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 inhabited area near the park boundary. This makes getting lost possible, but not very probable, particularly if you keep to the trails and pay attention to the concrete posts found at most trailheads and trail intersections. Near the top of the posts are metal bands indicating the trail name, direction and distance. All trails also have blazes, which are marks made on trees with paint. The color of the blaze indicates the following:

White Blaze: Appalachian Trail. Yellow Blaze: Open to hikers and horseback riders. Blue Blaze: Open to hikers only. Red Orange Blaze: Park boundary.

Many of Shenandoah's nearly 500 miles of hiking trails begin at the Skyline Drive. They descend to a point of interest and then climb back out again. Give yourself at least one hour for each mile that you expect to walk.

Always carry a map, drinking water and some food. To avoid blisters, wear sturdy, comfortable, broken-in hiking shoes and quality, outdoor socks. On longer hikes, bring extra clothing and rain gear (showers are fairly common in the summer). Always pack out any litter, including cigarette butts.

Please practice "Leave No Trace" principles while exploring the park, especially by walking on durable surfaces. Leave the trails as you found them, and be considerate of those who will follow you. (See page 32 for more information).

Protect yourself from ticks by applying tick repellent (any insect repellent containing DEET) to all clothing, including footwear, according to label instructions. Tuck shirts into pants and tuck pants into socks. Thoroughly check your clothes before going indoors; wear light colors so that ticks can be easily seen. If a tick has attached itself to your skin, grab it with fine-pointed tweezers and remove. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Only rarely does part of the tick remain in the skin; should this happen, seek medical attention.

The deer tick is the most common carrier of Lyme Disease in the eastern United States. For the tick to transmit Lyme Disease, it must be attached for 12 to 36 hours. Signs of infection include a distinctive red rash—often in the form of a bull's-eye—and flulike symptoms such as fever, headaches, a stiff neck, muscle aches and/or fatigue. If you follow the advice described above while in any tick area, your chances of being infected are slim.

Trail Maps

Excellent maps are available at visitor information centers, at the entrance stations, at all ARAMARK locations and by mail from the Shenandoah National Park Association, 3655 U.S. Highway 211 East, Luray, VA 22835; (540) 999-3582.