Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park offers a classic eastern landscape and bountiful outdoor activity. Characterized by large open meadows, dense forests, unique rock outcroppings and spectacular waterfalls, all visiting parties should come prepared for everything "outdoors." Fishing and extended camping trips are favorites in the park. Skyline drive is a wonderful way to circumnavigate the parks expansive ridges with numerous trails and attractions stemming from its sides at all points.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: Chas CartwrightPhone Number: 540-999-3400
Entrance Fees: Individual Pass (valid for 7 days): $5-$8 (seasonal); Vehicle Pass (valid for 7 days): $10-$15 (seasonal); Motorcycle Pass (valid for 7 days): $10; Commercial Tour Fees: $25-$200 (varies depending on seating capacity)
Sights: Skyline Drive; Big Meadows; Rapidan Camp; Mill Prong Trail; Fox Hollow; Dark Hollow Falls Trail; Stony Man Trail; Old Rag! Trail; Sugarloaf Loop; Hogback Overlook; Signal Knob Overlook; Range View Overlook; South Rim Overlook
Endangered Species: Prerigrine Falcon; Great Spangled Frittallary Butterfly
Important Dates
Established as Park: May 22, 1926By The Numbers
Acres: 197,439.00Highest Point: Hawksbill Mountain (4050 feet)
Annual Visitation: 1,076,150 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :38.727280 / -78.289760 (map it)
State: VA
Nearby Big City: Culpeper, VA
Gateway Communities: Front Royal, VA; Afton, VA; Chester Gap, VA; Waynesboro, VA; Sperryville, VA; Elkton, VA; Lyndhurst, VA; Luray, VA; Fishersville, VA; Staunton, VA; Newport, VA; Salem, VA
Nearby Airports: Washington Dulles International (IAD); Reagan National (DCA); Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD); Charlottesville-Albemarie (CHO)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
Park Photos
Autumn Leaves
Graham S. Klotz
Doe Field
Cheryl Lowman Hunt
Harebell Meadow
Tatiana Grozetskaya
View More Shenandoah Photos
In Detail
Appalachian Trail In 1921, conservationist Benton MacKaye proposed an "experiment in regional planning"—the Appalachian Trail. Work began the following year, and by 1937, the 2,160-mile-long trail was complete. T ... read more.
At Your Fingertips Current Park Information (540) 999-3500 (Including requests for mailed information) www.nps.gov/shen Emergency (800) 732-0911 Relay Center/TDD (from VA) (800) 828-1120 Voice (800) 828-1140 Lodging R ... read more.
Camping in Shenandoah Shenandoah's campgrounds offer sites that are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and through reservations. Reservations may be made up to six months in advance by calling toll free (877) ... read more.
CCC Statue The highlight of the September 2006 Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni Reunion in Shenandoah was the dedication of a bronze CCC Worker statue at Byrd Visitor Center plaza, Big Meadows (milepost 51). ... read more.
Favorite Trail I am often asked by visitors, "What is the best trail in the Park?" That is an impossible question for anyone to answer. There are over 520 miles of trail in Shenandoah, leading to many different des ... read more.
Flora & Fauna Shenandoah boasts more species of plants than all of Europe! Over the past six decades, Shenandoah has seen the return of many trees, flowers, and animals that were all native at one time. As the ear ... read more.
Further Reading, part I TRAIL GUIDES Easy Hikes on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Shenandoah National Park Hikes to Peaks & Vistas in Shenandoah National Park Hikes to Waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park Sh ... read more.
Further Reading, part II Everything Was Wonderful: A Pictorial History of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Shenandoah National Park In the Light of the Mountain Moon: An Illustrated History of Skyland The Greatest Single F ... read more.
History of Shenandoah Formation of the Shenandoah Region The geologic story of Shenandoah National Park began 1 billion years ago. Molten magma, miles beneath the earth's surface, slowly solidified to become the "basement ... read more.
In A Nutshell Getting to Shenandoah Air Service: The park's south entrances at Rockfish Gap and Swift Run Gap are serviced by commercial flights to Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, which is eight miles north of ... read more.
Just For Kids Discover Hidden Wonders The Explorer Backpack contains almost everything you need to unearth the park's treasures, including binoculars, field guides, magnifying glass, paper and pencils. Backpacks c ... read more.
Leave No Trace Our love of and desire to experience wild places ultimately changes them. As park visitation increases every year, how can we lessen our impact on the land we care about? One way is to "Leave No Trac ... read more.
Lodging & Dining LODGING To make reservations at the following lodging facilities, contact ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, P.O. Box 727NP, Luray, VA 22835; call (800) 999-4714 or (540) 843-2100; or visit online at www.vis ... read more.
New in 2007 at Shenandoah Shenandoah National Park is proud to announce the opening of a new exhibit in the recently renovated Byrd Visitor Center, milepost 51, Skyline Drive. Come see all the exciting changes including a new ... read more.
Oh, Ranger! When I was young, school field trips to Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Washington, DC, and Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, all National Park Service sites, were standard fare. Later, a summer road ... read more.
Preserve Shenanhoah Park Wilderness Renewal In 1976, 40 percent of Shenandoah was designated as wilderness by Congress. Wilderness is defined in The Wilderness Act as: "...an area where the earth and its community of life ar ... read more.
