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Shenandoah NATIONAL PARK VIRGINIA
Shenandoah NATIONAL PARK VIRGINIA
Shenandoah is one of seven National Parks east of the Mississippi River. Set in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, its most celebrated features are the succession of panoramas from the crest of the ridge and the lush beauty of the slopes. This is your park—we of the National Park Service hope you will help protect and preserve it so that many future generations may enjoy it. The superintendent and his staff are here to help make your visit a happy one....
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INTRODUCTION TO THE PARK
INTRODUCTION TO THE PARK
Like a great, hazy shadow against the sky, the Blue Ridge Mountains rise between the Piedmont and the Valley of Virginia. The 105-mile Skyline Drive winds along the Blue Ridge highland, crossing and recrossing the crest. It roughly bisects Shenandoah National Park, which encompasses over 300 square miles of scenic mountain country and claims 60 peaks that rise 3,000 to 4,000 feet. Seventy-five parking overlooks on the drive give you panoramic views of the Piedmont to the east and Shenandoah Rive
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Dickey Ridge Visitor Center.
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center.
This should be your starting point, if you enter the park from the north, for it is just inside mile 4.6 (see pp. 10 -13 for mileposts). Wherever you enter, be sure to stop here sometime before you leave the park. Ranger-naturalists are on hand to orient you and help you get all the information you need on hiking or camping, or whatever you plan to do. A short sequence of color slides will give you a general introduction to the park. The program describes the variety of park attractions—trails,
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Visitor Activities Program.
Visitor Activities Program.
During the summer, ranger-naturalists conduct a number of field trips daily to points of interest and give nightly campfire programs at Skyland, Big Meadows, or Lewis Mountain. The entire family can enjoy these park-sponsored activities. In spring and autumn, park naturalists present evening talks at concession lodges. For the “do-it-yourself” visitor, self-guiding nature trails are open throughout the year. Whiteoak Canyon Falls. A complete schedule of these free interpretive activities is foun
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Hiking.
Hiking.
The park is a hiker’s paradise, with over 200 miles of foot trails, including a 94-mile link of the famous Appalachian Trail, which extends more than 2,000 miles from Maine to Georgia. The park maintains a series of open shelters along the trails, conveniently spaced a day’s hike apart. Each hiker should bring his own bedroll for use on one of the six spring-covered bunks furnished in most of the shelters. These bunks are occupied on a first-come, first-served basis. Detailed hikers’ guides and
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Horseback riding.
Horseback riding.
There are about 25 miles of scenic horse trails in the park. Horses (and ponies for children) can be rented at hourly rates at Skyland and Big Meadows....
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Photography.
Photography.
A filter is advisable when you are taking panoramic views, for haze is often present without your even noticing it. You will get better definition and more interesting shadows if you take your pictures in the morning or late afternoon, rather than in the flat light of midday. With a long exposure you can get most dramatic photographs at sunset when the trees and rocks stand out against the western sky in silhouette. Don’t be afraid to go out and shoot black-and-white film in the fog or during a
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Fishing.
Fishing.
The fun of fishing awaits the eager angler along the park streams. There, to try your skill, are native brook trout. At the park entrance stations you can get rules and regulations governing angling and also directions to fishing waters. You will need a Virginia fishing license. A 3-day limit, nonresident trout fishing license is available at all concession units in the park for $3....
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Picnicking.
Picnicking.
Campers and picnickers come from all over to take advantage of Shenandoah’s superb facilities for 9 months of the year. Fireplaces make it easy to prepare steaks or fish or even pancakes. Your frying pan rests on a grill as steady as your own stove. Choose one of the picnic areas along the drive for your evening meal, and then walk out and watch the sunset. (Picnic grounds are noted on the map, pp. 10 -13.)...
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Where To Stay.
Where To Stay.
All of the lodging and restaurant facilities, the gift shops, and service stations in Shenandoah National Park are operated by the Virginia Sky-Line Co., Inc. While types of accommodations in the park are limited, there is a wide choice of cabins, tourist homes, motels, and hotels in nearby communities, which are available the year round. Hotel-type accommodations may be obtained in the park at Big Meadows. Cabins, with rooms and private connecting baths, may be rented at Skyland, Big Meadows, a
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Camping.
