Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
The great state of Virginia is home to Shenandoah National Park, set among the Blue Ridge Mountains in the western region of the state. The park features quite a variety of environments including mountain peaks, forests, wetlands, and waterfalls. Running for 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge, Skyline Drive offers 75 overlooks with amazing views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west and Virginia’s rolling Piedmont region to the east. Heading south, Skyline Drive connects with the Blue Ridge Parkway—so you can take in panoramic views all the way to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. By the way, the aptly named Blue Ridge Mountains actually do turn blue at sunrise and sunset. You’ll just have to see it to believe it. Starting at the Front Royal Entrance, you’ll reach the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center in a matter of minutes. Here you can check out park information and maps to help make plans for viewing, hiking, and refreshment stops. Keep in mind that Skyline Drive is a narrow and often steep mountain road with a posted speed limit of 35 mph. Not only is this slow pace safer for everyone, it also helps you relax and enjoy your beautiful surroundings.
A 6.7 mile hike rewards visitors with this waterfall view.
Skyline Drive is the starting point for a huge number of hiking trails (500 of them), many of which permit dogs, making Shenandoah one of the country’s most pet-friendly national parks. There are three other entrances to the drive, at Thornton Gap, Swift Run, and Rockfish Gap, the latter serving as Skyline’s southern entrance. So far as recommendations go for commercial enterprises along the Drive, we suggest a stop at Skyland (mile 41.7). This handsome stone and timber lodge offers lodging (rooms and cabins), a dining room, a taproom that features live music, a fast-food outlet, and a gift shop. Guided horseback riding trips and a variety of ranger-led programs also originate from Skyland. The drive’s South District is the longest and most remote section of the roadway, with more dense forests and fewer facilities. Recommended stops along the last 40 or so miles of the drive include Doyles River, Loft Mountain, and a 6.7-mile loop trail that encounters three waterfalls.
For more information: https://www..nps.gov/shen 540-999-3500
The Blue Ridge Mountains at sunset.
EIGHT GREAT NATIONAL PARK SCENIC DRIVE
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SPRING 2023 | 21
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