Safe This Winter • Find out current weather and road conditions. Call the park at (540) 999-3500. • Enter the park with a full tank of gas. • Drive a winterized car with snow tires. • Obey t ... read more.
Seasonal Calendar Spring is the time for blooming wildflowers and migrating birds. Look for hepatica, bloodroot, blue-eyed grass, golden star and trillium in the woodlands during April and May. Pink azaleas usually bl ... read more.
Shenandoah Regulations Park Regulations The following park regulations are intended to enhance your enjoyment of the park. They are designed to protect the park, its wildlife and you, the visitor. During all activities, pl ... read more.
Sights To See Scholars might contest the definitive meaning of the name Shenandoah, but what is interesting is that many meanings have to do with the land. "Silver Water," "Great Meadows" and "River of High Mounta ... read more.
Recent News
- Why national parks, coal-fired power plants may be neighbors April 23, 2008, 2:23 pm
Shenandoah In Depth
News from the Parks
Alexander Backs New Source of Funding for National Parks
July 3, 2008 - 9:38am
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced he will cosponsor bipartisan legislation to create a new source of funding for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other national parks across the country as part of the “Centennial Challenge” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in 2016. “The Centennial Challenge could bring up to $4 million to the Smokies – the country’s most visited national park – and will go a long way toward improving park facilities, aiding conservation efforts, and helping build upon the excellent visitor services already offered. This 4th of July, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our country’s birthday than backing legislation that will aid efforts to preserve and celebrate our national parks, one of America’s greatest treasures.”
July 3, 2008 - 9:38am
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced he will cosponsor bipartisan legislation to create a new source of funding for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other national parks across the country as part of the “Centennial Challenge” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in 2016. “The Centennial Challenge could bring up to $4 million to the Smokies – the country’s most visited national park – and will go a long way toward improving park facilities, aiding conservation efforts, and helping build upon the excellent visitor services already offered. This 4th of July, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our country’s birthday than backing legislation that will aid efforts to preserve and celebrate our national parks, one of America’s greatest treasures.”
EPA's Pollution Plan Slammed
July 3, 2008 - 9:35am
City officials and business leaders here Wednesday warned that a federal proposal to relax air quality standards for the nation's national parks will ultimately be bad for business. Simply put, they said during a news conference at the entrance to Zion National Park, lower air standards being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hurt this gateway city economically if fewer tourists visit the park. "Air pollution could damage the stars, vistas and clean air we enjoy," Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff said. "Some places deserve to be preserved and it is my responsibility to preserve [the park] for those who come here."
July 3, 2008 - 9:35am
City officials and business leaders here Wednesday warned that a federal proposal to relax air quality standards for the nation's national parks will ultimately be bad for business. Simply put, they said during a news conference at the entrance to Zion National Park, lower air standards being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hurt this gateway city economically if fewer tourists visit the park. "Air pollution could damage the stars, vistas and clean air we enjoy," Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff said. "Some places deserve to be preserved and it is my responsibility to preserve [the park] for those who come here."
Dinosaur Fossils In Utah Inspire 'Jr. Paleontologists'
July 2, 2008 - 9:57am
Millions of years ago, northeastern Utah was a hot spot for dinosaurs. Today, people travel to the Dinosaur National Monument located on the borders of Colorado and Utah to see the leftover dinosaur bones. Visitors can see as many as 1,500 Jurassic-era fossils exposed on the cliff face of the Douglass Quarry.
July 2, 2008 - 9:57am
Millions of years ago, northeastern Utah was a hot spot for dinosaurs. Today, people travel to the Dinosaur National Monument located on the borders of Colorado and Utah to see the leftover dinosaur bones. Visitors can see as many as 1,500 Jurassic-era fossils exposed on the cliff face of the Douglass Quarry.
A Paiute Take On Bryce Canyon's Hoodoos
July 2, 2008 - 9:56am
The red spindly rock formations that make up the views at Bryce Canyon National Park are called hoodoos. Geologists say they were formed by erosion, but Kevin Poe, chief of interpretation at Bryce, shares his take on the Paiute legend about hoodoos.
July 2, 2008 - 9:56am
The red spindly rock formations that make up the views at Bryce Canyon National Park are called hoodoos. Geologists say they were formed by erosion, but Kevin Poe, chief of interpretation at Bryce, shares his take on the Paiute legend about hoodoos.
Can The Everglades Be Saved?
July 2, 2008 - 9:55am
Environmentalists have been issuing dire warnings about the deterioration of the Florida Everglades for years, saying these wetlands have to be restored in order to revive fragile ecosystems and increase scarce fresh water supplies. Over half of the Everglades are gone, irreversibly converted to urban or agricultural development. But this week, in an attempt to save what's left, the state of Florida announced a plan to buy nearly 200,000 acres of former wetlands from a sugar cane producer. Advocates say the plan is the largest restoration project in American history.
July 2, 2008 - 9:55am
Environmentalists have been issuing dire warnings about the deterioration of the Florida Everglades for years, saying these wetlands have to be restored in order to revive fragile ecosystems and increase scarce fresh water supplies. Over half of the Everglades are gone, irreversibly converted to urban or agricultural development. But this week, in an attempt to save what's left, the state of Florida announced a plan to buy nearly 200,000 acres of former wetlands from a sugar cane producer. Advocates say the plan is the largest restoration project in American history.
