Shenandoah Nationwide Park is among the gems of the japanese United States. Simply 75 miles exterior of Washington, D.C., the park feels rather more distant. Its huge pure magnificence provides a lot to discover, and what higher manner to take action than to completely immerse your self and camp in Shenandoah Nationwide Park?
Maintain studying for a whole information to Shenandoah Nationwide Park tenting!
What to Anticipate When Tenting at Shenandoah Nationwide Park
Shenandoah Nationwide Park is situated in Virginia’s Blueridge Mountains. Spanning over 200,000 acres of land, the park is understood for its stunning views, pure panorama, and various wildlife.
Shenandoah options waterfalls, quiet woods, wildflower fields, rocky mountaineering trails, and a lot extra. This panorama and the park’s many alternative ranges of elevation are what permit so many species like black bears, deer, and wild turkeys to thrive.
Issues to Do at Shenandoah Nationwide Park
With a lot to see and discover whereas tenting at Shenandoah Nationwide Park, it’s a terrific concept to plan forward and be sure to get to do the whole lot you need.
Learn on for suggestions and tips on issues to do throughout your journey to this park!
Climbing
With over 500 miles of trails, together with greater than 100 miles of the enduring Appalachian Path, Shenandoah Nationwide Park provides a plethora of mountaineering choices. Hikes vary from straightforward to troublesome, cowl completely different distances, and embrace options like mountains, waterfalls, and extra.
Relying in your ability degree and pursuits, listed below are a number of Shenandoah hikes I like to recommend:
- Darkish Hole Falls – Darkish Hole Falls is a surprising waterfall to go to on a hike, and it’s one of the in style hikes within the park. The hike itself is brief, taking round an hour and quarter-hour to finish the 1.4-mile path. Nonetheless, the trail is steep and rocky, and it may be slippery when moist, so it’s reasonably troublesome.
- Previous Rag Mountain Hike – Previous Rag Mountain Hike is one other very fashionable choice. This 9.4-mile hike is difficult, usually taking seven and a half hours to finish. Through the hike, you’ll cowl rock scrambles and in the end attain dazzling, 360-degree views of the park.
- Huge Devils Stairs – In case you’re on the lookout for a much less crowded hike, Huge Devils Stairs is for you. This reasonable, 5.5-mile path leads hikers to a steep cliff that gives a scenic overlook of the gorge and valley. It’s a terrific place to relaxation, have a picnic, or just benefit from the view earlier than going again the best way you got here.
- Bearfence Mountain – For a fantastic 180-degree view of Shenandoah Valley, go to Bearfence Mountain. There are literally two completely different hikes that result in this view. Hikers who take pleasure in a little bit of a thrill might go for the reasonable, 1.4-mile Bearfence Rock Scramble. Or for one thing lighter, the Bearfence Viewpoint is a straightforward, 1.1-mile path that takes hikers straight to the perspective.
- Hawksbill Loop – Hawksbill Summit is a reasonable 2.9-mile hike. It’s a well-loved path that takes hikers to the nationwide park’s highest peak. On the high, take pleasure in panoramic views of the encompassing mountains and valleys under.
- Mary’s Rock – Mary’s Rock is a reasonable, 3.7-mile hike that takes round three and a half hours to finish. The path culminates on the rock’s summit, the place hikers can take pleasure in a surprising overlook of the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding mountains.
Driving Skyline Drive
If driving wasn’t initially in your listing of issues to do when visiting a nationwide park, it’s possible you’ll wish to suppose once more.
Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive is a 105-mile highway that runs north and south alongside the Blueridge Mountains. The sluggish drive, which has a velocity restrict of 35 miles per hour, is a good way to calm down, benefit from the park’s surrounding magnificence, and perhaps see some wildlife.
Skyline Drive is the principle highway all through the park, and it may be accessed by one of many park’s 4 entrance stations. The highway additionally provides entry to Shenandoah’s campgrounds, eating, and most mountaineering trails.
Visiting Huge Meadows
Huge Meadows is among the extra stunning options at Shenandoah Nationwide Park. The grassy meadow is situated on high of a mountain, and guests can benefit from the view, see wildflowers and wildlife, and stroll by the meadow’s grassy trails.
Maybe one of the best factor to do at Huge Meadows is to go stargazing at evening. Huge Meadows’ elevation and the park’s distance from main city areas make it a terrific spot to see the evening sky with out the sunshine air pollution you doubtless encounter in every day life. Deliver your binoculars and revel in!
Visiting the Park’s Waterfalls
Shenandoah is house to many waterfalls, that are at all times a stunning sight to see! They’re all situated simply off of Skyline Drive, accessible by hikes from the highway’s parking heaps.
