Notes From the Road

This year I have been highly interested in exploring many of the National Parks and National Historic Sites in the U.S., and so after having some days open up I decided to take a trip down to Virginia and spend some time exploring Shenandoah National Park. This national park extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains and includes the Skyline Drive, which runs for 106 miles high above the rolling hills below, and affords many opportunities to see the expansive view, wildlife, and walk in nature.

There are 4 Entrance Stations onto the Skyline Drive, so different sections of the park can be visited or the drive can be broken up as needed. When I visited I decided to drive the entire 106 miles split into 2 days, from North to South. Day 1 I entered the park at the Front Royal Entrance Station, after driving through the charming town of Front Royal, Virginia. Since I have an America the Beautiful Pass ($80/year), my entry into the park was free and I was able to move faster through the entrance line, which I highly recommend if you plan to visit at least 2 parks in a year. Otherwise, the cost for entry of a vehicle and passengers is $30/vehicle. There are overlooks with stunning views almost immediately after entrance, and within a few miles the first visitor center in the park, Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, can be reached. On my trip, I stopped at several overlook pull-offs within the first section of the park and enjoyed new views from each direction. Then I stopped at Elkwallow (mile 24), which had a picnic area, restrooms, a gift shop, and dining options.

There are many hiking options along the route ranging from 3-4 mile mountain hikes, out and back waterfall hikes, and even the chance to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail. Since I had a bit less daylight hiking in November, I decided on a 1.5 mile hike known as Dark Hallow Falls. There is a parking area right at the trailhead, but I chose to go a bit further to park at the 2nd visitor center, Byrd Visitor Center, which has a great view of the Big Meadows, gift shop and bookstore, an informational exhibit, and more! From this parking lot there was a short trail that connected to the Dark Hallow trail. The hike was well-maintained with stairs and signage, and I saw people of many ages and abilities traversing the trail, so it is fairly accessible. Within a few minutes on the trail many of us stopped to look at a buck scratching its antlers on a tree, and it was a great reminder of the wildlife sharing this land. There were some smaller falls midway down the hill and at the very bottom the lower falls, which were spectacular even in dry weather. The hike back up was a bit more challenging, but it was easy to take breaks.

On my way out of the park for the day I stopped at another overlook to watch the sun set over the distant mountains. There are a few places to stay inside the park, such as the lodge at Skyland or the park’s 4 campgrounds (seasonal only), but I chose to stay at a campground out of the park that was not closed for the season. There were many campgrounds and motels to choose from within 45 minutes of the park. In addition, there are some quaint southern towns to visit, such as Luray, Elkton, and Harrisonburg.

That evening, on my way to the campground, I saw a sign for Elkton Brewing Company and decided to make the turn and check it out. Elkton was a very cute mountain town with unique architecture, and the brewery itself had lots of outdoor space including firepits, a pizza food truck, great beer and live music! I chatted with some locals and bartenders, many of whom shared an interest in trout fishing as there was a plethora in the local river runoffs. The rest of the drive that night was through beautiful farmland and small towns.

Day 2, after a night of car camping, I drove back to Shenandoah and entered at the Swift Run Entrance to complete the remainder of the Skyline Drive and the length of the park. The weather was not as nice so I decided not to hike, but the park was less crowded on a Sunday so the drive was peaceful and the views incredible (see above). I finished the rest of the park in the morning, so after exiting at the southern-most station I decided to find another local spot to check out for lunch. Only about 15 minutes from the park was Stable Craft Brewing & Cidery in Waynesboro, which had many different sections to enjoy a drink or food, a decent menu, and a sprawling view of the countryside. The afternoon I went there was also local live music to enjoy in the main room. After the days of driving, hiking, and camping, I was excited to settle in early for the day at one of the many lodging options in Waynesboro, VA, and feel accomplished exploring the beauty of another national park.