Ranger Programs; November 2020 >> > COVID-19 Updates. Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park Take a drive. Harper’s Ferry: October 26. Starting in early October, keep your eye on the Shenandoah Fall Color Report for weekly updates. Directly across Skyline Drive from the Visitor Center is the “Big Meadow” for which the lodge complex is named. Note: Hiking is one of my favorite things to do, and I love sharing it with new people as much as possible. The Central District is home to some of the best views, hikes, and stops in the park. Red, orange, and yellow leaves adorn the trees and will dazzle your eyes. Several lodging options are available, but when making reservations, keep in mind that October is the busiest time of year. Of course touring scenic roads, sampling fine wines and strolling through festivals are only a few of the things to do in the Valley. Get the latest events and things to do through our monthly e-newsletter. It is a long narrow park, with its major artery, Skyline Drive, running north to south. During the first week of October, the leaves are beginning to change at the highest elevations. That’s good for seven days. Top 10 Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park 1) Drive Skyline Drive. If you’ve ever wanted to go deep into the mountains—literally--the just-opened Crozet Tunnel Greenway is the Shenandoah Valley’s newest way to do so. Shenandoah National Park Day Trip: Thornton Gap to Skyland. Note: Hurricane Florence may have affected certain trails and access points to the park. For an update on fall color from the National Park Service, click Fall Color Report. (Oct. 25, same program and time, at Big Meadows.). As the sun goes down, a different kind of opportunity to enjoy nature’s exquisite beauty emerges. Click here to see the options. Skyline Drive is the one and only road that goes through Shenandoah National Park. Get the Free Itinerary The Best Time to Visit Shenandoah National Park for Fall Colors. ). Shenandoah National Park offers endless beauty with its spectacular views, hiking trails, cascading waterfalls, and diverse wildlife. If you have never experienced fall foliage in Shenandoah National Park, you must add it to your bucket list. © document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Shenandoah Valley, Inc. | 1-800-VISIT-SV | Privacy Policy, © document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Shenandoah Valley, Inc.1-800-VISIT-SV Privacy Policy. Top 5 attractions in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. It was a stifling 93°F (34°C) as I drove through Luray one recent summer afternoon. © document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Shenandoah Valley, Inc. | 1-800-VISIT-SV | Privacy Policy, © document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Shenandoah Valley, Inc.1-800-VISIT-SV Privacy Policy. Oct. 17: Wine Tasting at Big Meadows Lodge, featuring Rappahannock Cellars, and November 7 at Skyland (MP 41.7) offering a variety of Virginia wines. There are wide open spaces so plenty of room for social distancing. Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park – Another must-do, Skyline Drive is super popular with folks looking to get a taste of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. About Us Affiliates Join SVTA–Membership Benefits Contact Us. Their advantage over gateway-town hotels: The lodges and the park's cabins and campgrounds are within easy walking distance of trails and you can revel in Shenandoah's quiet, woodsy seclusion. But with Covid precautions in place, will traditional... Get a copy of our travel guide, with all the best places the Shenandoah Valley has to offer. But – speaking cautiously—the third week in October is generally considered a good bet to see brilliant autumn displays. A full service restaurant (wheelchair-accessible) offers spectacular views of the Shenandoah Valley. Big Meadows (MP 51.2) is a complex that comprises a lodge, mountain cabins, an amphitheater (for Park Ranger programs), camp store, Wayside and Restaurant, the Spottswood Dining Room, New Market Taproom, a Craft Shop, and the Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center. See Spectacular Fall Scenery on Skyline Drive. Visiting this region without experiencing majestic Shenandoah National Park is like going to Rome and skipping the Colosseum. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in December. Get the latest events and things to do in the valley. Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: See Tripadvisor's 5,185 traveller reviews and photos of Shenandoah National Park tourist attractions. Weekdays are the best time to visit, to avoid the crowds. It’s full of hand-picked things to see and do throughout the area. Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: See Tripadvisor's 5,178 reviews & photos of 25 Shenandoah National Park attractions. Shenandoah National Park is beautiful almost any day of the week, any month of the year. Start At The Visitor Center. Shenandoah National Park Day Trip: Thornton Gap to Skyland. Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, ranging from the completely flat, anyone-can-do-it (Limberlost Trail), to the more strenuous.For first time visitors, I recommend Stony Man.It’s a short (1.6 miles roundtrip), moderately easy hike that offers one of the best views in the park. Taking a pit stop on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Ranger Programs: In the Park or Online. Take a hike. Ranger Programs: In the Park or Online. Skyline Drive runs 105 miles, along the entire length of Shenandoah National Park. Nearly 20 years in the making, the new tunnel-trail is 2.25 miles long, running between Waynesboro and Afton. (For reservations call 877-247-9261 or visit the park’s lodging page. From the west, I-64 is again the most direct route, coming from West Virginia and linking to I-81 near Lexington, VA. Get the latest events and things to do through our monthly e-newsletter. Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Shenandoah National Park is one of the most accessible US National Parks, located only 75 miles from Washington, DC. At Hagerstown, MD take Interstate 81 south into the Shenandoah Valley. Zip-line Bear Mountain. Fall color is influenced by a number of factors, but soil moisture, brought on by a rainy summer like the Shenandoah Valley had this year, is an important one. Skyline Drive is the main thoroughfare through the park, a … Shenandoah is located in Virginia about 70 miles west of Washington D.C. nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Top Places to Visit in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: See Tripadvisor's 5,217 traveller reviews and photos of Shenandoah National Park attractions. There are no phones and no Internet access. Luray Caverns. Moormans River Overlook, Shenandoah National Park (mile 92) Useful Things to Know About Visiting Shenandoah National Park Location. National Park Service Programs – Guided Ranger programs are great ways for visitors to learn about Shenandoah’s wonders. Baltimore Washington International Airport. Photo Credit: Melody Pittman. The Lewis Mountain Cabins (MP 57.5) provide a rare opportunity to disconnect electronically. 1. Also see Amtrak Virginia. Keep in mind that Skyline Drive is 105 miles long, and elevations throughout the park vary widely. Dark Hollow Falls is a … Skyline Drive, a 105-mile road traversing the entire length of Shenandoah National Park, provides visitors with an unparalleled experience of fall's natural beauty.