Fall is the ideal time to visit the mountains and valley to our west. In our September 2023 issue, we reveal where to go for great hikes and how to see the area by plane or by car. Plus, we’ve found the best places to eat, drink, and shop — and where to kick back and stay awhile.
Thanks to more than 500 miles of hiking trails that crisscross Shenandoah National Park, there are scenic hikes for all ages, interests, and fitness levels. From rock scrambles to waterfalls to mountain summits, there’s something for every outdoor lover at Shenandoah National Park.
To help you find a hike that’s right for you, whether hiking solo or with your crew, we’ve compiled our favorite treks that you’re sure to love, too. Most are steps from Skyline Drive, the 105-mile scenic byway that runs the length of the park, but some can be reached from small trail towns to the east and west of the park.
Along Skyline Drive, concrete mileposts mark every mile of the park road. To help you find hikes in the park, we’ve noted the milepost numbers, which run from north to south.
For Novices
For new hikers and families, the 1.2-mile Fox Hollow Trail (milepost 4.6) is a great starter hike. It’s a loop that begins across from the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, guiding visitors over land that was a family farm in the 1930s.
The 1.3-mile Limberlost Trail (milepost 43) is another great pick for new hikers. It’s a fully accessible forested trail made of crushed greenstone that features bridges and wooden boardwalks, as well as more than 15 wooden benches.
For easy-to-reach vistas, look to Blackrock Summit (milepost 84.4), a short and sweet 1.8-mile loop hike that includes a stretch of the iconic Appalachian Trail and delivers wide open views across the Shenandoah Valley.
For Cascading Waterfalls
There are more than a dozen tumbling waterfalls across Shenandoah National Park that can be reached using hiking trails, including 67-foot-tall Rose River Falls (milepost 49.5). A 3.9-mile wooded loop hike leads to this waterfall, which has a refreshing swimming hole.
South River Falls (milepost 62.7) is another beauty, and one that’s well worth the 1,299-foot elevation gain over the 5.1-mile loop hike. Pause for an observation deck, then continue on to splash in the watering hole at the base of the falls.
On the east side of the park, Whiteoak Falls is best reached by way of the Whiteoak Canyon Trail, which starts from a dedicated parking lot near Sperryville. It’s a 1.4-mile hike (one-way) to Lower Falls. From there, it’s another mile to Upper Falls.
For Summit Views
There are plenty of park trails that reward hikers with spectacular far-reaching views. An easy one to love is Mary’s Rock Summit (milepost 31.6), a 3.7-mile hike that starts at the front of the Panorama parking area (which has flush toilets, by the way). At the top, enjoy mountain views for miles.
Another favorite is Bearfence Mountain (milepost 56.4), but be forewarned. It’s less than a mile to reach 360-degree vistas of the Virginia Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley, but there is a rock scramble that requires hands, knees, feet, and arms to reach the panoramas.
Hightop Mountain (milepost 66.7) is an often-underrated hike that’s well worth your time. It’s just 3 miles but delivers sensational views following an ascent on the Appalachian Trail to the rocky overlook.
For History Lovers
This park is chock-full of history, and several hikes help tell the multilayered story of Shenandoah National Park, including a 3.4-mile hike to historic Snead Farm (milepost 5.1), which has a white barn, a root cellar, and the remains of a family home.
At milepost 52.8, hike alongside Mill Prong to Rapidan Camp, the former retreat of President Herbert Hoover from 1929 to 1932. This 2.1-mile hike (one-way) leads to three restored cabins.
An easy 2.5-mile hike on the Pocosin Trail (milepost 59.5) features ruins of Upper Pocosin Mission, which once served local mountain dwellers before the creation of the national park.
Inn to Inn
Shenandoah National Park is popular with tent campers and backpackers, but for the adventurous who prefer to sleep in a comfy bed rather than a sleeping bag after a day spent hiking the Appalachian Trail, there is an inn-to-inn-to-inn option.
Hikers tackle 7 to 10 miles each day, then overnight at each of the park’s climate-controlled accommodations, including Skyland, Big Meadows Lodge, and Lewis Mountain Cabins. Each stay offers sit-down or to-go meal options.
Hiking north to south is a popular route, starting at Panorama (milepost 31.6). Take heed, the park’s inn-to-inn-to-inn package, which includes two bag lunches, a hiking medallion, and a hiking stick, starts at $441 per person. It does not include a return shuttle service, though park concessionaire Delaware North can arrange a shuttle for a fee.
Book online at goshenandoah.com.
Scenic Overlooks
At Shenandoah National Park, more than 75 pull-offs and overlooks along Skyline Drive encourage parkgoers to stop and savor the views. Here are three you won’t want to miss:
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center: At milepost 4.6, it’s hard to beat the sweeping views across the Shenandoah Valley from the grassy expanse and stone overlook behind this visitor center.
Tunnel Parking Overlook: This east-facing overlook at milepost 32.5 boasts views of Oventop Mountain and the trail town of Sperryville.
Ivy Creek Overlook: At milepost 77.5, pull over for views of Weaver Mountain and Loft Mountain. It’s also a short hike on the Appalachian Trail to bubbling Ivy Creek from this overlook.
Feature image of Blackrock Summit by B. Raeburn, courtesy NPS
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This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
