Looking for nice places to visit? Shenandoah national park is your best destination. This American national park is one of the favourite destinations in the eastern part of the United States. As an illustration, it receives more than a million visitors every year. It is a paradise for hiking. It is the ideal place for Americans to forget the tensions of city life. It is located along the Blue Ridge Mountains in north-central Virginia, northwest of Charlottesville and about 75 miles from Washington DC. Read on to find out more about the interests of visiting this park.
Skyline Drive’s Reputation
Shenandoah National Park is a popular park because of its scenic route, especially the Skyline Drive. It is the first national park service road east of the Mississippi River and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is 170 km long and runs along the crest of the mountains. This road is mostly used in the fall when the leaves on the trees change colour.
The assets of Shenandoah national park
In this famous park, you will have the opportunity to discover beautiful landscapes. It offers magnificent views in all seasons. Moreover, it is also very appreciated for its fauna which contains mammals: deer, black bear, lynx, raccoons, striped skunks, grey foxes, groundhogs, coyotes, otters, possums, badgers, etc. There are also 200 species of birds that spend part of the year in the park: wild turkeys, geese, chickadees, eagles, peregrine falcons and 32 species of fish have also been recorded. For your visit to Shenandoah National Park, tourist accommodation is available, including lodges: Big Meadows Lodge and Skyland Resort. However, it is advisable to book several months in advance.
What attractions are available ?
In the American Shenandoah National Park, you can do many activities. For example, you can go horseback riding, camping, cycling, but also a number of waterfalls.
As far as camping is concerned, there are rules governing this activity in the American Shenandoah National Park. Indeed, campers must leave the place intact before their departure. Therefore, they must not leave any traces such as excrement for example. In terms of protection, you will have to be very careful with wild animals such as bears and poisonous snakes. There are five major campgrounds including Mathews Arm Campground, Big Meadows Campground, Lewis Mountain Campground, Loft Mountain Campground and Dundo Group Campground. It is best to make a choice from the map before arriving on site. Some pitches require advance reservations while others are available without a reservation. The price varies between $15 and $20 per night depending on the campground.
How to visit this park ?
To visit Shenandoah national park, you must plan a few days in your calendar because it should be noted that this park cannot be visited in one go. From north to south, you can access this park through four main entrances including the Front Royal (south of the town of Winchester, the closest to Washington DC), the Thornton Gap, the Swift Run Gap (from Harrisonburg and Elkton) and the Rockfish Gap (the southernmost, near Charlottesville). For places to visit, you can find maps and information on trails in the area.
