Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is located in northwestern Virginia,
northwest of Charlottesville, Virginia. The Park is
approximately 75 miles west of Washington, DC and the
Headquarters office is located 3.0 miles west of Thornton Gap
and 4.0 miles east of Luray, Virginia on U.S. 211.
Shenandoah National Park lies astride a beautiful section
of the Blue Ridge, which forms the eastern rampart of the
Appalachian Mountains between Pennsylvania and Georgia.
In the valley to the west is the Shenandoah River, from which
some feel the Park gets its name, and between the north and
south forks of the river is Massanutten, a 40-mile-long
mountain. To the east is the rolling Piedmont country.
Providing vistas of the spectacular landscape is Skyline Drive,
a winding road that runs along the crest of this portion of the
Blue Ridge Mountains through the length of the Park.
Skyline Drive runs the full length of Shenandoah and
connects directly with the 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway. Many
people enjoy Shenandoah's scenic beauty from this 105 mile
drive. Numerous parking overlooks present panoramas of the
Piedmont to the east and Shenandoah Valley to the west.
Natural Resources of Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park includes 300 square miles of the
Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians. The
park rises above the Virginia Piedmont to its east and the
Shenandoah Valley to its west. Two peaks exceed 4,000 feet.
The range of elevation, slopes and aspects, rocks and soils,
precipitation, and latitude create a mix of habitats.
Tens of thousands of living creatures make their homes in the
park, from black bear resting beneath rock overhangs, to tiny
aquatic insects darting through cool mountain streams. The
park’s many worlds are fascinating to explore.
Most of Shenandoah’s landscape is forested. In the process
of photosynthesis, converting light, water, and minerals into
foods, green plants give off water. From a distance this air-
born water creates a faint haze giving the Blue Ridge its
name. In recent years, the haze has taken on other
ingredients, introduced by the human species. Air is among
the resources the staff at Shenandoah National Park is duty
bound to protect.
Hardwood forests dominate the park. The forests are the
result of many disturbances, some measured in geologic time,
others in minutes. Remnants of boreal forests remind us that
continental glaciers came near. Strands of barbed wire
embedded in trunks mark the edges of former pastures.
Uprooted trees show the path Tropical Storm Fran made in
1996.
Trails of Shenandoah National Park - There are over 500
miles of hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park. The trails
vary in length from short-stretchers to a 101 mile segment of
the Appalachian Trail that runs the length of the park. Many
of the trailheads are located on Skyline Drive and in the
developed areas. The Whiteoak Canyon Trail leads to six
waterfalls and an old-growth forest.
Geology of Shenandoah National Park - Can you imagine
the Blue Ridge Mountains being as high as the Rocky
Mountains or the Himalayas? Geologists think that the
mountains making up Shenandoah National Park are among
the oldest in the world, having been worn and eroded to their
current top elevation of 4,049 ft.
The oldest rocks in Shenandoah National Park were formed
between 1 and 1.2 billion years ago. These granitic rocks can
be seen at Old Rag Mountain and Mary's Rock Tunnel. Two
other major rock types you can see in the park include
basalts, made from individual lava flows, each 30 to 90 feet
deep, formed about 570 million years ago; and sedimentary
rocks (including sandstone, quartzite and phyllite) formed
later.
Cliffs and rock cuts along Skyline Drive give travelers an
opportunity to examine rock formations closely. To get a view
of the park's rock history from your car, stop at the overlooks
at Mary's Rock Tunnel (Mile 32.4), Crescent Rock (Mile 44.4),
or Franklin Cliffs (Milepost 49). Good hikes for rock lovers
include Mary's Rock, Stony Man Nature Trail, Little Stony Man
Cliffs, Bearfence rock scramble, and Old Rag boulder
scramble.
Accessibility to Shenandoah National Park - Most comfort
stations and buildings are accessible or accessible with help.
Overnight accommodations are available at Lewis Mountain,
Skyland and Big Meadows Lodge.
The trail circles through an old-growth forest of magnificent
hemlocks and includes a 65 foot bridge and 150 foot
boardwalk.
Restrooms and buildings - Most are accessible or accessible
with help.
Lodging and dining - Accessible lodging facilities are
available at Skyland, Big Meadows, and Lewis Mountain. All
dining facilities in the park are accessible.
