Growing up just outside of Washington D.C., I was fortunate enough to live about an hour away from one of the nation’s greatest National Parks: Shenandoah. Nestled in the Appalachian mountains, I grew up gazing across the plains of Virginia to the foothills of the range. The park, alongside the experiences it gave me, inspired both a love of the outdoors and an inspiration for me to preserve our lands for future generations.
While living in Orlando provided me with a different type of thrill, I still found myself longing for the sense of accomplishment that comes from summiting a mountain or that feeling of clear mountain air filling my lungs and the sight of sheer beauty that awaits at every turn of Skyline Drive.
I’m fortunate enough to once again live close to mountains, but still find myself wishing I could visit Shenandoah whenever.
To commemorate this, and to reminisce on a lost wonder, I complied a list of my five favorite memories from the park.
5. A Solitary Bear Encounter
Old Rag
Old Rag Mountain is a staple hike for anyone who enjoys a challenge. The 8-mile trek starts as any other trail, meandering through the quiet woods as it slowly ascends, but cumulates in a challenging rock scramble to the summit. It’s tough, but lead to rewarding panoramic views of the rolling mountaintops below.
Although the popularity of this hike draws crowds, there is a much easier fire road on the descent. I wouldn’t call it a cop out, but it’s nice to have stable footing for the way down. It was on this fire road where my friends and I found ourselves staring at a black bear cub on the trail ahead of us.
Seeing a bear in the wild is always an incredible experience, until you realize just how dangerous they are. Although the tiny cub, only about thirty feet in front of us, looked harmless, his mother couldn’t be far behind. To make my anxiety worse, this was virtually the first time on the hike where no one else was around.
Backing away from the bear, we tried to devise a plan of action in case the mom felt her cub was threatened by us. It was a textbook case of the overused “do you play dead or run” trope. We watched the cub frolic around the shadowy meadows for about five minutes until it decided to climb up a large oak. At that point we felt safe to cautiously move around and continue our trek back down.
Outside of this encounter, I’ve seen quite a few bears in the park. Even driving along Skyline Drive can sometimes lend a glimpse of these monstrous creatures. It’s actually kind of endearing to see the traffic jams of excited visitors gawking at a bear.
4. Stars by the Pocketful
Big Meadows
One thing Northern Virginia isn’t known for is a dark sky full of stars. As the park’s name derives from the stars, the view of the heavens is set to be fantastic.
One night my family and I decided to see if the stars were really as good as everyone had said. It was a warm summer night as we made our way around the cliffs, the contrast between the sunset on one side of the ride and the imposing darkness on the other was magnificent. As the sheer black overtook the bright orange and dark purple hues, tiny specks began to appear in the encompassing darkness. Within a few minutes the sky was alive with seemingly millions of twinkling beacons. It seemed a few hundred more emerged every second! All I could do was stare in awe.
Seeing the millions really put into perspective just how insignificant the universe is, but also reiterated just how important nature is. We’re lucky enough to live on this beautiful planet and I think we should be doing everything possible to protect it.
The best place to stargaze in the park is at the Big Meadows area, but driving down Skyline Drive in a convertible is more than a close second!
3. Plunging Down a Rock
Whiteoak Canyon
Whiteoak Canyon has so many waterfalls, you literally can’t walk half a mile before bumping into another tower of water. One of them, about 1.5 miles into the Broad Run section of the trail, cascades down a rock at the perfect angle to form a slide. Erosion and moss have furthered this by creating a slick surface. You’d never expect as smooth of a decline down a literal rock. To further its perfection, the 30 foot slide splashes into a deep pool below.
One warm summer day, some of my most adventurous friends and I set out on a mission to find the slide. During the hike up, every splash of water drew our attention as we curiously looked for the slide. We couldn’t really decide which was supposed to be safe enough to actually go down, until we turned a corner. It was so obviously a slide that our previous guesses were embarrassing.
Dipping my foot into the stinging water gave me some second thoughts, but it was too late. I was already gliding down the rock. The heart-stopping shock of the water was numbing as I swore I was going to die. Seconds after climbing out, I already found myself going down again.
It was the most refreshing escape from the oppressive southern heat and I can’t wait to see this spot again.
2. Mountain Climbing Virginiaty
Thornton Gap
As you probably know, since I literally mentioned it in the intro, I used to live in Florida. I had the opportunity to meet so many new people as enthused about the outdoors as me and equally as many who weren’t. The Sunshine State doesn’t really have mountains to climb or waterfalls to cascade, so a lot of my friends channeled this passion into different types of outdoor activities.
A few years ago, I got the chance to bring some of my friends up to Shenandoah for not only their first ever mountain experience, but many of their first National Park. They found a new thrill in everything we did, from the view at the top of Mary’s Rock to the perilous twists of Skyline Drive. The awe radiating from their faces as they took in the world outshined the spectacular sunset overtaking the sky.
It was freezing, we were huddled together sitting on a cold rock, and joking about the cold when snowflakes began to swirl around us.
I think I can pin this exact moment as the one where I fell in love with Virginia.
Getting to experience their joy as they explored the woods, summited their first peak and watched snowflakes dance to the ground for the first time was an amazing experience. It was great to be able to share these experiences with them. Even with it being my hundredth time up on that ridge, I still found the same thrill as they did on their first.
1. The First Glimpse, Every. Single. Time.
Thornton Gap
Twisting up Highway 211 to the Thornton Gap entrance to the park is an adventure in itself. Nothing prepares you for the first glance of the valley from 2,500 feet in the sky. Turning onto Skyline Drive, its a leisurely drive through the woods, until you’re submerged into a tunnel. Carved into the literal side of a cliff, the light returns and you’re suddenly greeted with an endless eastern view of Virginia.
Regardless of the number of times I’ve seen done this, it always stops me dead in my tracks. Looking east, the mostly flat plain gives way to a few bumps of much smaller mountains with farms and small communities nestled between. The northern and southern views lend way to the majestic Shenandoah mountains while the western looks across the valley to another range a few miles away. On a clear day, you can see up to three ridges beyond. My dad never fails to excitedly tell us that we can “see all the way to West Virginia!”
Depending on when you visit the park, the sea of color changes. In the spring it’s a vast array of greens. Shades I didn’t even know existed cover the rolling mountains. Summer brings darker greens and a sense of uniformity among the trees. Winter has an expansive amount of browns and grey. Charming in its own way, it inspires cozy evenings with blankets and coca. The fall makes the already breathtaking view even more incredible. Bright oranges and yellows contradict the deep reds dotting the hillside in an explosion of color. No matter when you visit, the view is guaranteed to take your breath away.
For more information and to plan your Shenandoah adventure, check out the park’s official site here.
Turquoise Skies 