Shenandoah National Park Active and Adventure Travel Guide

Shenandoah National Park Active and Adventure Travel Guide

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Active and Adventure Destinations Near Shenandoah National Park

Travel Guides In Shenandoah National Park

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Upper Doyles River Falls in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Upper Doyles River Falls in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (Robert Cable/Photographer's Choice/Getty)

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Shenandoah National Park Active and Adventure Travel Tips

By Travel Expert: Alistair Wearmouth

  • Climb 3,291-foot Old Rag, with some fun rock scrambling over, around, and through a series of above-treeline boulders to 360-degree panoramas of the Blue Ridge and Piedmont Valley. The trailhead is located close to Sperryville, Va. To get a jump on the weekend warriors, camp alongside the Hughes River on the park’s Nicholson Hollow Trail for an early start on Saturday morning.
  • Drive the 100-mile-long Skyline Drive—but be sure to stop and get out for a hike. Countless trails lead off from the snaking byway that follows Shenandoah's ridgeline; highlights include a stepped series of waterfalls that tumble through Whiteoak Canyon and the Tuscarora Trail's scenic vista of Overall Run Falls and the Shenandoah Valley.
  • Backpack a section of the Appalachian Trail as it winds its way some 100 miles through the park. The 26-mile Stony Man-Big Meadows traverse serves up big views, the zenith of the AT’s Shenandoah leg, and comfy cabins for those looking for a weekend-long AT sampler.
  • Float the Shenandoah River in a canoe, kayak, or inner tube. Downriver Canoe Company in Bentonville, on the eastern flank of the park, rents canoes and inner tubes and has its own camping area. With swimmable sections, beaches for picnicking, great scenery, and a few riffling rapids, this is a great day outing for families.
  • Cap off a hard day's hiking, biking, or paddling with a pint and a burger at the Griffin Tavern in Flint Hill, Va. The mellow pub vibe, landscaped outdoor patio, and good food and drink are the perfect complement to the rolling fields and mountain views.

Shenandoah National Park Overview

First and foremost, the name Shenandoah conjures up a legendary river, one that flows through America's past in song, print, and folklore. And the valley that bears its name is easily the most beautiful in Virginia, an idyllic landscape of rolling hills and pastures, bounded by mountains on either side and bisected by the majestic river. Read More

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Hotels

Lewis Mountain Cabins

c/o ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment, Inc., P.O. Box 727
Luray, VA 22835 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
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Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0

Loft Mountain Campground

c/o Shenandoah National Park, 3655 U.S. Highway 211 East
Luray, VA 22835 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
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Elizabeth Furnace Campground

c/o Lee Ranger District, 109 Molineau Rd.
Edinburg, VA 22824 Map

Distance: 23.2 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
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Expert Rated & Recommended
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Attractions

Old Rag

expert favorite attraction


Distance: 6.9 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

This very popular hike along an inclined saddleback ridge is well worth doing (especially very... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Skyline Drive



Distance: 3.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The Skyline Drive runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
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4_0

Downriver Canoe Company

P.O. Box 10, 884 Indian Hollow Road
Bentonville, Virginia 22610

Distance: 0.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Downriver Canoe Company offers kayaks, canoes, tubes, and rafts for trips down the Shenandoah... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Shenandoah National Park

Distance (mi.)
Washington Dulles International Airport 62.3 map
Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport 80.2 map
Richmond International Airport/Byrd Field 92.8 map Flight Deals to RIC

Other Smaller Airports near Shenandoah National Park

Distance (mi.)
Charlottesville Albemarle Airport 25.4 map
Staunton Shenandoah Valley Airport 29.3 map
Lynchburg Preston-Glenn Field 90.5 map

Feature Articles

More Shenandoah National Park Active and Adventure Feature Articles (7) »
See All Feature Articles on Shenandoah National Park »

Trip Ideas

Shenandoah National Park Active and Adventure Travel Guides

Camping | Hiking and Backpacking | Horses and Riding
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