest, and beside a 42’ waterfall.

Elkwallow Wayside (mile 24) | This hike goes around a beautiful area of the Park featuring one of the most picturesque streams in Shenandoah.

Located next to the Big Meadows Campground, Big Meadows Picnic Grounds provides an open space to relax, complete with picnic tables and grills.

Hightop Mountain Parking Area (mile 66.7) | Wind your way up a ridge on this hike to a rocky viewpoint that stands at 3,296 feet.

Big Meadows Wayside offers a varied menu of regional favorites available for carry-out or sit down dining. The Grab 'n Go kiosk inside offers sandwiches, salads, pastries, snacks and drinks to go. Groceries, gifts, and camping supplies are also available.

Facing northwest from an elevation of 2,860 ft (871 m), at Big Run Overlook you will look out toward the Shenandoah Valley below. Unfortunately, the view at this overlook is obstructed by overgrowth most of the year, making it difficult to see the mountains and valley beyond.

Blackrock Parking Area (mile 84.4) | A short hike to a viewpoint on top of a rocky talus slope with incredible views of the Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain, and beyond. This hike is also a designated TRACK Trail, featuring a self-guided brochure designed for kids.

Facing west, with an elevation of 3,550 ft (1,082 m), Crescent Rock Overlook has some of the best views of Hawksbill Peak, the highest peak in Shenandoah, at 4,050 ft (1,234 m). An informational sign located at the overlook shares information about the establishment of Shenandoah National Park and the resettlement of former residents of the land.

Facing northwest from an elevation of 2,985 ft (909 m), Crimora Lake Overlook is a good place to contemplate the industrial history of the Shenandoah Valley.

Winters would have been cold here on the mountain but there was no shortage of firewood to heat the stoves. When the CCC boys arrived at Shenandoah, they found a landscape that had been ravaged by the chestnut blight, a fungus that had been unintentionally imported from Asia and which had destroyed the American Chestnut. In the space of 30 years, the majestic trees which made up 25% of the forest ecosystem had died and left a "ghost forest" behind. It was a huge economic and

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build monuments to honor the people who were displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. Currently, six of the eight counties from which mountain residents were relocated have monuments: Madison, Page, Rockingham, Greene, Rappahannock, and Albemarle. Warren has a site selected and Augusta is in the planning stages. Most of the monument sites include exhibits about the families. We invi

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build monuments to honor the people who were displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. Currently, six of the eight counties from which mountain residents were relocated have monuments: Madison, Page, Rockingham, Greene, Rappahannock, and Albemarle. Warren has a site selected and Augusta is in the planning stages. Most of the monument sites include exhibits about the families. We invi

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build monuments to honor the people who were displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park.

Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area (mile 50.7) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This hike follows a stream to a beautiful waterfall, and is one of the Park’s most traveled trails. The trail is short, but very steep and rocky and the return hike is challenging!

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build monuments to honor the people who were displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. Currently, six of the eight counties from which mountain residents were relocated have monuments: Madison, Page, Rockingham, Greene, Rappahannock, and Albemarle. Warren has a site selected and Augusta is in the planning stages. Most of the monument sites include exhibits about the families. We invi

A beautiful spot to stop for a picnic in the northernmost area of the park. Equipped with tables, fire grates, water, restrooms, and plenty of room to relax! Closed in winter. Call 540-999-3500 for exact dates.

Living in close quarters, with little privacy, conflicts inevitably arose. As well as being fun, participating in competitive sports, including boxing, was one way of dealing with tensions as they arose.The boys came from varied backgrounds, rural and urban, and for many it was their first journey away from home. Being in the CCC exposed these young men to people completely different from themselves and gave them an opportunity to learn how to get along. Many an enrollee left

The year was 1933. The nation had been struggling for years with the effects of the Great Depression. Unemployment reached as high as 12 million people, equivalent to 25% of the eligible working population. People had lost their savings and livelihoods, bread lines were long and morale was low. Adding to the economic woes, the United States was also facing severe ecological issues. Drought conditions, poor farming practices and indiscriminate timber harvesting were contributi

The legacy of the CCC is vast and varied. The program affected change on both the personal and national levels. For the young men who came in with minimal or poor education, they learned how to properly read and write. Others learned the technical and construction skills that would serve them well in their later careers. Many saw parts of the country they had never seen before.

Doyles River Parking Area (mile 81.1) | This beautiful trek through Wilderness takes you along cool, clear mountain streams to two unique waterfalls.

