Top Trails: Shenandoah National Park. Johnny Molloy
fir trees, the two northern-climate trees that hug the highest peaks of the Appalachians, where it is still cool enough for them to survive. Shenandoah has no great stretches of boreal forest, just small pockets of trees sprinkled in the highlands. Throughout the park, locust, pine, and brambles continue reclaiming former clearings, transforming them into towering woodlands once again. Together these forest types, blending and intermingling, comprise a diverse biological ecosystem worthy of national park protection.
Fauna
The Shenandoah’s rich flora and large wildlands support an impressive array of mammals—more than 50 species. The black bear roams throughout Shenandoah and is commonly encountered. From the rich acorn crops of the oak forests to the fruit trees from pioneer homesteads to berries growing rampant in former fields, bears have a wide variety of food sources within the park. Don’t be surprised if you come across a bruin.
Bear Safety Guidelines
• Don’t leave your pack unattended on the trail.
• Keep all food, trash, or scented items in a bearproof canister or safely hung from a tree.
• Pack out all trash.
• Don’t let bears approach your food—make noise, wave your arms, throw rocks. Be bold, but keep a safe distance and use good judgment.
• Never approach a bear, especially a cub.
• Report any bear encounters to the appropriate authority.
There is no doubt that you will see white-tailed deer. When the park was populated by pioneers, unregulated hunting nearly drove the deer from Shenandoah, but today they are found along Skyline Drive and beyond. Drivers must constantly look out for these gentle creatures. They can also be found in the woods and especially in historically cleared areas such as Big Meadows.
A quiet hiker may also witness turkeys on wooded hillsides or in clearings. Furtive bobcats can sometimes be spotted crossing trails. Raccoons are occasionally seen in the wild. Coyotes, found throughout the park, will usually spot you before you see them. A bounding tan tail disappearing into the distance will likely comprise a sighting of this critter, which effectively replaced the extirpated red wolf in the East.
Extensive efforts have been made to keep all animals wild in Shenandoah. Long gone are the days of roadside feedings. Education, along with bearproof garbage cans and storage containers, has reduced negative interactions between people and wildlife.
More than 200 bird species either live in the park or migrate through it. These avians, including pileated woodpeckers and red-tailed hawks, ply the forest for food. The Eastern screech owl emits a goose bump–raising call. Songbirds native to the north and south find a home in the park, and Shenandoah’s north–south orientation adds to its importance as a migratory-bird corridor. Birding, a popular pastime in the park, can enhance any hike.
The park’s waters harbor about three dozen types of fish. Most famously, Shenandoah is a bastion for brook trout. Unlike the Smokies, this park has never had rainbow or brook trout intentionally introduced into its waters. “Brookies” are the only trout native to Shenandoah. Technically, the brook is not a true trout, but a char. Brooks prefer cold, clear waters and are found in more than 50 of the park’s 90 streams. Brown trout have been making their way into the lower reaches of Shenandoah’s streams, but biologists are trying to limit their numbers.
Rattlesnakes may be encountered on the trail—especially in sunny, rocky areas.
Spend some time hiking at Shenandoah, and you may be surprised by the variety of snakes in the area: 18 species in all. Most of those you encounter will be nonvenomous, but be aware that two kinds of poisonous snakes—the copperhead and the timber rattler—call the park home. Copperheads can be found near streams and on outcrops, whereas rattlers will primarily be seen sunning on rocks.
Shenandoah also harbors 14 types of salamanders, including the rare Shenandoah salamander, found only within the park. It’s just one more example of how the life in these mountains lives up to its national park status.
When to Go
Shenandoah has a somewhat undeserved reputation of being overcrowded. Yes, Skyline Drive and its overlooks and facilities can be crowded during summer, on warm season weekends, and on holidays. And it’s true that the roads can also be busy during the October leaf-viewing season. Get a quarter mile from a trailhead on 95% of the hiking trails, however, and you’ll experience solitude. Busy trails—and there are a number of them—are noted in the trail descriptions.
Shenandoah National Park is a four-season destination. Hikers with well-thought-out plans can easily execute their treks beyond the obvious busy times. Try to hike midweek and just before or after major holidays. Spring is a great time, with its renewing vibrancy exemplified by colorful wildflowers and budding trees, as the season of renewal climbs the mountains from low to high. Fall can be rewarding, too, but avoid October weekends. Solitude can be found anytime during winter. As far as busy trails go, try to hike them early in the morning or later in the evening. Iffy weather—that is, a 50% or more chance of rain—often keeps the crowds away. If you can, avoid busy trails on nice-weather weekends.
Weather and Seasons
Each of the four distinct seasons lays its hands on Shenandoah National Park, though elevation always factors into park weather patterns. While each season brings exciting changes in the flora and fauna, the changes can occur seemingly day to day rather than month to month.
Be prepared for a wide range of temperatures and conditions regardless of the season. As a rule of thumb, the temperature decreases about 3 degrees for every 1,000 feet of elevation gained. The approximately 50 inches of yearly precipitation on the Blue Ridge is about 15 inches more than the nearby Shenandoah Valley receives. This precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, though it arrives with slow-moving frontal systems in winter and with thunderstorms in summer.
The table below lists temperatures at Luray, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley just west of the park. Expect temperatures in the higher park elevations to be 10 degrees cooler.
Spring is the most variable season. During March, the first signs of rebirth appear in the lowlands, yet trees in the high country may not fully leaf out until June. Visitors can experience both winter- and summerlike weather in spring. As summer approaches, the strong fronts weaken, and thunderstorms and haze become more frequent. Summertime rainy days can be cool. In fall, continental fronts once again sweep through, clearing the air and bringing warm days and cool nights, though rain is always possible.
The first snows of winter usually arrive in November, and snow can intermittently fall through April, though no permanent snowpack exists. About 40–120 inches of snow can fall during this time. Expect to incur entire days of below-freezing weather, though temperatures can range from mild to bitterly cold, often depending on the elevation.
About the Trails
Trail Selection
Four criteria were used to select the trails for this guide. Only the premier day hikes and overnight backpacks are included, based upon the most beautiful scenery, unique Shenandoah features, ease of access, and diversity of experience. Some of the selected trails are very popular; others are used more infrequently.
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