View more rock features, then visit loud and dramatic Lewis Spring Falls. Walk Lewis Spring Fire Road, then northbound on the AT, climbing to Blackrock (the north Blackrock, there are two Blackrocks at Shenandoah) and its stellar views. Join the nearly level Bluff Trail to the Big Devils Stairs canyon rim for a great view, minus crowds. Start by passing a shelter used by long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Ambitious visitors will scramble among the boulders. Loop around Blackrock using the Appalachian Trail to reach an incredible rock jumble with views extending for miles. Enjoy the nearly 360-degree view from the summit. Traverse a “sky island” of Canadian-type forest. This favorite hike starts high and gets to the top of Shenandoah. The west viewpoint is of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. The east viewpoint is a geologic phenomenon called columnar jointing, which is caused by rapid cooling of molten lava. Here are some recommended hikes, providing a sample of the best hikes and walking trails in Shenandoah National Park: Hikes under 2.5 MilesĪn easy hike with two viewpoints. A foray into the backcountry complements your views from Skyline Drive. Discover both the human and natural history of Shenandoah. In other places, your footsteps lead past what once were hardscrabble farms - Shenandoah’s pioneer past.

The rewards increase with every footfall beneath the stately oaks to rocky vista points and into deep canyons where waterfalls roar among old-growth trees spared by the logger’s axe. The wild and less seen side of Shenandoah awaits those who leave Skyline Drive behind, and take to their feet. The park contains a wide array of flora and fauna as it rises from a mere 550 feet at its lowest elevation to over 4,049 feet at its highest atop Hawksbill.Ĭan't Miss Hikes in Shenandoah National Park

Cobbled together along the Blue Ridge from Front Royal to Waynesboro, the long narrow preserve divides the proud Shenandoah Valley from the rolling Piedmont to the east. Shenandoah - the first of Virginia’s national parks - was dedicated July 3, 1936. It is this beauty near and far that create the unforgettable Shenandoah experience. Quartz, granite, and greenstone outcrops jut above the diverse forest, allowing far-flung views of the Blue Ridge and surrounding Shenandoah Valley. Additionally, beyond Skyline Drive lies another Shenandoah, where bears roam the hollows and brook trout ply the tumbling streams. What makes Shenandoah so special? First, consider panoramic views from overlooks scattered on lofty Skyline Drive, which runs 105 miles down the length of the 300-square-mile sanctuary. When mentioning Shenandoah National Park, visitors often get that faraway look in their eye, fondly recalling adventures at this scenic mountain jewel rising high atop Virginia’s Appalachians.

Skyline drive shenandoah national park