Shenandoah ◆ Virginia
Shenandoah, Skyline Drive and back.
A 105-mile mountain ridge running through Virginia — Skyline Drive parallels the entire park, with 75 overlooks and a major waterfall every few miles.
Field guide ◆ Shenandoah
Plan the trip.
Shenandoah National Park is essentially a single 105-mile mountain ridge through northern Virginia, with Skyline Drive running its entire length and 75 designated overlooks along the way. It's the most accessible national park to the Northeast — 75 miles from Washington DC.
For a weekend: Drive Skyline Drive from end to end (4-5 hours with stops). Hike Old Rag (9.3 miles, scrambling, the most popular hike in the park — go midweek). White Oak Canyon waterfalls (4-7 miles, six waterfalls in succession). Camp at Big Meadows or Loft Mountain.
Best window: October for foliage (book lodging 6+ months out), April-May for waterfalls and wildflowers. Summer can be hazy. Old Rag now requires a day-use ticket (book on recreation.gov).
On the map ◆
Where you're going.
Pack the kit ◆ For Shenandoah
What to bring.
Trip-tested picks for this destination — gear that's earned its place across multiple visits.
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