When is the Shenandoah National Park open and closed?
Shenandoah National Park is always open. Portions of the 105 mile Skyline Drive, are periodically closed during inclement weather and at night during deer hunting season. All park facilities, with the exception of a few picnic grounds and restrooms, are closed during the winter from November to March. Park facilities are open from late-March through November. Click here for current facility operating hours.
How long does it take to get through the park?
Skyline Drive’s maximum speed limit is 35 miles per hour. Visitors allow three-four hours or half a day to drive the 105-mile length of Skyline Drive. There are over 75 scenic overlooks along the Skyline Drive. You will have to allow much more time to truly experience the Shenandoah National Park and all it has to offer such as a hike, visitor centers, attend a ranger program, picnics, or just taking in the many views from the overlooks.
What is an Overlook?
Many visitors to Shenandoah return for days or weeks at a time, year after year and continue to find more ways to explore the park. The many overlooks along Skyline Drive reveal wide Shenandoah Valley views to the west and the Piedmont area to the east.
Skyline Drive Overlook. A scenic overlook, is an observation point, lookout or viewing point, in a high place where visitors can view long range views and scenery. Scenic overlooks are usually created alongside mountain roads, as simple turnouts where motorists can pull over to photograph or take in an amazing view. Many are larger, having parking areas, while some are off the road completely and you have to hike to see the view.
Overlooks are frequently found in national parks, and in the U.S. along national parkways like the Skyline Drive Parkway, which has 75 individually-named overlooks for viewing the Shenandoah Valley (Blue Ridge Mountains) and its peaks and valleys. Other overlooks are next to waterfalls, especially since mountain roads tend to follow streams.
Many overlooks are accessible only by trails and boardwalk-like walkways and stairs. This is typical in very ecologically-sensitive areas. These overlooks are often wooden deck structures, which minimize the impact on the land by reducing the need to disturb it for construction.
What are the park entrance fees?
Shenandoah National Park is one of the most people well kept national scenic parks. There are are four entrances and exits all with a fee station. Your entrance fee to this beautiful experience of mountain vistas is collected and put back into the park to keep the park running and preserve its natural landscape. 80% of the fees collected at Shenandoah are returned to the park for specific projects. Click For Entrance Fees
What outdoor activities can I do in the park?
Hiking, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, fishing, photography, bird watching, backpacking, wildlife observation, ranger programs, star gazing, and more!
Where can I hike?
Shenandoah offers over 500 miles of hiking trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and may waterfall trails. Trails range from short, easy walks to long, more strenuous hikes.
Where can I fish?
All park streams are open to catch-and-release fishing. Special regulations are in place and a Virginia state fishing license is required. Some hiking is required to reach fishing streams.
Where can I go horseback riding?
Skyland Resort at milepost 41.7 offers guided horseback rides in the spring, summer, and fall. If you’d like to bring your own horse, Shenandoah offers over 180 miles of horse trails. Special regulations are in place for your safety and to help protect park resources.
Where can I ride my bike?
Bicycling is permitted along Skyline Drive and on paved areas in the park. Bicycling (road and mountain bikes) is not permitted on trails, unpaved roads, or in grassy areas. Be very careful if you decide to bike on the Skyline Drive. Drivers of cars, RVs, and motorcycles are often paying more attention to the scenery than to the roadway. Dense fog is possible any day of the year at any time of the day. Bicyclists must have headlights and taillights during foggy conditions. Be prepared for steep uphill climbs and unforgiving road shoulders lined by rock walls.
Where can I see a waterfall?
There are a number of waterfalls in the park. None are visible from Skyline Drive and all have hike to get to them. The shortest hike to a waterfall is 1.4 miles roundtrip to Dark Hollow Falls near milepost 51. It is a very popular hike and beautiful waterfall.