Camping.
Campers and picnickers should bring camp stoves or fuel for fireplaces since wood is not always available. Food supplies, ice, charcoal burners, and fuel may be obtained at Big Meadows Wayside. Electricity is not available. Use of campgrounds is free but is limited to 14 days in any one year. Reservations for campsites cannot be made; the policy is first come, first served....
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Shelters.
Shelters.
There are 20 open shelters, each sleeping 6 persons (see map, pp. 10 -13); they cannot be reserved, and hikers must bring their own bedding. However, locked, equipped cabins are available by reservation from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, 1916 Sunderland Place NW., Washington 6, D. C. A small nightly charge is made for the locked cabins....
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Restaurants
Restaurants
are operated by the Virginia Sky-Line Company at Panorama, Skyland, Big Meadows, and Big Meadows Wayside, Lewis Mountain, and Swift Run Gap. Light lunches are available at Elkwallow; groceries, at Big Meadows Wayside....
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Mail
Mail
is delivered daily to the lodges; campers should direct their mail to be sent in care of General Delivery, Luray, Va....
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Long-distance telephone service
Long-distance telephone service
is available 24 hours a day at the developed areas....
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SKYLAND
SKYLAND
SKYLAND REV. JAN. 1963 MARCH 1958 NP-SHE-7011D Skyland, at 3,680 feet elevation, is the highest point on Skyline Drive. Here in the largest of the park’s developed areas are accommodations for 350 persons. The lodge is the center of the community, with groups of multiple-unit cottages scattered within walking distance along the ridge and under the trees. Besides dining room, coffeeshop, and gift shop, there are lounges for use on chilly nights and a terrace for lazy sunning. Skyland is the start
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BIG MEADOWS
BIG MEADOWS
Second largest of the developed areas, Big Meadows has a hospitable lodge with spacious veranda, surrounded by individual cottages. These, together with a few lodge rooms, accommodate 250 persons. Tent, trailer, and picnic grounds are a part of the development. The lodge dining room is open to all visitors. At Big Meadow Wayside, you will find a coffeeshop, small grocery store, gift shop, and service station. Horseback trips from Big Meadows begin near the ranger station. The great charm of Big
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LEWIS MOUNTAIN
LEWIS MOUNTAIN
At mile 57.6, Lewis Mountain is the southernmost and the smallest accommodations area in the park—room for only 24 people. But besides the cabins, there is a coffeeshop and camp and picnic grounds. Park naturalists present campfire programs during the summer. BIG MEADOWS REV. JAN 1963 MARCH 1958 NP-SHE-17011B LEWIS MOUNTAIN MARCH 1958 NP-SHE-7011C SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK VIRGINIA High-resolution Image...
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THE SKYLINE DRIVE
THE SKYLINE DRIVE
The drive is 105 miles long from Front Royal to Rockfish Gap. Mileposts numbered from north to south are keyed to the map on the left, and to the table below. Symbols indicate developed areas (accommodations, restaurants, service stations); entrance and ranger stations; camp and picnic grounds; trail cabins and shelters; roads and trails. Most picnic grounds have fireplaces; all have tables and water. NOTE: Dates given for accommodations areas vary with weather conditions from season to season.
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GEOLOGY
GEOLOGY
Geologists tell us how the rounded, forest-covered mountains of the Blue Ridge record more than a billion years of the earth’s history. The two types of granitic basement rocks are the oldest. These rocks were formed many thousands of feet beneath the surface of the earth, as large masses of magma (molten rock) cooled and crystallized very slowly. One type of granitic rock (hypersthene granodiorite) is exposed at Marys Rock Tunnel, and along the crest and on the western flank of the Blue Ridge.
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PLANTS
PLANTS
Ninety-five percent of the Blue Ridge is wooded, and much of this forest is made up of scarlet, red, and chestnut oaks. On the ridges and dry slopes there may also be hickory, black locust, black birch, and scattered maple, black gum, ash, and pine. In moister coves there is a greater variety of species including white oak, maple, birch, yellow-poplar, sycamore, and basswood. In cooler coves and on north slopes, hemlocks are dominant. At higher elevations, red spruce and balsam fir stand as reli
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Birds.
