Shenandoah National Park .......A view from the TOP
Written: Apr 03 '03 (Updated May 17 '05)
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Pros: Not terribly far from Highly populated east coast cities. Day trip to beautiful mountaintop scenery.
Cons: Not terribly far from Highly populated east coast cities. Can get crowded. Especially on weekends.
The Bottom Line: Shenandoah National Park is beautiful. It offers fantastic views, camping and hiking. You can spend time or use it as your route to other east coast destinations.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Shenandoah National Park |
I have stayed in Shenandoah National Park just once but have used the Skyline drive through it many times. When my business takes me to points south from NY I try to stay off the interstates at times and take a leisurely drive to or from my destination. I like to drive. Going through Shenandoah National Park ,to me, is a wonderful way to relax and see some absolutely gorgeous countryside from above.
SKYLINE DRIVE
The park is primarily visited by those in cars. There is no bus or rail service. I have looked for checkered or yellow taxi cabs, they just aren't to be found.
To accomodate cars some very wise people built a road, Skyline Drive. It's mainly a two lane highway that is a little over a hundred miles in length, traveling the vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are innumerable pull-offs on the road. These views are gorgeous. These mountains start up in Pennsylvania and go down to Georgia. Nestled within these mountains is Shenandoah National Park. The road has four main entrances. This is where I tell you what those wise people who built the road did. They set it up by mileage markers. Starting up north is where you would enter the park at the Front Royal Entrance Station at mile marker .06. Further south you can come in at mile marker 33. This is the Thorton Gap Entrance Station. Another thirty miles south or so is the Swift Run Entrance Station at mile marker 65.7. The most southerly entrance is Rockfish Gap Entrance Station at Mile Marker 105.4.
If you have ever been to the Florida Key you would find this same kind of mileage markers. From just below Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Under Water Park on route 1 the Mileage Markers start. They go all the way down to Mileage marker 0 in Key West. This marker is always being replaced. It seems it disappears overnight at times. If you do get this far south you must take a boat ride and check out Dry Tortugas National Park. It's incredible!! Hey, I am digressing.
Being the Skyline Drive is marked this way many of the facilities it offers are hi-lighted by these numeric symbols. Once you have a map you know exactly what direction to go, and how far your destination is. The best place to get a map and become oriented to the park is by going to one of the three Visitor's Centers.
VISITOR'S CENTERS
From the North Dicky Ridge Center is found at mile 4.6, while two others are found down further south. Harry F Byrd Sr Visitors Center is at mile marker 51 at the Big meadows area and the Loft Mountain Center is at 79.5.
The visitors centers are a great place to get information. I always try to find out about the Ranger led Programs. They are a great way to get the feel of the area, get to know some details about it, and to ask questions. The centers have other information through films, dioramas, and exhibits. They have small book stores in them. It's a good place to pick up something about the area. Guide books for birds, animals and local plants are available. History and Geological books of the Blue Ridge Mountain area are also to be had.
This is where I suggest getting your National Parks Pass Port canceled. This is a small book, passport style, that can be purchased at all National Parks. Each Park has it's own inked stamp or printed stamp that can be entered into the book and canceled, post office style. Rather than tell all about this program in every National Park, National Historic Site, and National Monument review I have written I decided to review just the National Parks Pass System. Read it for more detailed information on this fun, and to me at least, exciting way to collect your National Parks. New stamps are issued every year too!!
WHAT TO SEE and DO
Some people take in the park from their automobile. In fact that's how most do it. Being close to many cities some people do day trips. This also means that most of your crowds are on weekends.
As I mentioned earlier the road was built along the high ridges of the mountains. You drive through beautiful woods and then come out to see endless vistas of great beauty. Pull off the road and enjoy. This is the part where relaxation comes in. There is nothing like looking out over this beauty with the sun warming the body alternating with refreshing cool breezes.
To enjoy the park more fully you must get off the road and start hiking. When at the visitors center be sure you pick up a map of all the trails. There are over 500 of them. We did one of the many that go down to areas with waterfalls. The map tells you the rating of the trails. A few are fairly level and easy, while others are strenuous. Yes, you start high and then go down. Remember, you must come back up again!! Bring plenty of water in the summer. A lunch and a swim suit are a good idea to bring with you on a hike. All the streams in the park are open to swimming. A dip under a waterfall is also fun especially on a hot day of hiking. Please carry out all trash.
