Fact Sheet

History

• May 22, 1926 – Date Authorized
• December 26, 1935 – Date Established
• July 3, 1936 – Park dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Park Size:

• 197,438.76 acres (includes 79,579 acres of wilderness area)

Weather:

• Temperatures range from 10 to 100 degrees
• Precipitation Average: 40-50 inches annually

Topography:

• Over 60 peaks with elevation over 3,000 feet
• Highest peak – Hawksbill at 4,051 feet
• Lowest elevation – 561 feet near the north end

Geology:

• Three primary bedrock types:
  • granitic
  • siliciclastic
  • basaltic

Historic Designations

• The park includes two National Historic Landmarks (Rapidan Camp and Skyline Drive Historic District)

Roads & Trails

• 236 miles of roads (including 105 miles of Skyline Drive)
• 75 overlooks
• 518 miles of hiking trails (including 200 miles of designated horse trails and 101 miles of Appalachian Trail)

Lodging & Dining

• 3 lodging facilities (286 rooms total):
  • Skyland – 179 rooms
  • Big Meadows Lodge – 97 rooms
  • Lewis Mountain – 10 rooms
• 3 waysides
• 5 food service outlets – 530 seats
• 6 merchandise outlets
• 1 service station
• 3 public showers/laundries
• 1 stable for trail rides

National Park Service Facilities

• Four Entrance Stations:
  • Front Royal at U.S. 340
  • Thornton Gap at U.S. 211
  • Swift Run Gap at U.S. 33
  • Rockfish Gap at I-64 / U.S. 250
• Two Visitor Centers
• One Information Station
• 2 boundary contact stations (weekends only)
• 4 campgrounds
  • Mathews Arm Campground 172 family sites; 3 group sites
  • Big Meadows Campground 220 family sites; 2 group sites
  • Lewis Mountain Campground 30 family sites
  • Loft Mountain Campground 220 family sites; 3 group sites
• 7 picnic grounds

Hydrology:

• Over 90 streams
• Highest waterfall: Overall Run at 93 feet
• Most visited waterfall: Dark Hollow Falls at 70 feet

Flora, Fauna & Forest

• 1300+ species of plants
• 267 species of trees and shrubs
• 95% of park forested
• 50 species of mammals
• 1 species of ungulate
• 1 species of bear
• 32 species of fish
• 27 species of reptiles
• 18 species of snakes
• 2 species of poisonous snake
• 5 species of turtles
• 3 species of skunks
• 1 species of lizard
• 24 species of amphibians
• 10 species of toads and frogs
• 14 species salamanders and newts
• 1 federally endangered salamander
• Over 200 species of bird