Nearby Attractions: State Arboretum of Virginia; Sky Meadows State Park; Skyline Caverns —MARY’S ROCK VIA THE PINNACLE— Skyline Drive is the scenic roadway that takes you through the park. With very few exceptions, visitors to Shenandoah National Park will access the park via Skyline Drive. The result is a steady stream of red-faced hikers puffing their way back up the super steep, rocky trail. There are two more Skyline Drive hikes in the North District of Shenandoah National Park that are popular with families. Both trail heads can be found in the area around the Hogback Overlook at MM 20.9. Speed limit is 35 mph. Front Royal Entrance Station in the north (Mile 0.6) is accessible via U.S. 340. Difficulty is moderate to easy. Mile markers increase from north to south, so the higher the mile marker, the more southern the location. 250 (also the northern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway). The Big Meadows Lodge has the advantage of being located near the Byrd Visitor Center and the Big Meadows Campground. ; The Thornton Gap Entrance Station is at milepost 31.5 and can be reached via Route 211. The four entrances are spread out throughout the park. The vista extends for miles beyond. Watch the weather. The other hikes go uphill to a rocky viewpoint and typically involve a rock scramble at some point. Most facilities in the park, including visitor centers, lodging and dining, campgrounds, and picnic grounds begin opening in March and close by late November. Three of the most accessible, Shenandoah National Park waterfalls can be found in this area: the Rose River Falls hike beginning at the Fisher’s Gap Overlook (MM 49.4), the Dark Hollow Falls hike (MM 50.7), and the White Oak Canyon hike (across Skyline Drive from Skyland Resort). Skyline Drive features 75 overlooks, and offers access to campgrounds, visitor centers, resorts and trails, including the Appalachian Trail. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Unlike other United States National Parks, there are no must-see sites, like Old Faithful Geyser or Half Dome. The speed limit on Skyline Drive is 35 MPH. One of the most spectacular experiences in Shenandoah National Park is standing in the thigh-high pool at the base of the South River Falls, gazing at its precipice 83 feet above, and being bathed in its cooling mist. I've mainly done hike in the lower and central portion and have rarely been disappointed except in severe draught at a couple of the waterfalls. The entire loop to see both Rose River and Dark Hollow Falls is about 6 miles. Our family has enjoyed two Skyline Drive hikes in the North District: the Lands Run hike at MM 9.2 on Skyline Drive and the North Marshall hike at MM 15.9 on Skyline Drive. Compton Peak This loop hike has an 835-foot elevation change hike to a lovely view. We have driven the entire length of the Drive several times over the years ... it is a highly recommend road trip! Gorgeous drive at any time of the year! The trail is primarily used for scenic driving and is accessible year-round. At just over 40 feet, it’s impressive not by sheer height, but by the surrounding scenery. Here’s our guide for the best hikes in Shenandoah National Park with kids. About Us Press FAQ Privacy Policy Terms of Use Contact Us. Skyline Drive is a 105-mile byway that runs through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Live like a Charlotte local whenever, wherever, Outdoor destinations + local stories & exclusive outdoor events. My family has enjoyed the beautiful views available from the rooms at Skyland Resort and the convenience of eating breakfast at their restaurant in the morning. Exit 99 on I-64 gives you Shenandoah to the north and, Gorgeous views with a plethora of overlooks. Access the falls from the Dark Hollow Falls trailhead near mile marker 51. Shenandoah National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia just west of Washington, D.C. and stretches 105 miles from its northern entrance at Front Royal to its southern entrance near Waynesboro. Summer is also a good season for families to camp in the park. Hiking to waterfalls in the park in the lower elevations under the branches of flowering trees after months of winter is simply inspiring. This district has a lot to offer families in terms of amenities. We’ve found that arriving at the park early, before 10AM, is the best way to avoid long lines at the entrance station on busy fall weekends. Due to all these deciduous trees, the landscape of the park changes beautifully with the seasons. Two distinct cascades make up Doyles River Falls. Spend a day, or more, and enjoy and explore Shenandoah National Park, and take a slow ride on Skyline Drive. Lots of trail access and accommodations. Obviously, hiking Old Rag Mountain is not for families with young children. When the leaves are their past peak, deep orange leaves might still be visible in the lower elevations. Families should make sure to have either a map or detailed directions from a ranger before setting out. Beautiful part of Virginia. They give you access to scenery and history that the drivers largely miss. The speed limit on the drive is … If you are planning to reference any trail guides that you might have found online while in the park, be sure to save them to your phone (or take a screen-shot of them) before arriving at the park. It was so awesome to stand on top of calf mountain. It is also only 20 miles from the southern entrance to Shenandoah National Park via the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park is linear in nature, mostly in a north to south orientation. While my young children enjoyed climbing on the rocks at the top, the moderately difficult Skyline Drive hike wore them out. The National Park has the AT running the length and lots of short trails to views, to summits, to waterfalls and just plain trails. The Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is located just south of the north entrance at Front Royal, at milepost 5. While it’s more centrally located, it also fills to capacity often. For a more relaxed and peaceful setting, try the Loft Mountain Campground, which is the southernmost in the park and has many semi-secluded sites. