20 Cool Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park – Virginia

We recently spent a week relaxing and exploring in Northwestern Virginia (USA) – in and around Shenandoah National Park. We stayed in the Shenandoah Valley just west of the park, not far from the border of West Virginia. If you’re planning a trip to this gorgeous corner of Virginia here are just a few of the cool places we recommend visiting. In Part 1 let’s start with Shenandoah National Park. It’s the most popular destination and jewel of the region.

Visiting Shenandoah National Park

Even if you don’t stay overnight there, Shenandoah National Park is one of the highlights of a road trip to Northwestern Virginia. Skyline Drive weaves its way through the park and stretches 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

There are 4 different entrances to the park, which allow for plenty of options to get there. For example, the Front Royal Entrance is at the northern border and about a 90-minute drive from Washington DC. The southernmost entrance station at Rockfish Gap is 90-minutes from Richmond, Virginia. Operating hours change with the seasons, so before you head to the park, be sure to check on the operating hours. Roads can be closed due to snow or ice in the winter.

I highly recommend NOT trying to cover the entire length of the park in one day, since that doesn’t leave much time for exploring. Speed limits are generally 35 mph to provide more safety to bicyclists and the many animals that cross the road. Deer, bears, wild turkeys, foxes, squirrels, and even bobcat have been spotted along the drive. With all the beauty in every direction it’s easy to get distracted from driving, so be sure to take your time, be patient and stop as much as possible to take it all in. Remember, it’s against the law to feed any wildlife – for your own safety as well as theirs.

Seventy-five scenic overlooks provide spectacular views of the surrounding area. The park offers 196,000 acres (306.2 sq mi; 793.2 km2) of back-country hiking and wilderness camping. Hikers of all experience levels can enjoy over 500 miles of trails, including direct access to a section of the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, the Appalachian Trail.

Eating and Sleeping at Shenandoah NP

The Big Meadows Lodge, Skyland, Lewis Mountain Cabins, and the Campgrounds were all open for overnight stays. The campgrounds are usually closed around November 1st and reopen in the spring.

There’s also a variety of options for places to pick up food for a picnic or eat at a restaurant or cafe. Since availability changes seasonally, be sure to check online here for the latest updates. I’ll cover some of the cool places to stay in and near the park in more detail in a future post.

Wayside Stops

One day we stopped at Big Meadows Wayside, near milepost 51 for a rest stop and a bite to eat. There are three Waysides along Skyline Drive. Each is slightly different, but they all offer groceries, camping & hiking supplies, and a gift shop. Big Meadows Wayside also offers Grab ‘n Go food like sandwiches, salads, and even ice cream for carry-out. The dining tables inside were closed, but there were picnic tables in the shade outside. Gasoline and an ATM are also available. Showers and Laundry are located nearby at the Big Meadows Campground.

Culinary Events at the Park

Did you think they’d leave out the foodie in your group? Not a chance. Throughout the year you can find culinary events like wine, beer, and spirits tastings, holiday buffets, and winery excursions. Check the Culinary Page for current offerings. The annual Blackberry Delight event is fun for the whole family with blackberry-infused dishes, live music, and fun for the whole family at Skyland Resort.

Connect With Nature in the Park

Hiking

Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the park. Many of the trails have a parking lot at the trailhead and some trails will take you to gorgeous waterfalls and streams. Remember that since the trails start at the crest of the mountains you’ll be hiking downhill to begin, but will have to hike sometimes steep uphill routes to get back to your car. Make sure you’re well prepared with plenty of water and review these other safety tips before you go. We loved our hike on the trail to Doyles River Falls. It was a warm day, but the shade of the trees and resting at the base of the waterfall made all the difference.

With our current focus on social distancing consider exploring less popular areas and trails in the park. If a trailhead parking area is full, don’t park in the grass or along the road…move on to another area. Too many hikers make it difficult to keep a safe distance from each other.

Catch and Release Fishing

You’ll find over 70 mountain streams inside Shenandoah National Park and fishing is allowed with some restrictions. Licensing, seasonal and ethical requirements allow anglers to enjoy the sport while still protecting the fish populations and habitats for future generations. Be sure to read and download the guidelines here before you plan your fishing trip.