Picnic grounds and campgrounds - Accessible sites are
available at all park picnic grounds and campgrounds. Coin-
operated shower and laundry facilities are accessible at Big
Meadows, Lewis Mountain, and Loft Mountain Campgrounds.
Restrooms at picnic areas are accessible with assistance.
The Seasons of Shenandoah National Park
Spring in Shenandoah National Park begins in March with the
blooming of red maple, serviceberry, and hepatica.
Chipmunks and groundhogs appear. The weather may
change quickly. The green of the leafy trees moves up the
ridge at the rate of about 100 feet a day and does not reach
peak until late May. Wildflowers bloom during April and May,
and the large-flowered trillium carpets the forest floor. Pink
azalea blooms in late May followed by mountain laurel in
June. Migrating birds in the breeding plumage are numerous.
The park visitor encounters new sights, colors, sound-
everywhere.
Summer brings a mantle of deep green to the ridges and
hollows. Many birds are nesting, and the catbird, indigo
bunting, and towhee abound. Fawns are often seen. The
variety of wildflowers increases as the summer progresses,
and by late summer they cover the roadsides and open areas.
Fall is the season of brilliant colors and crisp days. Many
people come to the park to see the brilliant fall colors, which
is usually at its best between 10 - 25 October. The southward
migration of birds is highlighted by large numbers of hawks
moving along the ridge. Most facilities close about 01
November, but Skyline Drive remains open.
Winter, with its many clear days and lack of leaves, offers the
best opportunities for distance views and finding evidence of
the people who once lived here. Skyline Drive is closed
during and after periods of bad weather because of the
buildup of ice and snow on the road.
Getting to Shenandoah National Park
The closest major airports are in Washington, DC (90 miles),
Charlottesville (50 miles) and Weyers Cave (45 miles),
Virginia.
From the North
1. Take I-81 South to I-66 East to Highway 340 South to the
park.
From the East
1. Take I-66 West to Highway 340 South to the park.
From the South
1. Take I-81 north to I-64 East to Highway 340 North to the
park.
From the West
1. Take I-68 East to I-81 South to I-66 East to Highway 340
South to the park.
2. Take I-64 East to I-81/I-64 North to I-64 East to Highway
340 North to the park.
Shenandoah National Park is located in northwestern Virginia,
northwest of Charlottesville, Virginia. The Park is
approximately 75 miles west of Washington, DC and the
Headquarters office is located 3.0 miles west of Thornton Gap
and 4.0 miles east of Luray, Virginia on U.S. 211.
Shenandoah National Park lies astride a beautiful section
of the Blue Ridge, which forms the eastern rampart of the
Appalachian Mountains between Pennsylvania and Georgia.
In the valley to the west is the Shenandoah River, from which
some feel the Park gets its name, and between the north and
south forks of the river is Massanutten, a 40-mile-long
mountain. To the east is the rolling Piedmont country.
Providing vistas of the spectacular landscape is Skyline Drive,
a winding road that runs along the crest of this portion of the
Blue Ridge Mountains through the length of the Park.
Skyline Drive runs the full length of Shenandoah and
connects directly with the 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway. Many
people enjoy Shenandoah's scenic beauty from this 105 mile
drive. Numerous parking overlooks present panoramas of the
Piedmont to the east and Shenandoah Valley to the west.
Natural Resources of Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park includes 300 square miles of the
Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians. The
park rises above the Virginia Piedmont to its east and the
Shenandoah Valley to its west. Two peaks exceed 4,000 feet.
The range of elevation, slopes and aspects, rocks and soils,
precipitation, and latitude create a mix of habitats.
Tens of thousands of living creatures make their homes in the
park, from black bear resting beneath rock overhangs, to tiny
aquatic insects darting through cool mountain streams. The
park’s many worlds are fascinating to explore.
Most of Shenandoah’s landscape is forested. In the process
of photosynthesis, converting light, water, and minerals into
foods, green plants give off water. From a distance this air-
born water creates a faint haze giving the Blue Ridge its
name. In recent years, the haze has taken on other
ingredients, introduced by the human species. Air is among
the resources the staff at Shenandoah National Park is duty
bound to protect.
Hardwood forests dominate the park. The forests are the
result of many disturbances, some measured in geologic time,
others in minutes. Remnants of boreal forests remind us that
continental glaciers came near. Strands of barbed wire
embedded in trunks mark the edges of former pastures.
Uprooted trees show the path Tropical Storm Fran made in
1996.