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build monuments to honor the people who were displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. Currently, six of the eight counties from which mountain residents were relocated have monuments: Madison, Page, Rockingham, Greene, Rappahannock, and Albemarle. Warren has a site selected and Augusta is in the planning stages. Most of the monument sites include exhibits about the families. We invi

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build monuments to honor the people who were displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. Currently, six of the eight counties from which mountain residents were relocated have monuments: Madison, Page, Rockingham, Greene, Rappahannock, and Albemarle. Warren has a site selected and Augusta is in the planning stages. Most of the monument sites include exhibits about the families. We invi

When setting up a camp, the mess hall was the typically the first building built. The idea behind the CCC was to put men to work, not machines, so they needed proper nutrition to fuel their various labors. The food was basic, but plentiful, and having regular meals three times a day was a welcome change for most of the CCC boys who had been living off more meager rations during the Depression.

Take in a view to the south from Doyles River Overlook. Sitting atop an elevation of 2,875 ft (876 m), the view here looks out to Browns Cove, nested beyond Little Flat Mountain and Cedar Mountain.

Facing west-northwest from an elevation of 2,769 ft (843 m), the view from Dundo Overlook expands to the mountains in the distance.

Welcome to Dundo Picnic Grounds! This picnic grounds is open year round. You will find drinking water, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings for making your picnic the best ever. This location was once the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. Dundo Group Campground is located at the end of the one-way loop drive around the picnic ground.

There were many agencies involved in getting the CCC men here: the Department of Labor recruited and enrolled the men, the Department of Interior (under which the National Park Service is administered) and Department of Agriculture provided the work projects and the War Department/Army ran the camps. Despite the many agencies involved, the CCC was up and running with incredible speed. From Roosevelt's initial meeting with his Cabinet regarding the CCC on March 9, 1933 to the

After a long, hard day of work, this building must have the place to come for a little relaxation. But the boys wouldn't just stay up on the mountain, even if their dances did sometimes attract hundreds of attendees. Needing a change of scene, they might go on Friday and Saturday nights down into the nearby towns to attend movies and the local dances.

The view from Eaton Hollow Overlook is obstructed by vegetation for much of the year. Facing north-northeast from an elevation of 2,500 ft (762 m), you may be able to see a small window between the growth to look out upon the Shenandoah Valley below.

Elkwallow Picnic Grounds is open year-round and fitted with picnic tables, fire grates, water, and restrooms.

Elkwallow Wayside offers groceries, camping supplies, gifts, and grab 'n go food. Elkwallow usually closes around the beginning of November and reopens in April.

Facing northwest from an elevation of 3,070 ft (935 m), Fishers Gap Overlook provides a narrow window to view the Shenandoah Valley.

Compton Gap Parking Area (mile 10.4) | A short hike along the Appalachian Trail that leads to an interesting geologic feature.

The building of Skyline Drive was a labor-intensive endeavor. Though the CCC did not engineer and build the road itself (that was done by the Bureau of Public Roads) they designed and created the overlooks as well as worked to control the erosion on the hillsides created from it's construction. Additionally, they planted hundreds of thousands of trees and plants, including mountain laurel, creating the beautiful "natural" landscaping we enjoy today as we take a drive along th

The CCC worked on every aspect of vegetation and reforestation management in the Park. They grew and planted new seedlings, cleared the understory of dead brush and trees, and moved shrubs and trees around from one area to another, particularly by picnic grounds, overlooks and other facilities. What might seem natural to us now is actually the product of extensive landscape manipulation.

Facing west from an elevation of 2,480 ft (755 m), the view from Calf Mountain Overlook is straight out over the town of Waynesboro.

The Blue Ridge Heritage Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build monuments to honor the people who were displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. Currently, six of the eight counties from which mountain residents were relocated have monuments: Madison, Page, Rockingham, Greene, Rappahannock, and Albemarle. Warren has a site selected and Augusta is in the planning stages. Most of the monument sites include exhibits about the families. We invi

Hawksbill Gap Parking Area (mile 45.6) | This hike is very challenging, although those who do it are rewarded with exceptional cascades and waterfalls.

Facing east from an elevation of 2,495 ft (760 m), the view from Beagle Gap Overlook stretches outside of Shenandoah National Park to the Piedmont region of Virginia. Calf Mountain is the long ridge from the left descending down to the center of the view. If you travelled in a south-eastern direction the first urban center you would hit is the town of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Riprap Parking Area (mile 90) | An out-and-back hike to Chimney Rock, an excellent viewpoint with some very interesting geological features.

Beahms Gap sits at an elevation of 2,485 ft (757 m). During the early years of Shenandoah National Park, there was a 360 degree view from this location, created by clearing the land around Skyline Drive. Over time, trees have grown back and there is no view of the Shenandoah Valley from the Beahms Gap parking lot. If you cross the Skyline Drive on a clear day, you can see Hogback Mountain, Fork Mountain, and Oventop Mountain.

Bearfence Parking Area (mile 56.4) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. An exhilarating rock scramble leads to a magnificent 360-degree view of the Virginia Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley.

Bearfence Parking Area (mile 56.4) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This route takes you to a 180-degree view of the Shenandoah Valley without a rock scramble.

