Shenandoah National Park

CONTENTS

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park lies astride a beautiful section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which form the eastern rampart of the Appalachian Mountains between Pennsylvania and Georgia. The Shenandoah River flows through the valley to the west, with Massanutten Mountain, 40 miles long, standing between the river's north and south forks. The rolling Piedmont country lies to the east of the park. Skyline Drive, a 105-mile road that winds along the crest of the mountains through the length of the park, provides vistas of the spectacular landscape to east and west. The park holds more than 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Trails may follow a ridge crest, or they may lead to high places with panoramic views or to waterfalls in deep canyons. Many animals, including deer, black bears, and wild turkeys, flourish among the rich growth of an oak-hickory forest. In season, bushes and wildflowers bloom along the Drive and trails and fill the open spaces. Apple trees, stone foundations, and cemeteries are reminders of the families who once called this place home. Shenandoah National Park has many stories waiting to be told, and a world of beauty that can renew and bring peace to the spirit. To visit our expanded web pages, click on IN-DEPTH. Authorized May 22, 1926 and fully established December 26, 1935, the park's total acreage is 197,411.60, including 79,579 acres of congressionally designated Wilderness.

IN DEPTH

Oh, Ranger! When I was young, school field trips to Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Washington, DC, and Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, all National Park Service sites, were standard fare. Later,...read more

Shenandoah Regulations Park Regulations The following park regulations are intended to enhance your enjoyment of the park. They are designed to protect the park, its wildlife and you, the visitor. During all...read more

Preserve Shenanhoah Park Wilderness Renewal In 1976, 40 percent of Shenandoah was designated as wilderness by Congress. Wilderness is defined in The Wilderness Act as: "...an area where the earth and its community...read more

Safe This Winter • Find out current weather and road conditions. Call the park at (540) 999-3500. • Enter the park with a full tank of gas. • Drive...read more

Seasonal Calendar Spring is the time for blooming wildflowers and migrating birds. Look for hepatica, bloodroot, blue-eyed grass, golden star and trillium in the woodlands during April and May. Pink azaleas...read more

Sights To See Scholars might contest the definitive meaning of the name Shenandoah, but what is interesting is that many meanings have to do with the land. "Silver Water," "Great Meadows" and...read more

Visitor Services Park visitors will find conveniently located service facilities along the Skyline Drive and at park waysides and other visitor areas. Services include merchandise, food, lodging, service stations, and a...read more

Walking & Hiking Walking is probably the best way to get to know Shenandoah. Since the park is long and narrow, you are never far from either the Skyline Drive or an...read more

Walking Trails WALKING & HIKING TRAILS Below are some of the many trails that wind through Shenandoah. Before you set out on a hike, stop at a visitor information center for trail...read more

Welcome to Shenandoah Welcome to Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah National Park was authorized in 1926 and established in 1935 to provide a peaceful refuge for nearby urban populations. The creation of the park...read more