Horseback Riding

Yes, you can bring your own horse to explore the park or rent horses for guided trail rides at Skyland Stables. They offer 1-hour to 2 1/2-hour rides in the park. Pony rides are also available at the stables for kids. Not all trails in the park are open to horses, so check the guidelines here for more info. I love horseback riding and would have loved to do this. Maybe next time.

The Magic of Stargazing

The higher elevation and lower light pollution make for excellent star-gazing on top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park provides a range of Astronomy-related activities to gaze into the heavens. From twilight hiking to the annual Night Sky Festival where you can use binoculars or telescopes to explore the stars. You can even learn about outer space from a NASA Solar System Ambassador. If the time is right you might even have a chance to watch an eclipse or a meteor shower.

Check the WebCams

Every season is gorgeous at Shenandoah National Park, but one of my favorite times is in the fall when the leaves are turning gorgeous shades of yellow, orange and red. The park rangers do weekly updates on fall color status, so check out their social media pages to see the latest. Also, if you’re wondering what the landscape looks like right now, check out their webcams to get a sneak peek.

Learn and be Creative

Ranger-Led Talks, Tours and Programs

Normally there are regularly scheduled Ranger programs from spring through fall, but in 2020 most of these have been suspended to avoid concentrated gatherings of people. Check the calendar here to see what’s happening when you’re there.

Visitor Centers and Other Sites

There are two visitor centers in Shenandoah National Park. The Byrd Visitor Center and Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. Rangers and exhibits are there to help you learn more about the park and its history. Historic Massanutten Lodge and Rapidan Camp (the summer retreat of President Herbert Hoover) also offer ranger-led tours throughout the season. As always check for current hours and offerings.

Artist in Residence Program

Shenandoah National Park, like many of the National Parks in America, offers an Artist-in-Residence Program. Professional artists including writers, music composers, craftsmen, painters, photographers, storytellers, and videographers from around the world submit applications and portfolios of their work for a chance to stay at the park for 3 weeks for free. A small stipend for living expenses is also provided. In exchange, the artist is asked to present two public programs and donate one work of art back to the park. They’re also encouraged to interact with visitors when they’re out working on their art.

School Curriculum and Educational Programs

The National Park Service provides a wealth of information for teachers and students to explore the park more deeply. If you’re a teacher, professor, or parent who’s home-schooling visit their Education page to find out more. They offer field trips, professional development, teacher workshops, K through 12th-grade curriculum materials, distance learning for middle and high school, and academic fee waivers for academic or scientific institutions. They even have park rangers that will travel up to an hour from the park to speak in your classes.

Volunteer at Shenandoah National Park

Did you know that you can volunteer at Shenandoah National Park and many other parks in America? At Shenandoah, most of the volunteer opportunities run April through November, but some are available year-round. You’ll find volunteer spots for individuals as well as groups and the cool thing is that they can be long-term or one-day events. The range of activities fulfills many interests. From administrative help to Botany and Visitor Info Desk to Tour Guides. If you like to camp, then Campground Hosts are needed too. Visit their Volunteer Page to find out the latest needs.

If you’re looking for other places to get your hands dirty and volunteer in natural environments, check out this non-profit organization called Wilderness Volunteers.

We drove through different parts of the park and made many stops on different days the week we were there. It’s such a gorgeous place and you can do as much or as little as you want. It’s an easy park for social distancing right now, but there are options for more immersive activities too. In my upcoming posts, I’ll be talking more about places to stay and the towns of Luray, Harrisonburg, and Staunton that we visited too. If you’re looking for other places to go the next time you’re in Virginia, check out these other posts.

Check Out Great Places to Stay Near Shenandoah National Park

Learn More About Shenandoah National Park

Check out the many books and maps about the park that will help you dig deeper into your areas of interest. You’ll find hiking guides and maps, wildflower guides, geology info, history and so much more. You can also support the park by buying a variety of books, maps, and other fun items online at Shenandoah National Park Association.

Have you been to Shenandoah NP? If so, what was your favorite part of the park? If you haven’t been there, what would you look forward to doing there?