The tallest waterfall within the park is Total Run Falls, reaching a peak of 93 ft. Different beautiful waterfalls embrace Rose River Falls, Jones Run Falls, and Doyles River Falls.
The size and problem degree of the hikes to those waterfalls can range, so be sure that to plan forward.
Biking
Biking is a good way to discover Shenandoah Nationwide Park. Guests can experience their bikes alongside Skyline Drive, different paved areas, and Rapidan Hearth Street, a one-mile gravel highway close to Huge Meadows.
For one thing extra organized, a number of corporations provide guided bike excursions all through the park.
Fishing
With greater than 70 mountain streams that include native trout, Shenandoah Nationwide Park provides many nice fishing spots. In truth, all the fish within the park are wild, and none are stocked.
Many of the park’s fishing spots solely permit catch-and-release fishing, however there are 17 rivers and creeks that assist you to harvest the trout you catch.
In case you’re planning to fish, be sure to know the guidelines, like the place harvesting is permitted and below what circumstances.
Consuming Blackberries
Blackberries are a novel a part of Shenandoah Nationwide Park. In the summertime, the park fills with these small fruits, and guests are free to gather and eat them recent (as much as one gallon per individual per day).
Furthermore, every summer time, the park hosts the annual Blackberry Delight Competition, that includes blackberry-infused dishes and different celebrations!
The place to Keep at Shenandoah Nationwide Park
If you’re tenting at Shenandoah Nationwide Park, it’s essential to contemplate the place you’ll spend the evening.
Selecting a Campground
Shenandoah Nationwide Park provides 5 completely different campgrounds to select from. Here’s a temporary overview of every:
- Huge Meadows Campground – Huge Meadows Campground is a good selection for tenting in Shenandoah Nationwide Park due to its central location and shut proximity to many in style park locations, together with, after all, Huge Meadows. It has 221 campgrounds for each tents and RVs.
- Dundo Group Campground – Dundo Group Campground is smaller than many of the others, providing simply three campsites. Because the campground’s title suggests, these campsites are designated for bigger teams (between seven and 20 folks).
- Lewis Mountain Campground – That is the smallest campground in Shenandoah Nationwide Park, with simply 30 campsites. It’s a terrific choice for many who need a quieter choice with extra privateness. Plus, it’s nonetheless comparatively central, simply seven miles away from Huge Meadows.
- Loft Mountain Campground – Positioned within the southern a part of the park on high of Huge Flat Mountain, Loft Mountain Campground is the biggest campground in Shenandoah Nationwide Park. Its 207 campsites provide entry to beautiful views, close by waterfalls, and mountaineering trails.
- Matthews Arm Campground – Matthews Arm Campground is the closest campground to the park’s northern entrance. It provides entry to a number of mountaineering trails and waterfalls, and it options 165 campsites accessible to each tents and RVs.
Though some campgrounds provide first-come-first-served campgrounds, additionally they all provide reservations, except Lewis Mountain Campground. I like to recommend making a reservation to make sure your spot, particularly if you happen to’re planning your Shenandoah Nationwide Park tenting journey on a weekend or vacation.
With just a little little bit of planning forward to seek out the right campground on your park keep, you’re certain to have a terrific journey, irrespective of which you select!
Backcountry Tenting
Shenandoah Nationwide Park does permit backcountry tenting for a extra distant choice that really immerses guests within the park’s wilderness. It’s a good way to discover the park’s pure options, mountaineering trails, and wonder.
In case you’re considering of backcountry tenting in Shenandoah Nationwide Park, be sure that to plan forward. You’ll want a allow, and it’s essential to know the park’s guidelines and laws. For instance, backcountry tenting is prohibited in sure spots, and campfires usually are not allowed.
You also needs to plan your tenting itinerary fastidiously based mostly on the sort of journey you wish to have. The Nationwide Park Service has created a handful of urged itineraries based mostly on mountaineering ranges and the best size of your journey to assist information you.
Different Lodging
If tent or RV tenting isn’t for you, otherwise you’re planning to go to Shenandoah Nationwide Park within the winter months, there are a number of different choices on your keep.
Skyland, Huge Meadows Lodge, and Lewis Mountain Cabins provide a variety of lodging together with elegant rooms, conventional rooms, and cabins of varied sizes. There are additionally six primitive public-use cabins situated all through the park.
What to Pack for Shenandoah Nationwide Park Tenting
Packing for Shenandoah Nationwide Park tenting is very similar to packing for different tenting journeys. Deliver all of the requirements that you’d usually carry, together with tenting provides, activewear, and mountaineering boots.
Due to the elevation adjustments on the park, starting from simply 550 ft to over 4,000 ft above sea degree, temperatures can range. I like to recommend packing layers like jackets and sweatpants that may simply be placed on and brought off throughout a hike.
