Blog
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Free Entrance Days To Shenandoah National Park
On five days in 2023, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates in 2023: January 16: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. April 22: First day...
Shenandoah National Park Announces Spring 2023 Opening Dates
Spring is here, and Shenandoah National Park is starting to open. Here is the opening schedule from the park: Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (mile 4.6 Skyline Drive) Open Fridays through Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays), No indoor...
Wildlife Spotting: Where (and how) to Listen and Look
by Patressa Kearns The most-often-asked question of Rangers in Shenandoah National Park (besides “Where’s the nearest restroom?”) is: Where can I find wildlife? And the most-often-given response from a Ranger to this question is: What kind of wildlife are you looking...
How to be a Happy Camper in Shenandoah
by Patressa Kearns Camping popularity has gone through the roof, and not just here at Shenandoah, but everywhere! Here are some things to know to help you increase your chances of getting a campsite in Shenandoah. There are four campgrounds: Mathews Arm (mile 22 on...
Chasing Waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park
June 16, 2024, is International Waterfall Day, and there is no better time of year than spring to early summer to explore the thundering waterways of Shenandoah National Park. The park has more than a dozen named waterfalls, and dozens more course through the Blue...
The Wildflowers of Shenandoah National Park
by Patressa Kerns Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “Earth laughs in flowers. “ If Emerson was right, Shenandoah National Park – with its more than 860 different species of wildflowers – positively belly laughs from late March into October! Starting in spring, when the first...
Fall in Love with Shenandoah Waterfalls
by Patressa Kearns There’s just something about waterfalls. When your soul and body need refreshing, resting beside a waterfall is just about the most perfect experience you can have. Waterfalls are feasts for the senses, and a whole lot less pricey than going to a...
Stars Shine Bright and Right Above You in Shenandoah
by Patressa Kearns Night skies have always been a source of wonder, art, poetry and romantic pop songs. Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” still has the world gazing upon it in awe 133 years after it was painted. There’s just something about the night sky that...
A Dozen Reasons to Visit Shenandoah This Winter
by Patressa Kearns Think it’s true that Shenandoah National Park is best visited in spring, summer, and fall? Think again. Yes, spring is life affirming here. Summer is a blast, and fall...well, fall is hard to beat, with its scarlets, oranges, and...
Winter Hiking Tips
by Patressa Kearns A little bit of planning will help ensure you have a good time and get back home safe and sound. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for your winter hike in Shenandoah. 1) Let someone know your plans. Before you...