For those who are hikers there is all kind of wildlife in the park. From bears to birds. Read about them in the visitors center. All food needs to be locked up in your car. Bears are hungry critters. Never go near them or feed them.
White tailed dear, bobcats, otters, beavers, fox, mink and many other animals live in these mountains. We like to drive the roads slowly at dusk. We have gotten to see deer and fox this way.
Fishing is also done here. A license is needed but can be purchased in a few places within the park for a nominal fee. It's needed for sixteen years old and over. Read up on the rules too. Many changes in regulations are always happening. Some catch and release rules may be in order.
You can also do some horseback riding in the park. Skyline Stables at M/Marker 41.7 is the place to go to.
WHERE TO STAY
We camped. The campgrounds are semi-private. There is running water and toilets. These are not primitive grounds. There are four campgrounds plus one that is primitive and used for groups only. This one is called Dundow. It's at mile marker 83.7. The other three have camp stores. Each site had a table and grill area.
Mathews Arm campgrounds is at M/Marker 22.1. Big Meadow at 51.3, Lewis Mountain at M/Marker 57.5 and Loft at 79.5. These are run in different ways. A couple are first come first served while others are reservation only.
I liked the campgrounds. It did get us immersed in the mountains. Oh yes, showers are available in most of the campgrounds. There are facilities for campers, but, not using one I don't have much to tell. For more info about any National Parks go to www.nps.org
There are also a couple of lodges in the park. Big Meadows Lodge at mile marker 51.2 is one of the most popular. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places. This along with the other lodges have different prices on weekday, and week ends. Seasons also dictate prices. They are still affordable in the $150 price range.
Call for reservations. For this and the other lodges try calling 1 800 778 2851.
Another popular lodge being on the highest point of the Skyline Drive is Skyland Resort. This is at M/M 41.7 The height of these mountains isn't nearly as high as the Rocky Mountains but nevertheless the views are fantastic. Skyland Resort is 3,680' above sea level. Both these lodges have dining rooms with good traditional fare of ham, chicken and fish. They can also make a box lunch for one of your hiking days.
There are some cabins available too. Lewis Mountain Cabins offer rustic surroundings. Sorry kids, no tv's. No phones either.
THINGS TO KNOW
FOOD
Besides the lodges there are a couple of other places to grab some food. Snacks and the like. Elkwallow at M/M24.1 Panorama at 31.5 are two of these stops. Remember you can alway leave the park and go to a town for some grocery shopping and eating some local foods in a restaurant.
GAS
I'm talking about gas for your vehicle, not the aftermath of one of your meals. you will be driving over a hundred miles of mountain roads. Do know there are a few gas stations on Skyline drive. They can be found at M/M24.1, 51, and 79.5. Emergency auto service is available by local garages.
TIMES and PLACES
The park is open 24hours a day for driving the Skyline drive. This is from spring to late fall
Because this park is popular you should call about all lodging, dining, camping, and facilities ahead of time.
I didn't mention the park is basically set up in three sections. The top third is the most visited. Many day trippers from the Washington DC area go here. The middle section has most of the lodging and camping. Many trails are here too. The lower part of the park is the least traveled and quite beautiful. If you continue south into Georgia be sure to visit The Great Smokey Mountain National Park. I loved that one too!
The Appalachian Trail runs through some of the park
running parallel to the Skyline Drive. If you are ready why not walk the 101 miles this trail takes in Shenandoah National Park on it's way up to Maine.
Whatever part of the park you decide to go to, enjoy!
Other reviews of National Parks by Popsrocks
.Acadia National Park My favorite National Park !!
Badlands National Park A Black Hills wonder
.Biscayne National Park Great snorkeling
.Bryce Canyon National Park Home of the Hoo Doo
.Death Valley National Park Not so Hot
.Dry Tortugas National Park A unique Island Fort with snorkeling
.Everglades National Park A safari in Florida
Grand Canyon National Park The North Rim
Shenandoah National Park Sky Line Drive
Virgin Islands National Park WOW !!!! But don't tell anyone about it.
Wind Cave National Park an underground wonder!
Zion National Park Amazing diversity!
A couple of helpful books
National Parks for Dummies A great book for planning a trip
National Geographic Guide to National Parks A good reference book
National Parks PassPort
.Collect National Parks
National Parks System
Our National Parks
MY favorite Map.
2005 American Map Road Atlas: Large Scale - Large Type
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Familes
Review Topic: Overview
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