Trails of Shenandoah National Park - There are over 500
miles of hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park. The trails
vary in length from short-stretchers to a 101 mile segment of
the Appalachian Trail that runs the length of the park. Many
of the trailheads are located on Skyline Drive and in the
developed areas. The Whiteoak Canyon Trail leads to six
waterfalls and an old-growth forest.
Geology of Shenandoah National Park - Can you imagine
the Blue Ridge Mountains being as high as the Rocky
Mountains or the Himalayas? Geologists think that the
mountains making up Shenandoah National Park are among
the oldest in the world, having been worn and eroded to their
current top elevation of 4,049 ft.
The oldest rocks in Shenandoah National Park were formed
between 1 and 1.2 billion years ago. These granitic rocks can
be seen at Old Rag Mountain and Mary's Rock Tunnel. Two
other major rock types you can see in the park include
basalts, made from individual lava flows, each 30 to 90 feet
deep, formed about 570 million years ago; and sedimentary
rocks (including sandstone, quartzite and phyllite) formed
later.
Cliffs and rock cuts along Skyline Drive give travelers an
opportunity to examine rock formations closely. To get a view
of the park's rock history from your car, stop at the overlooks
at Mary's Rock Tunnel (Mile 32.4), Crescent Rock (Mile 44.4),
or Franklin Cliffs (Milepost 49). Good hikes for rock lovers
include Mary's Rock, Stony Man Nature Trail, Little Stony Man
Cliffs, Bearfence rock scramble, and Old Rag boulder
scramble.
Accessibility to Shenandoah National Park - Most comfort
stations and buildings are accessible or accessible with help.
Overnight accommodations are available at Lewis Mountain,
Skyland and Big Meadows Lodge.
The trail circles through an old-growth forest of magnificent
hemlocks and includes a 65 foot bridge and 150 foot
boardwalk.
Restrooms and buildings - Most are accessible or accessible
with help.
Lodging and dining - Accessible lodging facilities are
available at Skyland, Big Meadows, and Lewis Mountain. All
dining facilities in the park are accessible.
Picnic grounds and campgrounds - Accessible sites are
available at all park picnic grounds and campgrounds. Coin-
operated shower and laundry facilities are accessible at Big
Meadows, Lewis Mountain, and Loft Mountain Campgrounds.
Restrooms at picnic areas are accessible with assistance.
The Seasons of Shenandoah National Park
Spring in Shenandoah National Park begins in March with the
blooming of red maple, serviceberry, and hepatica.
Chipmunks and groundhogs appear. The weather may
change quickly. The green of the leafy trees moves up the
ridge at the rate of about 100 feet a day and does not reach
peak until late May. Wildflowers bloom during April and May,
and the large-flowered trillium carpets the forest floor. Pink
azalea blooms in late May followed by mountain laurel in
June. Migrating birds in the breeding plumage are numerous.
The park visitor encounters new sights, colors, sound-
everywhere.
Summer brings a mantle of deep green to the ridges and
hollows. Many birds are nesting, and the catbird, indigo
bunting, and towhee abound. Fawns are often seen. The
variety of wildflowers increases as the summer progresses,
and by late summer they cover the roadsides and open areas.
Fall is the season of brilliant colors and crisp days. Many
people come to the park to see the brilliant fall colors, which
is usually at its best between 10 - 25 October. The southward
migration of birds is highlighted by large numbers of hawks
moving along the ridge. Most facilities close about 01
November, but Skyline Drive remains open.
Winter, with its many clear days and lack of leaves, offers the
best opportunities for distance views and finding evidence of
the people who once lived here. Skyline Drive is closed
during and after periods of bad weather because of the
buildup of ice and snow on the road.
Getting to Shenandoah National Park
The closest major airports are in Washington, DC (90 miles),
Charlottesville (50 miles) and Weyers Cave (45 miles),
Virginia.
From the North
1. Take I-81 South to I-66 East to Highway 340 South to the
park.
From the East
1. Take I-66 West to Highway 340 South to the park.
From the South
1. Take I-81 north to I-64 East to Highway 340 North to the
park.
From the West
1. Take I-68 East to I-81 South to I-66 East to Highway 340
South to the park.
2. Take I-64 East to I-81/I-64 North to I-64 East to Highway
340 North to the park.
UNITED STATES NATIONAL PARK.COM
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