Year Round

Regardless of the time of year, or your age and inclination, there is always something to see and do at Shenandoah.

If You Only Have a Day

Driving along the historic Skyline Drive is the perfect way to acquaint yourself with Shenandoah. The road curves along the entire length of the park and mileposts help locate park facilities, services and areas of interest. 

An audiotape tour of the Skyline Drive, produced by the Shenandoah National Park Association, can be purchased at the park visitor centers, the Front Royal Entrance Station or at most ARAMARK facilities in the park. The narration begins at Front Royal and follows the Drive south to Rockfish Gap. It is available on cassette and CD.

Numerous trails are also easily reachable from the Skyline Drive; consider taking one of the relatively short ones listed on page 56.

Following are some stops you might like to make on the Skyline Drive. Signal Knob Overlook (Mile 5.7) is a must-stop for history buffs. Signal Knob rises on Massanutten Mountain across the Shenandoah River, showing even today why it was an important Civil War semaphore site used by the Confederate troops to relay signals. Range View Overlook (Mile 17.1), at 2,800 feet elevation, is reputed to afford the best view of the northern section of the park as well as of the Massanutten and Allegheny mountains. If you are driving at dawn, stop at South River Overlook (Mile 67.2) to watch the sun come up at this 3,000-foot elevation.

Spring, Summer and Autumn 

ARAMARK sponsors a variety of special activities and programs at Big Meadows and Skyland throughout the season. On most Tuesday evenings, watch local cloggers perform at Skyland. For a quieter activity, participate in the monthly Tea with the First Ladies or Basket Making Workshops at Big Meadows Lodge. Other events include Sunday afternoons of 1930s and 1940s music, Night Sky Programs, Quilting and the popular annual Apple Butter Celebration in September. You can actually help with the entire process—from peeling, to "snitting," to the actual boiling. Visitors can also experience Shenandoah by participating in the Guided Outdoor Adventure Programs featuring hikes to waterfalls, along the Appalachian Trail and into the backcountry area. For a detailed list of all the Calendar of Events and Guided Outdoor Adventure Programs, call ARAMARK at (800) 999-4714 or visit www.visitshenandoah.com. Park programs are offered during the summer and fall. Rangers host a variety of activities including guided hikes of some of the special places they have found, evening programs around the campfire, special offerings for children and trips to Rapidan Camp, a National Historic Landmark. 

Schedules are posted on park bulletin boards and may be found at visitor information centers and in the visitor guide, Shenandoah Overlook, or online at www.nps.gov/shen.

Resource Field Seminars are offered for adults. Explore in-depth, special-interest environmental and cultural topics with park rangers, historians and scientists in one of four different outdoor sessions. Space is limited, so call the park education office at (540) 999-3489 for reservations.

For a great family experience, rent an Explorer Backpack to learn more about the flora and fauna of the park. Backpacks, containing field guides, binoculars, magnifying glasses, paper and pencils, can be rented at visitor centers from the Shenandoah National Park Association.

To "get back to nature," take advantage of one of Shenandoah's seven historic picnic areas. They are located at Dickey Ridge (Mile 4.6), Elkwallow (Mile 24.1), Pinnacles (Mile 36.7), Big Meadows (Mile 51.2), Lewis Mountain (Mile 57.5), South River (Mile 62.8) and Loft Mountain (Mile 79.5). Each picnic area features tables, fireplaces, drinking fountains and restrooms.

Horseback riding, permitted on designated trails, is a wonderful way to enjoy Shenandoah. Guided trail rides depart from Skyland Stables throughout the day. One-hour rides are available from April through November, and 2.5-hour rides are offered mid-June through August. The stables are located near Skyland (Mile 41.7). You must be at least 4 feet 10 inches to ride horses and closed toed shoes are required. Pony rides are available for smaller children. Call (540) 999-2211 to make a reservation.

Cycling is permitted only on the Skyline Drive and on paved roads in developed areas. Bikes are forbidden on backcountry trails and fire roads. Cyclists must comply with all applicable traffic regulations and stay well to the right side of the road. Since the Skyline Drive is a two-lane, two-way roadway and does not have bike paths, cyclists must ride single file. In fog and during other periods of low visibility, each cycle must have a white light on the front wheel and a red light or red reflector on the back of the bike.

Swimming and Fishing is permitted in all the streams in Shenandoah. Swim at your own risk.

All streams except Ragged Run, Dry Run and One-Mile Run are open for catch-and-release recreational fishing, unless specifically designated open for consumptive use (approximately 25 streams open for harvest). The fishing season is year-round for both stream classifications. Anglers must use a single-hooked, artificial lure (with or without barbs). The minimum size limit for trout is nine inches and the maximum creel limit is six fish. Size and creel limits for other game fish species follow Virginia regulations. A Virginia fishing license is required for those 16 and older. A five-day nonresident license may be purchased at Big Meadows Wayside or from local sporting goods stores.

Ethical fishing techniques are critical to sustaining the park's eastern brook trout populations. For more detailed information, including a list of streams open for harvest, consult the updated Recreational Fishing brochure available at entrance stations, visitor centers and campgrounds. Fishing guides or paid instructors must obtain an Incidental Business Permit from the Park Superintendent before entering the park.

Hang gliders may be launched from authorized sites: two in the north and one in the central area of the park. A Hang Gliding Special Use Permit is required. Please contact the Park Communications Center in advance for an application. Permission from landowners must be obtained to land on private property below the cliff edge. To make a launch, you must have a rating of Hang 3.

Winter

Winter storms in Shenandoah may leave several inches of snow or ice on the ground. Acquaint yourself with animal tracks by "reading" those left in the snow. All services and facilities are closed from early December through late March. 

Winter snowfall sometimes makes cross-country skiing possible on certain hiking trails, fire roads and the unplowed shoulder of the Skyline Drive. Skiers must bring their own gear.

Be prepared for quick changes in the weather. Wear warm, layered clothing. Plan your trip ahead so you don't have to rely on routine ranger patrols (NPS staff is reduced in the winter). Enter the park with a full tank of gas. Carry a first-aid kit, snacks, water and maps. For current weather and road conditions, call (540) 999-3500.