Shenandoah National Park
Hike, Camp, and Enjoy Nature Just 75 Miles from Washington D.C.
Oct 16, 2007
Visitors to Virginia have a lot to see and do, but the Shenandoah National Park is a not-to-be-missed National Park that's less than two hours from Washington D.C., three hours from Colonial Williamsburg, and one hour from Charlottesville. After taking in so much of Virginia's history, the Park provides ample opportunity to stretch your legs, breathe deep, and commune with nature. The Park was established in 1935 and includes nearly 200,000 acres of Virginia’s hills and mountain ranges. Stop in for an afternoon hike or stay for several days to absorb more of the natural and cultural heritage of the place.
There are 500 miles of hiking range and maps are available from the Web site. If traveling from Washington D.C., the Skyland and Whiteoak Canyon trails are suggested. You can stay in the National Park Service motel at Skyland and participate in a number of Ranger-led programs. Lewis Mountain and the Hawksbill area are favorites if traveling from the Charlottesville area. Hawksbill has one of the highest peaks in the Park. Bring your binoculars for a chance to see some of the 200 species of birds in the Park, although experts say that most can be heard better than seen due to the dense leaf cover. There is plenty of other wildlife, including Bobcats, which are somewhat common but rarely seen. About 100 of the 500 miles are part of the Appalachian Trail, the 2,175 mile hiking trail between Georgia and Maine.
Plan ahead and bring your fishing, camping, or biking equipment … or your horse.
· For the protection of game fish and to enhance the enjoyment of fishing, regulations are strictly enforced. Review the rules on the Web site.
· There are five campgrounds and backcountry camping is allowed.
· Biking is allowed on the Skyline Drive, the highway that follows the scenic ridgeline as it slowly winds through. It is steep at times, so consider your fitness before considering a ride on this challenging road. Bikes are not allowed on the hiking trails.
· There are 150 miles of horse trails and one place, Skyland, where you can rent horses.
One of the most visited parks in the United States, the Shenandoah National Park ranges from 561 feet to 4,049 at Hawksbill. The forests contain more than 100 species of trees. Streams trickle through the wooded areas and it is hard to believe that in this major United States population center you can rediscover the powerful feeling of being at one with our natural environment.