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/skyline-drive-waynesboro-to-front-royal Shenandoah National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the State of Virginia. A truly amazing drive with views on both sides. Thornton Gap Entrance Station at Rt. We’re an affiliate of Booking.com. The Lower Falls is much longer at 63 feet and is typically narrower. The highest peak in the park is the 4,051 foot Hawksbill Mountain. Looking for Shenandoah National Park waterfall hikes? It's not that I recommend being a speeding Griswold, but it can be a really long several hours of driving if you don't stop to enjoy the scenery. Skyline Drive is the backbone of Shenandoah National Park. At the northernmost end, visitors enter from Front Royal and proceed south along Skyline Drive. Reach Jones Run Falls via a 3.5-mile out-and-back hike from the parking lot just south of the Dundo picnic area near mile marker 84. In spring, families will still want to head for the upper elevations for wide open views when the trees in the lower elevations begin to leaf out and blossom. Each has an access point to Skyline Drive, as well as many trailheads that stem off from numerous points along the road. Most visitors to the North District of Shenandoah Park in Virginia begin their visit at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, located at MM 4.6 just a 10-minute drive from the northern park entrance at Front Royal. They have the most amenities to offer. New to backpacking, picked this trail section because you had some getting off spots if needed, and we did. The higher elevations and cool breezes of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains offered the former U.S. President a welcome escape from Washington D.C.’s blistering heat. This path is one of the most pleasant in the park as it cuts through the valley, mirroring its namesake river. While in the upper elevations, families will enjoy the biggest perk of visiting the park during the winter months which are the views. The northern entrance, the Front Royal Entrance Station lies at milepost 0.6 on Skyline Drive and is accessible via Routes 340 and 55. A basic restaurant and pay showers are also available. Great drive through beautiful national park. However, if you are looking for a memorable hiking experience with your teens, Old Rag Mountain might be a good fit. Both are fairly standard, somewhat rustic, hotels. So if you are visiting a national park, plan ahead ... Read more ... National Park Service: Public Health Update. From the Front Royal park entrance, head south on Skyline Drive for 4.6 miles the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. Aside from the drive, there are a lot of hikes from the road that vary from easy to difficult. Written by Rob Glover for RootsRated in partnership with OrthoCarolina. Skyline Drive features 75 overlooks, and offers access to campgrounds, visitor centers, resorts and trails, including the Appalachian Trail. Complete the 6-mile loop with a left turn up an old fire road and another left along the Appalachian Trail. The Overall Run hike can be shortened by about two miles by starting at the Matthews Arm Campground. It even has a gas station about halfway through. You can park either at the Dark Hallow Falls lot or begin right from the Byrd Visitor Center with a short stint on the Story of the Forest Trail. The trip begins with a steep hike down South River Falls Trail. Even when the park isn't very crowded, the two-lane thoroughfare attracts slow drivers like a magnet. This complex has more amenities available than any other area of the park. excellent scenic drive with many great overlooks and trailheads along the way! However, the best advice for where to hike with your family comes from the national park service rangers at the visitor centers who can recommend hikes based on the ages/abilities of your children, the weather, and your location in the park. 66 and 340. (Pictured: Lands Run Falls – Shenandoah National Park waterfalls.). There are hikes that head downhill and follow a stream to a Shenandoah National Park waterfall. Your family can choose between sweeping views or Shenandoah National Park’s waterfalls. The Loft Mountain Campground in the South District often said to have the best views of the group. When my family stayed at Skyland Resort, we parked in the nearby parking lot for the Stony Man Trailhead and hiked just under one mile to the top of Stoney Man with our four and five-year-old children. Mountain-top campgrounds and deep forest trails are often 15 degrees cooler than downtown, and the same dramatic elevation changes that make iconic Shenandoah hikes like Old Rag and Hawksbill so splendid also create a plethora of waterfalls and swimming holes to explore. Over a year later, the kids still remember running through the morning fog in the forest, climbing on the rocks, and admiring the views from the top of the mountain. Five campgrounds are provided in the park: Lodging is available in numerous cities and towns along the Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina. It’s always best to pack a lunch and be prepared. There are 75 overlooks within the park giving you many options to find a place to rest. Of course, it is possible to get an idea of what you might want to see with your family by reading guides like this one. Shenandoah National Park official website at NPS, Copyright © 2020 RoadTravelAmerica.com • All Rights Reserved, Big Meadows Lodge - 25 rooms in the main lodge, 71 additional rooms in rustic cabins, multi-unit lodges, and suites (Milepost 51), Skyland - 179 guest rooms, rustic cabins, multi-unit lodges and modern suites (Milepost 41.7), Lewis Mountain Cabins - offers several rustic, furnished cabins with private baths and outdoor grill areas, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) Cabins - 6 locked, primitive cabins, Lewis Mountain Campground (Milepost 57.5). But what a view it is: The falls erupts out of dense tree cover before falling, uninterrupted, for 81 feet to the forest floor below. I have hiked here several times, and every hike is a pleasure and a new experience.