Shenandoah National Park

In May of 2015, my husband John and I shared our first real outdoor experience and went to Shenandoah National Park. Prior to visiting John’s sister in D.C, we had discovered our love for the outdoors and decided to make the trek two hours west on I-64. We booked a cabin room for two nights at the Skyland Resort inside the Park which turned out to be one of the most life changing decisions we’d ever made. The lodge is centrally located within the park boundaries and is only a short drive away from the majority of the attractions. Upon arrival, we checked into our cabin which was a welcome break from the downtown crowds of D.C. Our deck was situated perfectly in a clearing between the trees which overlooked the Shenandoah River Valley. A short walk away, we discovered the Mountain Taproom and Polluck Dining Room which are welcome sights after a long day of hiking (don’t miss the Mile High Blackberry Ice Cream Pie). 

The view from our cabin deck at the Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park.

During our time in the park, we hiked three trails which totaled 10 miles.  Our favorite by far, was the Stony Man Nature Trail.  It was a surprisingly easy climb (about 1.5 mi each way) which led to a stunning overlook of the Shenandoah Valley below.  Out of all the trails we have hiked in the National Park system, we consider it to have one of the best effort to reward ratios.  Meaning, there is minimal effort required for a tremendous payout at the trail’s conclusion.  John and I sat silently on the boulders at the top for at least 30 minutes taking in the vastness of the land surrounding us.  The Stony Man Overlook is the second highest point in the park at 4,011 feet. The highest point in the park can be found at the summit of Hawksbill Mountain.  The hike to the summit of Hawksbill is around two miles and includes some minor rock scrambling through dense wilderness. The view at the summit was definitely worth it however in our opinion, due to surrounding mountains the view of the valley from Hawksbill was obstructed and thus less impressive than Stonyman.

Stony Man Overlook

Perhaps the most popular trail in Shenandoah is the 1.5 mile hike to Dark Hollow Falls. The steep trek down was fantastic. The hike back up; not so much.  However, I will say the Falls were absolutely worth the agony.  The sound can be heard from the moment you step on the trail; growing louder and louder as you continue down, finally turning a corner and getting a first glimpse of the falls.  There is still a ways to go, but the view only improves as you descend on the trail.  When you reached the bottom and turn around to view the falls, it is mesmerizing.

Dark Hollow Falls

 On another note, if you decide to visit Shenandoah National Park I absolutely recommend taking the short drive down into the valley to the Luray Caverns.  The caves are not in the park boundaries but are like nothing you've ever seen before.  Taking the steps down into the cold, damp, darkness is how I imagine it feels entering the Upside Down (Stranger Things anyone?!).  The rock formations are quite intriguing, continuously dripping from the ceiling and rising up from the ground.  

Luray Caverns

Shenandoah will always have a special place in our hearts, as it is the first National Park we visited and it was the inspiration for our lifetime goal of visiting all 60 U.S. Parks.  At the time, that goal had not yet come to fruition and looking back, we may have done the trip a bit differently. For one thing, we definitely would have hiked the 5.4 mile Old Rag trail.  It is one of the most revered and challenging trails in the park, which includes numerous rock scrambles on the way up to the 3,268 foot summit.  We also would have tried to see a bit more of the park itself.  Shenandoah is very narrow and lengthy (100 miles to be exact) making it difficult to see the whole park in one weekend.  I guess it just gives us an excuse to plan a trip back!