Facing southwest from an elevation of 2,345 ft (714 m), the view from Beldor Hollow Overlook expands out to the Blue Ridge Mountains with Skyline Drive in the distance.

Skyline Drive (mile 51) | Perched on top of a mountain, this high-elevation meadow can come as a bit of a surprise after the miles of lush, green forests that make up most of Shenandoah National Park. A must-see for every visitor, stop by Big Meadows to explore the trails, grab a bite to eat, or talk to a Ranger at Byrd Visitor Center.

Looking northwest from 3,140 ft (957 m), Franklin Cliffs Overlook views a narrow hollow leading to the town of Stanley in the Shenandoah Valley.

Nothing adds to the National Park experience quite like enjoying an evening ranger program at Big Meadows amphitheater! Come listen to a Park Ranger present a variety of topics that will help you to connect to Shenandoah on a deeper level.

This refueling station is located next to the Big Meadows Wayside. It is the only gas station located within Shenandoah National Park, so be sure to plan accordingly!

Compton Gap Parking Area (mile 10.4) | A hike through the forest along the Appalachian Trail to a western view and a great look at columnar jointing, an exciting geologic feature.

Gaze upon the Blue Ridge Mountains from Hazeltop Ridge Overlook. The view from this overlook stretches from the northwest to the southwest.

Facing east from an elevation of 3,380 ft (1030 m), Hemlock Springs Overlook is a great place to contemplate the dynamic nature of the forest.

Look north from an elevation of 2,560 ft (780 m) at Hensley Hollow Overlook and view the Shenandoah Valley below. Beyond Hensley Ridge is the town of Elkton, Virginia.

MILE 41.7 | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This enjoyable hike brings you to an outstanding view of the Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain, and beyond.

MILE 94.1 | A hike to the 2,981’ summit of Turk Mountain, located in the Shenandoah Wilderness, that provides a wonderful view to the west.

MILE 90 or 92.1 | This loop can be hiked from Riprap Parking or Wildcat Ridge Parking. It takes you through the forests of the Shenandoah Wilderness and over several stream crossings, while offering beautiful views of the hollows and valley to the west and north.

PARK BOUNDARY | An alternate option for visitors with pets who still wish to hike from the Old Rag parking area. This hike takes you through the Shenandoah Wilderness to Corbin Cabin, an old homesite built by a former resident, and features several stream crossings along the way.

Elkwallow Wayside (mile 24) | This hike goes around a beautiful area of the Park featuring one of the most picturesque streams in Shenandoah. The majority of this hike is in the Shenandoah Wilderness.

Meadow Spring Parking Area (mile 33.5) | A trail that leads you into the Shenandoah Wilderness to an exceptional waterfall.

Riprap Parking Area (mile 90) | An out-and-back hike into the Shenandoah Wilderness ending at Chimney Rock, an excellent viewpoint with some very interesting geological features.

Hawksbill Gap Parking Area (mile 45.6) | This hike is very challenging, although those who do it are rewarded with exceptional cascades and waterfalls. You will also hike through the Shenandoah Wilderness along the Cedar Run Trail.

MILE 49.4 | A hike to a dazzling 67' waterfall. For most of this hike, you’ll be on a beautiful trail in the Shenandoah Wilderness.

MILE 22.2 | A hike into federally designated Wilderness to a view of the highest waterfall in the Park at 93 feet. Unless rain is plentiful, Overall Run Falls may have minimal to no water flow.

Doyles River Parking Area (mile 81.1) | This beautiful trek takes you along cool, clear mountain streams to two unique waterfalls.

Browns Gap Parking Area (mile 83) | This circuit hike leads you to Upper and Lower Doyles River Falls, as well as Jones Run Falls.

MILE 33.5 | This alternate route to Marys Rock Summit offers an easier and shorter trek to the same incredible westward views of the Shenandoah Valley. Along the way, hikers will pass by the remnants of the former Meadow Spring Shelter as well as beautiful azalea blooms in season.

MILE 31.6 | Many legends surround the name of this hike, but there is no denying the beautiful westward views that it provides of the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain.

MILE 46.5 | A hike to the top of Shenandoah’s highest peak, offering 360-degree views of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.

Hawksbill Gap Parking Area (mile 45.5) | A shorter, yet steeper route to Shenandoah’s highest peak. The viewing platform on top of Hawksbill offers a magnificent 360-degree panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.

Hawksbill Gap Parking Area (mile 45.5) | A circuit hike to Shenandoah’s highest peak. The viewing platform on top of Hawksbill offers a magnificent 360-degree view of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.

Berry Hollow Parking Area (Park Boundary) | Visitors must obtain an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance of this hike. Pets are not allowed. Old Rag is a popular, strenuous hike with sweeping views. This route starts from the Berry Hollow parking area and allows you to get to the summit without having to navigate the rock scramble.