Birds.
This park is an exciting place for birdwatchers who could, if they had time and patience, spot more than 100 different species at the height of the spring migration (April and May). Other migrants bring the year’s total to 200. You will notice first of all the soaring birds—buzzards, vultures, and ravens—because they are constantly “floating” over mountaintops and valleys. Take a few minutes to watch the raven do his stunts. He’s the acrobat of the park’s bird population. Like a highly maneuvera
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Mammals.
Mammals.
Because the Blue Ridge was dominated by man for over 200 years, wild animals both large and small became scarce. Now, under park protection, deer and bears, bobcats and foxes are increasing in number. Of these, most likely you will see the white-tailed deer in the early morning or evening in open meadows. Watch for them at Skyland, near the Whiteoak parking area, at Big Meadows, and at the edge of the forests, particularly in the northern part of the park. The woodchuck feeds all day long on the
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Fishes.
Fishes.
An interesting assortment of native fishes lives in quiet pools and turbulent riffles of park streams. In cooler headwaters, brook trout find a favourite home. Suckers, shiners, dace, bass, and sunfish join the trout in warmer waters farther downstream. More than 20 kinds of fishes inhabit the park waters. The American eel makes its long migration from the Shenandoah streams to the Atlantic Ocean to spawn and then return upstream. Shenandoah National Park is open the year round. However, you may
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Spring.
Spring.
When the buds turn red on the maple trees, you know that spring is on the way to the Blue Ridge. Soon, the pale-green veil of new leaves begins to creep slowly—about a hundred feet a day—up the slopes from the valley floor until the mountainsides are painted with the color of spring. In the woods, the violets and marsh marigolds are blooming together in clumps beside the springs, and tiny blossoms appear everywhere in sunny patches on the forest floor. The air is crisp and fresh. Except for a fe
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Summer.
Summer.
These are the hazy, lazy days that often bring afternoon thunderstorms and spectacular waves of fog that sweep across the mountaintops and hide the valleys. Temperatures are a comfortable 15° lower than those in the valley—mid-80’s in the daytime, mid-40’s at night. At midday, the air is heavy with the damp, earthy smell of the woods, and the sweet scent of wildflowers in the fields. It is a good time of year to go for a leisurely walk in the woods, where shade is everywhere, or to pluck blackbe
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Autumn.
Autumn.
This time of year brings the “down-flowing” of autumn color from mountaintops to the coves and hollows. By mid-September the foliage has begun to change, starting with the Virginia creeper. Exquisite patches of color—the blood-red of the gum, the red and yellow of the maple—appear in large areas of green, and soon whole mountainsides have “caught fire.” There is a series of “color-peaks” as varied as the different latitudes and altitudes within the park, but the most lavish displays usually occu
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Winter.
Winter.
Do not discount the beauty of the Blue Ridge in winter when the trees shed their leaves and open up new vistas. Now, you can see long distances in every direction. The cold crisp days are brilliant, and the evergreens stand out like bright-green exclamations against the snowy white of the hillsides. After a storm, with the roads freshly cleared, you can come up and inspect Stony Man, who will be wearing a frosty beard. Gleaming icicles cascade over a cliff like a frozen Niagara. On crisp winter
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HUMAN HISTORY
HUMAN HISTORY
There is no record—except for isolated artifacts—of Indian inhabitants in Shenandoah National Park. The Shawnee and the Moneton, Saponi, and Manahoac were reported in the valleys during the 17th century, but they wandered into the mountains only occasionally to hunt. It is not surprising, then, that John Lederer found only deer, bears, and wolves when he arrived in the present area of Big Meadows with his Indian guides. Virginia’s Governor, Sir William Berkeley, had sent him, in 1669, to explore
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A PARK EMERGES
A PARK EMERGES
The first official act in forming the park was the appointment of the Southern Appalachian National Park Committee. The Secretary of the Interior appointed the committee to survey the Blue Ridge and other eastern regions as sites for future National Parks. After hearing the report, local groups were formed to promote the project. The Shenandoah National Park Association, formed in 1925, became an instrument of this movement. In 9 months its members raised $1,249,000. Twenty-four thousand Virgini
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PRESERVING THE PARK
PRESERVING THE PARK
You may wonder why dead trees and fallen logs are not removed, why streams are not dammed for swimming, and why certain plants and animals are not brought into the park and others removed. The answer is in the fundamental policy of the National Park Service to maintain the National Parks in their natural state. The landscape scars—remnants of roads and fences, and grazed-over land—will disappear in time. The forests will come back to cover the farmlands, and in its own way the wildlife will bala
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Books and Maps.
