Shenandoah National Park
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, please follow "Leave No Trace" practices (please see "Preserving Shenandoah" on pages 30—35 for more information).
•â€‚ All firearms, including air pistols and rifles, as well as bows and arrows, crossbows and slingshots, are prohibited. Fireworks and firecrackers are also not allowed.
•â€‚ Wood fires are permitted only in existing fireplaces at campgrounds and established picnic areas. Backcountry campers must use self-contained camp stoves.
•â€‚ Campers must not dig into, or level the ground, as archeological resources could be disturbed or erosion initiated. Do not wash clothes or dishes, or clean fish at campground hydrants or comfort stations. See page 40 for more campground information.
•â€‚ Catch-and-Release Fishing is allowed but special regulations exist for park streams. Anglers between the ages of 16 and 65 must have a Virginia fishing license. Visit www.dgif.state.va.us/fishing to learn how to obtain a fishing license.
•â€‚ Please pack your trash and any left by others out of the park with you. Leave the park at least as clean as you found it. Glass containers are prohibited in the backcountry.
•â€‚ All motor vehicles and bicycles must remain on paved areas. No off-road riding of any kind is permitted on trails or fire roads or in grassy, open areas. The maximum park speed limit is 35 mph.
•â€‚ Pets are permitted in Shenandoah but must be on a leash no more than six feet long at all times. Pets are allowed in all campgrounds and in a limited number of lodge rooms at Skyland, but not in the Big Meadows or Lewis Mountain lodging units, in public buildings, on conducted walks and hikes or on trails marked with a "No Pets" sign. Check the park visitor guide for a listing of trails closed to pets. There are no kennels in the park. In developed areas, visitors must dispose of pet droppings by wrapping them in paper or aluminum foil and discarding them in a trash container. Service animals are allowed in the park, at the concessioner facilities and on all trails.
•â€‚ Vandalism is against the law; violators will be prosecuted. Please take only pictures and memories home with you. Do not deface, destroy or remove any flowers, trees, shrubs, rocks or old objects. Remember, if everyone picked just one flower, whole meadows of flowers would disappear. Shenandoah makes exceptions to the above rule only for edible fruits, nuts and berries. Please pick only what you will eat.
•â€‚ Feeding, petting or harassing wildlife is prohibited. Animals may seem tame, but they are wild and can hurt you. When you feed animals, especially deer, they become dependent on people. This makes them easy prey for poachers and prone to being hit by cars.
•â€‚ Water is a valuable natural resource here. Because water levels fluctuate on the mountain, it is important to always conserve it. For additional information, please see page 31.
Permits
•â€‚ Free permits are required for backcountry camping. They are available during operating hours at visitor centers, entrance stations and at Park Headquarters (between Thornton Gap and Luray on U.S. 211).
•â€‚ Hang gliding permits are available by mail. To request one, write to Shenandoah National Park, Attn: Communications Center, 3655 U.S. Highway 211 East, Luray, VA 22835. For more information, see page 46.
Safety Tips
Park rangers are on-duty at the visitor centers and at campground entrance stations. Call (800) 732-0911 for emergencies only. Rangers also patrol the Skyline Drive and maintain offices throughout the park. The following tips are meant to ensure that you have a safe vacation in Shenandoah:
•â€‚ Falling is the single most common accident in the park (especially among children). Be very careful around waterfalls and cliff ledges. Do not allow children to throw rocks, which can injure others below. Rocks in streams and waterfalls are often algae-covered and slippery.
•â€‚ Stay on trails. Hiking off-trail is unsafe, damages vegetation, causes erosion and creates unsightly paths. Some trails are closed to pets. Always plan ahead and pick a place to meet, should you become separated from your party.
•â€‚ To lessen your risk of being bitten by ticks, which can carry disease and are active spring through fall, stay on trails and avoid going into grassy, brushy areas. See Hiking on pages 52—56 for more information.
•â€‚ Be aware of standing dead trees. An unusually high number of trees have died in the park because of insects, disease and storm damage. Dead trees and limbs can fall at any time, especially on windy days. Please exercise care.
•â€‚ Avoid encounters with bears by making noise to warn them of your approach. A loud shout or clap will often scare them away. If you do come upon an unsuspecting bear, do not make abrupt moves that may startle it. Stay calm and slowly leave the area without turning your back.
•â€‚ Never approach a bear for a better look or a picture. Females with cubs, or bears defending their food, are potentially dangerous. Be alert. Never camp in an area that has obvious evidence of bear activity, such as digging, tracks or scat.
•â€‚ Keep your sleeping gear clean and free of food odor. Sleep at least 100 yards from your food, garbage and the place you prepared your meals. Campers must store food in their vehicles. Backcountry campers must "bearproof" their food. This means that all food must be sealed. Tooth-paste, makeup, fragrant items and clothes worn while cooking should be placed in two equally weighted plastic packages. Toss a long cord over a tree branch that is at least 20 feet above the ground, tie one bag to one end and the second bag to the other. Using a stick, balance both so that they are at least 10 feet off the ground and four feet horizontally from a post or a tree trunk. Choose a limb that cannot support a bear's weight.
•â€‚ Observe posted speed limits while driving, watch for turns. Be especially alert for animals crossing the road.
•â€‚ Protect your property. Lock your car and lock valuables in the trunk.
•â€‚ If you are having car trouble, try to report it to another driver who can then inform a ranger. If you are having trouble on the trail, ask another hiker to seek help.
