Shenandoah National Park is one of the few National Parks in America that permits pets on its hiking trails. With more than 500 miles of trails in the park, you have plenty of space to step out into the serenity of nature. From the 105 miles of Appalachian Trail, to hikes to waterfalls and geological marvels, here are some of the most picturesque and intriguing walks near Shenandoah National Park cabins:
Old Rag is one of the most famous, challenging, and frequented trails in the park. It is one of the main reasons that visitors flock to hotels near Shenandoah National Park. There are several hiking trails up the mountain. The most popular is the Ridge Trail, which includes a scramble to the summit. Consider the Saddle Trail, through wildflower-strewn foothills inhabited by silent deer. The trail is around ten miles in length.
Hike to South River Observation Point from South River Picnic Grounds. The trail intersects with the Appalachian Trail and takes about an hour and a half to complete. The circuit hike is three miles long but ascends 910 feet and takes almost three hours. On the way to the falls you'll cross streams and the Appalachian Trail.
Winding through the park's Skyland area, the hour-long circuit hike to this Appalachian Trail post has been trampled by visitors to the region since the 1800s. Named for its sublime views, Skyland also offers a number of equestrian trails, which you can access from the Stony Man parking lot.
Learn about the first humans who lived here some 9,000 years ago at the Visitor Center, spot a black bear wandering in the wilderness, or hike through wildflower strewn hills beneath the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains. The adventures you have at Shenandoah National Park will stay with you for a lifetime. Here's what's in store when you stay at hotels near Shenandoah National Park:
The park is roamed by several hundred magnificent Black Bears, who are at home in the vast forest habitat provided by the park. If you are lucky, you may see them foraging on the lower slopes, especially around dawn and dusk, venturing higher in the summer. Be sure to implement all park rules for bear watching.
Head to Meadows Amphitheater in the picnic grounds for a thirty-minute live raptor displays and talks by experts. Guided ranger walks through the wetland meadow habitat depart regularly from the Byrd Visitor Center, which is also the venue for daily ranger's talks about the vital resources of the Shenandoah reserves.
The aptly named road rises almost to the horizon, running along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains for 105 miles. Stop off at some of the park's scenic overlooks and have your breath taken away.
Shenandoah National Park offers families a variety of programs through which to engage with the remarkable natural environment of the park. Whether it be watching nesting Peregrine Falcons via live webcam or taking part in Wildflower Weekend hikes, your family will love learning about nature in Shenandoah:
Free entrance to the park is granted to students and their families who download a copy of the 'Every Kid in a Park' pass. Why not download the Junior Ranger Activity Book too? Children of 7-12 years learn how to become a Junior Ranger through guided outdoor exploration and fun activities.
Children can interact with the heritage of the park through a special distance learning program before they even arrive. The online resources take you on a tour of Shenandoah's history, including the influences of the Great Depression and Civilian Conservation Corps. Kids will also be fascinated by the online and in-person tours of President Herbert C. Hoover's Rapidan Camp.
A Youth Art Contest commissions young talents inspired by the natural diversity of the park. Local students are asked to submit works featuring the park's native wildflower species for entrance into an exhibition. Wildlfower Weekend celebrates the 850 species in the park and includes walks, workshops, and special activities as well as the Art Exhibition.