Books and Maps.
Knowing something about the park before your visit will help you enjoy it more. You can order books and maps from the Shenandoah Natural History Association (a nonprofit organization), c/o Shenandoah National Park, Luray, Va., or buy them at the visitor center or at park headquarters. The association will send you a list of titles and prices. The following publications are representative. The book, Skyland, Heart of Shenandoah National Park , based on the autobiography of George Freeman Pollock,
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What To Bring.
What To Bring.
Summer sportswear for daytime; sweaters and topcoats for evening (tuck in a raincoat, too). Bring sturdy shoes for walking; non-skid soles are good for rocks and slippery trails. Binoculars, or field glasses, will double your appreciation of the park, especially of its birds and animals. Do not forget your camera; film is available at the lodges. There are four main entrances to the park along the Skyline Drive. These are: North Entrance (Front Royal, Va.): From U.S. 340 and Va. 55 and 522. Thor
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Bus service
Bus service
is available at nearby towns all year. Virginia Trailways, Charlottesville, Va., operates tours to and through the park from late May through October. Call Trailways terminals for reservations and information....
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Traffic.
Traffic.
The speed limit is 35 miles per hour. Park rangers, in charge of traffic control, investigate all accidents. When necessary they gather material for preparation of court cases to be heard before a park commissioner. Signal when crossing the road to overlooks. Drive slowly on curves and in rainy weather when roads are slippery. In fog, observe “Travel Not Advised” warnings; they are posted for your safety. If you must proceed, use your driving lights. The solid centerline in the road is for your
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Fires.
Fires.
Build fires only in fireplaces at picnic areas and campgrounds. Be sure your campfire is out! Be careful with cigarettes; do not throw them from your automobile or along the trail. Remember, fire is the forest’s greatest enemy....
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Pets.
Pets.
Dogs and cats must be on a leash at all times, or otherwise confined....
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Litter.
Litter.
You will find trash receptacles in all parking and picnic areas. Deposit your refuse there—do not throw it along the road like a litterbug!...
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Camping
Camping
is limited to 14 days in any one year. Campsites cannot be reserved; when they are filled, rangers will direct you to temporary campgrounds....
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Fishing.
Fishing.
A Virginia license is required. Trout fishing only permitted. A 3-day-$3 nonresident trout fishing license is available at all concession units in the park. Obtain a complete set of fishing regulations from a park ranger at the entrance station as you come into the park, or write to the superintendent for a set....
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Firearms.
Firearms.
Assembled firearms and similar devices, including air pistols and rifles, bows and arrows, and slingshots, are prohibited. Shenandoah National Park is a sanctuary for all wildlife, and the hunting, killing, wounding, frightening, or capturing of any wildlife is prohibited....
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VISITOR-USE FEES
VISITOR-USE FEES
Vehicle permit fees are collected at entrance stations. If you arrive when an entrance station is unattended, you must obtain a permit before leaving the park. Fees are not listed herein because they are subject to change, but the information may be obtained by writing to the superintendent. Fee revenues are deposited in the U.S. Treasury; they offset, in part, the cost of operating and maintaining the National Parks....
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ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATION
Shenandoah National Park is administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The National Park System, of which this park is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and enjoyment of its people. Development of this park is part of MISSION 66, a 10-year conservation program to unfold the full potential of the National Park System for the use and enjoyment of both present and future generations.
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AMERICA’S NATURAL RESOURCES
AMERICA’S NATURAL RESOURCES
Created in 1849, the Department of the Interior—America’s Department of Natural Resources—is concerned with the management, conservation, and development of the Nation’s water, wildlife, mineral, forest, and park and recreational resources. It also has major responsibilities for Indian and territorial affairs. As the Nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department works to assure that nonrenewable resources are developed and used wisely, that park and recreational resources are conserved,
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