PARK BOUNDARY | Visitors must obtain an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance of this hike. Pets are not allowed. Old Rag is a popular, very strenuous hike with sweeping views and several scrambles across large rocks. This route starts from the Old Rag parking area on the boundary of the Park.

Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (Mile 4.6) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. Discover the cultural history of Shenandoah National Park as you pass by historic rock walls, a cemetery, and periwinkles planted by former residents. This hike is also a designated TRACK Trail, featuring a self-guided brochure designed for kids.

MILE 52.8 | A circuit hike to Camp Rapidan, the rustic getaway of President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. Today, this restful spot features exhibits on the First Couple and their perspectives.

MILE 52.8 | A hike, featuring three stream crossings, to the rustic getaway of President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. Today, this restful spot features exhibits on the First Couple and their perspectives.

Limberlost Parking Area (mile 43) | An ADA accessible path through the forest with mountain laurel in the springtime and an example of a columnar jointing geological feature. This hike is also a designated TRACK Trail, featuring a self-guided brochure designed for kids.

Blackrock Parking Area (mile 84.4) | A short hike to a viewpoint on top of a rocky talus slope with incredible views of the Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain, and beyond. This hike is also a designated TRACK Trail, featuring a self-guided brochure designed for kids.

Shenandoah National Park has distinctly accessible night skies that make stargazing and astrophotography a fun and insightful activity for all ages.

With over 500 miles of trails in Shenandoah National Park, chances are high that you'll be lacing up your hiking boots at some point on your next trip here.

MILE 22 | Follow the trail to a viewpoint. In the early summer, the showy white flowers of mountain laurel bloom in abundance here.

Jones Run Parking Area (mile 84.1) | This hike takes you over a mountain stream, through the forest, and beside a 42’ waterfall.

Hightop Mountain Parking Area (mile 66.7) | Wind your way up a ridge on this hike to a rocky viewpoint that stands at 3,296 feet.

Loft Mountain Wayside (mile 79.5) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This hike features several picturesque overlooks as it passes through woodlands of varying ages on Loft Mountain.

Compton Gap Parking Area (mile 10.4) | A short hike along the Appalachian Trail that leads to an interesting geologic feature.

Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area (mile 50.7) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This hike follows a stream to a beautiful waterfall, and is one of the Park’s most traveled trails. The trail is short, but very steep and rocky and the return hike is challenging!

Compton Gap Parking Area (mile 10.4) | A hike through the forest along the Appalachian Trail to a western view and a great look at columnar jointing, an exciting geologic feature.

MILE 56.4 | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This route takes you to a 180-degree view of the Shenandoah Valley without a rock scramble.

MILE 42.6 | This challenging hike to cascades and waterfalls has been popular since the early days of Skyland Resort. This particular hike goes to the upper falls before returning.

MILE 22.2 | A hike that follows a trail around Mathews Arm Campground. Along the way, you’ll see traces left behind by former residents of the area.

MILE 51 | Pets are not allowed on this hike. An easier stroll through the woods that passes next to the Big Meadows Air Quality Station, an important place for scientists and researchers to learn about air quality in Shenandoah.

MILE 62.7 | From the South River Picnic Grounds, this hike leads you through a verdant forest alive with a wide variety of plant and animal life to a stone-walled observation point overlooking an 83’ waterfall.

MILE 5.1 | Hike through old apple orchards and farmlands to an historic barn on the former Snead homesite.

MILE 31.6 | A hike along the Appalachian Trail to a shelter. Be on the lookout for wildflowers and birds through the fairly open woods along the trail!

MILE 42.5 | From the Skyland amphitheater, take this hike to a spectacular viewpoint at the site of a former fire tower.

PARK BOUNDARY | An easier hike to the base of the lower falls in Whiteoak Canyon. Note that a Park entrance fee is still required.

MILE 9.2 | A short hike down a fire road to a series of cascades that descend about 80 feet into a gorge. Note that it may not have water in dry seasons.

MILE 52.8 | A fairly level hike that takes you through a former homestead on the famous Appalachian Trail.

MILE 56.4 | Pets are not allowed on this hike. An exhilarating rock scramble leads to a magnificent 360-degree view of the Virginia Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley.

MILE 62.7 | From the South River Picnic Grounds, this route is a circuit hike that takes you to an observation point overlooking an 83’ waterfall. A great hike for wildflower and bird enthusiasts, alike!

MILE 19.4 | A journey into a rocky gorge with some very rewarding, yet steep, sections along a stream.

MILE 51.2 | Leaving from Big Meadows amphitheater, this hike leads to an observation point over a beautiful 81’ waterfall.

Birdwatching is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy, and Shenandoah provides the perfect habitat to spot a variety of different species, including those colorful, neotropical migratory birds!