Looking out over the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling layers of mountain ridgelines melt away from you in all shades of blue until they join with the hazy sky beyond. Shenandoah National Park lives up to its founding charter: “an Eastern park in the Western tradition.” Despite being just 70 miles west of Washington, DC, the park’s natural beauty allows visitors to enjoy unspoiled vistas.
Skyline Drive’s winding scenic roadway is dotted with grand overlooks that offer panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the pastoral Shenandoah Valley below. Hikers can reach rugged granite peaks and follow rambling rivers before they descend into dynamic cascades. Often overshadowed by its bigger brothers in the east – Great Smoky Mountains and Acadia National Parks – Shenandoah National Park offers amazing outdoor recreation with fewer crowds.
This travel guide will highlight important things you need to know before visiting the park and we’ll recommend some of our favorite hikes in the park. We’ll also let you know where to find cheap beer.
Table of Contents
What You Need To Know:
- Shenandoah National Park is located within a three-hour drive of half the population of the United States, making it a great getaway destination for millions of Americans.
- Summer and Fall are the most popular times to visit the park, but any season is a good time to go. If you’re visiting the park during summer or fall, plan ahead and make reservations for any accommodations far ahead of time.
- For information on the park’s operating hours and seasonal closures.
- There is very little cell service in the park. Make use of the park map provided upon arrival in the park or head to Big Meadows Visitor Center to access free WIFI.
- Skyline Drive acts as the park’s central axis: nearly every point of interest stems from
this gorgeous stretch of road. This scenic roadway follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains for 105 miles and runs North-South through the entire length of the park. Concrete mile markers on the west side of the road will help you navigate the park – especially considering that cell reception is practically non-existent. The Northern entrance gates (those closest to DC) will see the most traffic. - Shenandoah National Park is one of the few national parks that allow pets on trails. Pets can accompany you on most trails. For more information on the park’s pet-related policies.
- The entrance fee for a 7-day single-vehicle park pass is $30. The fee is payable at any of the four major entrance stations and the pass is good for 7 consecutive days (even if you leave the park).
Things you can't miss
1. Skyline Drive
No matter the time of year, we highly recommend driving all 105 miles of this iconic stretch of road through the park. A product of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Skyline Drive boasts 75 stunning overlooks. Many visitors will come just to drive through the park rather than spending days exploring it by foot. Frequent mileposts and signage make the park very user friendly and easy to navigate.
If you get up in time for sunrise, Pinnacles Overlook and Old Rag View Overlook are great easterly-facing overlooks that offer great views of the sunrise. The parking area at Old Rag View Overlook tends to fill up more quickly than that of Pinnacles Overlook. Old Rag View Overlook offers a narrower view – especially when tree foliage comes in – while Pinnacles Overlook provides a more panoramic view with perhaps the best view of Old Rag Mountain and its jagged ridgeline in the park.
2. Hawksbill Summit
Hawksbill Summit is the highest summit in Shenandoah National Park. From the top, hikers can marvel at the nearly 360-degree view of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont Plateau from 4,050 ft above sea level. There are several routes to make to the summit:
Option 1: Hawksbill summit loop
- Difficulty: Moderate (860 ft elevation gain)
- Route Type: Out-and-back
- Duration: 2 hours
- Distance: 3 miles
- Milepost: 45.5
This route is considered by many to be the best way up to Hawksbill Summit. It includes a stretch of hiking along the Appalachian Trail and offers more mountain views along the way to the summit than the more direct approaches.
It is a more challenging and rocky route but the effort is well worth it for the views from the top. The park labels this hike as moderate.
Option 2: Upper hawksbill trail
- Difficulty: Easy (520 ft elevation gain)
- Route Type: Out-and-back
- Duration: 2 hours
- Distance: 3 miles
- Milepost: 46.5
This shorter and more direct route up to Hawksbill Trail is great if you are shorter on time.
The trail is gravel the whole way up and we managed to get up and back in under an hour, with plenty of time to soak in the views from the summit. Unlike Hawksbill Summit Loop, this approach to the summit is completely in the trees until you reach the summit – there are no overlooks or views until you reach the top. The park labels this hike as “easiest.” Here are the details of the hike:
3. Hazeltop & Rapidan Camp loop
If you have a full day to hike in the park, this loop has it all. The loop features the Appalachian Trail (A.T.), Hazeltop Mountain, stream crossings, Rapidan Camp and Big Rock Falls.
Starting at Milan Gap, you’ll have to walk across Skyline Drive and head south along the A.T. After you walk over Hazeltop, the third tallest peak in the park, go left onto the blue-blazed Mill Prong Trail. Mill Prong Trails leads down to the famous Rapidan Camp – the woodland getaway for President Herbert Hoover. Explore the camp before heading up toward Big Rock Falls and loop back to Milan Gap. We recommend doing this loop counter-clockwise.
In the springtime, trillium wildflowers can be found scattered across the low-lying area around the Big Rock Falls. We found this area to be the best place to find these beautiful three-petaled flowers.
Hazeltop & Rapidan Camp loop
- Difficulty: Easy (520 ft elevation gain)
- Route Type: Out-and-back
- Duration: 2 hours
- Distance: 3 miles
- Milepost: 52.8
4. Byrd Visitor Center
Park visitor centers aren’t typically considered must-see attractions, but Byrd Visitor Center –located about halfway through Skyline Drive – is definitely worth the visit. Shenandoah was the first park to benefit from Roosevelt’s New Deal-era improvement programs, as the park’s infrastructure was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In addition to its bookstore, ranger programs, movie theater, information desk, restrooms, WIFI and maps, the Byrd Visitor Center has a great exhibit on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that is worth checking out.
The Visitor Center also looks over the beautiful Big Meadows area and visitors can download offline maps using the free WIFI here.
The camp store in Big Meadows called Wayside, which is located right next to the Byrd Visitor Center, has amazingly cheap beer. We managed to get two IPA tallboys for $6.00. Unlike most tourist stores inside parks, this camp store also sells very reasonably priced camping goods for those camping in Big Meadows.
While we were camping in early April, the temperatures dropped to the upper 20s and I needed an extra sleeping pad to insulate myself from the cold ground. I decided to buy a Therm-a-rest sleeping pad at Wayside and it cost less than if I were to have purchased it on Amazon. If you’re low on beers or snacks, this is your place!
5. Dark Hallow Falls
The hike to Dark Hollow Falls parallels the Rose River as it gently descends alongside the trail before plummeting down an exhilarating cascade. This majestic 70 foot waterfall gives life to an explosion of wildflowers and moss covered rocks at its base.
The hike begins downhill, so be prepared for a challenging climb on your way back up to the trailhead. The parking lot to access this waterfall will be on your right 0.3 miles North of Big Meadows along Skyline Drive. Here are the details of the hike:
Dark Hallow Falls
- Difficulty: Easy (440 ft elevation gain)
- Route Type: Out-and-back
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Distance: 1.4 miles
- Beware: This hike is rated as easy, Slipper rocks line this trail – make sure you’re wearing proper footwear