Shenandoah In Depth
News from the Parks
Tauck Hosts its 10,000th Guest-Volunteer in Yellowstone National Park
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
Dupuyer Elementary School Offering Students Unique Learning Experiences
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
Boston Trustees Discuss Township Issues
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
Foreign Tourists Visit Park
September 4, 2008 - 3:44pm
Joy Mehrten's Kaweah Marina had a great spring, hosting droves of European tourists who stopped at the lake on their way to Sequoia National Park. As the weather warmed, Mehrten said, foreign visitation cooled. But business stayed strong.
September 4, 2008 - 3:44pm
Joy Mehrten's Kaweah Marina had a great spring, hosting droves of European tourists who stopped at the lake on their way to Sequoia National Park. As the weather warmed, Mehrten said, foreign visitation cooled. But business stayed strong.
September Featured Species: Zebra Mussels
September 4, 2008 - 11:39am
Mussels are a key part of our aquatic ecosystems. They’re filter feeders, meaning they filter the water as they eat the debris that floats in it. They also serve as a food source for birds, fish, small animals and even humans. Usually there’s not much more to say about these mollusks, but one particular species, the Zebra Mussel, has made a journey that highlights not only its hardiness, but also the vulnerable balance of native ecosystems. Zebra mussels are small, freshwater mollusk species named for the stripes that commonly line the outside of their shells. Their sizes and shapes range can vary – oblong to almost circular, measuring anywhere from the size of a fingernail to two inches long – so it can be tricky to identify at first. The species is native to the lakes of Southern Russia but has been introduced, and has since caused quite a stir, in North America, the British Isles, Spain and Sweden. In these places the species has overgrown, and while it filters the water and provides food for bottom feeders in waterways, it’s more of an unchecked pest than anything. Zebra mussels are prolific. An adult female can produce between 30,000 and a million eggs in a year, which are fertilized during spring spawning sessions. What’s more, there are too few predators to keep the species in check. Having so many mussels around may not seem like a big problem on its face, but it has proven to be quite costly not only to the other members of its ‘host’ ecosystem but to humans as well. Many native lakes in North American have seen their native mussel populations drop due to the invasion of the zebra. It tends to latch onto the hardest substrates in the watery environment. In silty sands, these objects are the native mussels themselves, which are then often killed by the attachment of the zebra. The US coastguard estimates the cost of economic losses and control measures around the zebra to be worth about 5 billion dollars each year! These are hearty creatures that can survive out of water for several days or weeks if the temperature and humidity allow for it. Since 1988 they’ve have reproduced and weathered their way to richly populate all of the great lakes and begin a sprawl into the major rivers in the US. Scientists predict that the zebra mussel will continue to spread its population range by riding along the bottoms of small vessels and tourist ships. Zebra mussels can disrupt the food chain in freshwater ecosystems, ruin facilities like docks and rams, clog pipelines and engines and litter beaches with their smelly shells. But you can help to stop this trend of their growth in the US. Before launching your boat, you can check it thoroughly. Remove all mud, plant and animal debris from the boat, trailer and other equipment to enter the water. When you’re out of the water, drain the boat, motor and live well so that it can dry out – the boat needs to be completely dry for at least five days before entering another body of water. Doing your part will help protect freshwater ecosystems around the US and in our national parks, as well as reduce the dollars spent to reduce the damage caused by this prolific species.
September 4, 2008 - 11:39am
Mussels are a key part of our aquatic ecosystems. They’re filter feeders, meaning they filter the water as they eat the debris that floats in it. They also serve as a food source for birds, fish, small animals and even humans. Usually there’s not much more to say about these mollusks, but one particular species, the Zebra Mussel, has made a journey that highlights not only its hardiness, but also the vulnerable balance of native ecosystems. Zebra mussels are small, freshwater mollusk species named for the stripes that commonly line the outside of their shells. Their sizes and shapes range can vary – oblong to almost circular, measuring anywhere from the size of a fingernail to two inches long – so it can be tricky to identify at first. The species is native to the lakes of Southern Russia but has been introduced, and has since caused quite a stir, in North America, the British Isles, Spain and Sweden. In these places the species has overgrown, and while it filters the water and provides food for bottom feeders in waterways, it’s more of an unchecked pest than anything. Zebra mussels are prolific. An adult female can produce between 30,000 and a million eggs in a year, which are fertilized during spring spawning sessions. What’s more, there are too few predators to keep the species in check. Having so many mussels around may not seem like a big problem on its face, but it has proven to be quite costly not only to the other members of its ‘host’ ecosystem but to humans as well. Many native lakes in North American have seen their native mussel populations drop due to the invasion of the zebra. It tends to latch onto the hardest substrates in the watery environment. In silty sands, these objects are the native mussels themselves, which are then often killed by the attachment of the zebra. The US coastguard estimates the cost of economic losses and control measures around the zebra to be worth about 5 billion dollars each year! These are hearty creatures that can survive out of water for several days or weeks if the temperature and humidity allow for it. Since 1988 they’ve have reproduced and weathered their way to richly populate all of the great lakes and begin a sprawl into the major rivers in the US. Scientists predict that the zebra mussel will continue to spread its population range by riding along the bottoms of small vessels and tourist ships. Zebra mussels can disrupt the food chain in freshwater ecosystems, ruin facilities like docks and rams, clog pipelines and engines and litter beaches with their smelly shells. But you can help to stop this trend of their growth in the US. Before launching your boat, you can check it thoroughly. Remove all mud, plant and animal debris from the boat, trailer and other equipment to enter the water. When you’re out of the water, drain the boat, motor and live well so that it can dry out – the boat needs to be completely dry for at least five days before entering another body of water. Doing your part will help protect freshwater ecosystems around the US and in our national parks, as well as reduce the dollars spent to reduce the damage caused by this prolific species.