For extra details about what it’s best to and shouldn’t pack for a tenting journey, go to our information about What to Deliver Tenting.
The best way to Get to Shenandoah Nationwide Park Park
In case you’re planning to fly to Shenandoah Nationwide Park, there are a number of airports you possibly can select from. The closest is Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD), which is 27 miles from the park. Charlottesville-Albemarle (CHO) is only a few miles farther, 31 miles away.
For bigger airports, which are sometimes cheaper and simpler to get to, one of the best choices are Washington Dulles Worldwide (IAD) and Reagan Nationwide (DCA).
From there, I like to recommend renting a automobile to take you to the park and journey all through.
In case you’re driving to Shenandoah Nationwide Park, I like to recommend selecting the closest entrance station and following GPS directions. Observe that if you happen to simply enter the park’s title into the GPS, it could direct you to a service highway that isn’t accessible for public entry.
The 4 entrance stations are:
Different Concerns
Now you realize the fundamentals of what there’s to do, the place to remain, and get to the park. Nonetheless, there are only a few extra issues to remember to make sure you’re totally ready on your Shenandoah Nationwide Park Tenting Journey.
Maintain studying for some essential issues.
Visiting Shenandoah Nationwide Park within the Winter
Visiting Shenandoah Nationwide Park within the winter provides a little bit of a special expertise, and sadly, campgrounds are closed within the colder months. However if you happen to simply wish to go to for the day or keep in a single day within the park’s different lodging choices, there’s nonetheless loads to see and do.
The wintertime on the park is quieter, with fewer guests. Which means if you wish to keep away from crowds, winter is a good time to go to Shenandoah Nationwide Park! Plus, fewer folks usually means you’re extra prone to see wildlife.
So far as actions go, it’s essential to know what might or will not be open.
Skyline Drive is normally open within the winter, however it might shut attributable to inclement climate like snow and ice. Even when the highway is closed, mountaineering trails stay open. Simply understand that trails could also be icy, particularly as elevation will increase. It’s a good suggestion to put on layers and produce traction units on your mountaineering boots!
Entrance and Tenting Charges
Everybody that enters Shenandoah Nationwide Park shall be required to pay an entry price. There are a number of completely different choices:
- Entrance move – An entrance move ranges from $15 for a person individual to $30 for a single car and all of its passengers. The move is legitimate for seven consecutive days.
- Annual move – A Shenandoah annual move prices $55 and offers limitless park entry for a 12 months. The move covers entrance for the pass-holder in addition to as much as 4 adults touring in the identical car (kids below 16 years of age are included totally free).
- Lifetime move – Numerous lifetime passes can be found for seniors, folks with medical disabilities, and army veterans. These passes cowl all nationwide parks and vary from free to $80 relying on the kind of move. There are further reductions accessible for sure teams, together with seniors 62 years of age and older. Fourth graders, present members of the army, and army veterans can get hold of free passes. Along with entrance charges, there are separate charges for tenting in Shenandoah Nationwide Park. Tenting charges vary from $30 for a primary campsite (as much as six folks) to $75 for a bunch campsite.
Pets
Shenandoah Nationwide Park is exclusive in that it’s considered one of only a few nationwide parks that permit pets on most of its mountaineering trails. They’re additionally allowed in campgrounds and sure different lodging choices which can be pet-friendly.
In case you’re considering of bringing your pet in your Shenandoah Nationwide Park tenting journey, simply be sure to know the guidelines and laws. For instance, pets have to be on a leash on mountaineering trails, and there are a number of trails the place they’re prohibited.
Park Retailers and Providers
All through the park, there are a number of reward retailers, tenting provide shops, and bike restore stations. The Customer Facilities additionally function park shops that promote maps, clothes, and souvenirs.
For gasoline, I like to recommend filling up your tank earlier than you enter the park. There may be one fuel station close to Huge Meadows if you happen to want it, however it might exit of service often. Skyland provides an electrical car charging station.
Cellular phone service is spotty and never dependable in most elements of the park. Nonetheless, there does are typically protection on the Dickey Ridge Customer Middle. Moreover, Byrd Customer Middle, Huge Meadows Lodge, and the Skyland Eating Room provide free Wi-Fi.
Wrapping up Your Shenandoah Nationwide Park Tenting Journey
With a lot to see and do throughout your Shenandoah Nationwide Park tenting journey, you actually can’t go flawed. Simply plan forward, observe the ideas listed above, and also you’ll have an exquisite time!
Able to plan one other wonderful tenting journey? Go to our Nationwide Park Tenting web page for guides to much more tenting in these unbelievable parks.
