Shenandoah National Park

[Billy]

Has anyone done any hiking in Shenandoah NP and/or surrounding area?
Looking for any info (and hopefully photos) on your favorite hikes. Thanks.

 

[Tim Seaver]

Matthews Arm is amazing for bears. I saw 7 or 8 on a two hour hike, more than I have ever seen elsewhere.

 

[Stan]

We did a few hikes in Shenandoah NP mainly because we were driving through to the Smokies and wanted to make the most of our tour along Skyline Drive and take some time to stretch our legs. The hikes are easy as the the road follows the ridge and is at an elevation well above the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Piedmont to the east. The Appalachian Trail parallels Skyline Drive through most of the Park and it is part of hikes to many of the peaks.

Stony Man Mountain is a 4000 footer with a good view west and it is convenient to Skyland Lodge and Restaurant. There is a short loop possibility which incorporates the AT.

Hawksbill is the high point of the Park at 4051 feet. Hawksbill seems to be a common name for mountains down that way and another one we enjoyed was located near Linville Gorge and Falls, NC, which has good views and, in my mind, a more interesting hike than nearby Table Rock which seems to get more acclaim ... possibly because of its more dramatic appearance from the other. If you do hike in this area be sure to visit Grandfather Mountain, a private park with a popular nature center, but don't be discouraged if the mile high bridge is not a mile high ... it is a mile above sea level but only a couple hundred feet above the ground ... still, it is scenic and dramatic and the hike to Grandfather is a fascinating series of ladders and scrambles with a good loop thrown in.

Back to Shenandoah, Bearfence Mt. is about 3500 ft. and another short hike but it is highlighted by an interesting scramble and a rare 360 view. We added a bit to the hike and made it a more interesting loop by adding in a short bushwhack.

 

[Greg YEAH!]

Old Rag is a must. The Franconia Ridge Loop (for popularity but well worth it) of Shenandoah NP. Also, Jeremy's Run. Matthews Arm is also very nice.

Here is a good website: http://www.midatlantichikes.com/

 

[Raven]

The Shenandoah section of the AT may have the best treadway of the entire trail. It's got an easy grade for the most part and is rather free of obstacles underfoot. You'll be able to hike and look at views at the same time.

 

[Billy]

Great info and websites. Thanks for the help.

 

[gram]

We went to Shenandoah NP in Sept 2013 and were staying at the Skyland Lodge when the National Parks were shut down. Got up in the morning and found a notice taped tour door basically saying "get out ASAP".

Before our abrupt departure, we had done Stonyman the night before, a nice walk with great views.


Although upset at leaving the park, we made the best of it and went to Luray Caverns. This was a great take in, and it is well worth the side trip. We never would have gone had we not been evicted from the park.


Have a great trip!

 

[Wendellator]

Living in MD Shenandoah is not to far, the one site i use is www.midatlantichikes.com . The guy who runs it is also an avid hiker,and most of the trails have great trip reports and GPX coordinates