Introduction
Shenandoah National Park is one the beautiful national parks located along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, United States. The park was established in 1935. Major part of the park is surrounded by Shenandoah River and Valley to the west, and the hills of Virginia Piedmont to the east. The park has a total area of around 200K-acres. Skyline Drive is the main public park road and is also an important feature that spans for around 105 miles and takes the visitors around the park overlooks offering several stunning views. Park Headquarters is located on route 211 few miles away from Thornton Gap Entrance station.
The park features several cascading waterfalls, hiking trails, stunning overlooks, wildlife, wild flowers, etc., which attracts thousands of visitors each year. There are around 500 miles of trails for hike lovers. Fall is one of the most popular season to travel around this park and so is the spring which offers the most beautiful views with colorful wild-flowers throughout the park.
Park Entrance and Fees
There are 4 entrances to the park from where visitors can enter
- Front Royal Entrance in the North near Front Royal city
- Rockfish Gap Entrance in the South between Waynesboro and Afton
- Thornton Gap Entrance on route 211 near Luray
- Swift Run Gap Entrance on route 33 near Elkton
Front Royal Entrance station is mostly crowded with huge traffic and so is Thornton Gap Entrance station. The other 2 entrances are least crowded and so one can plan to enter the park from either Rockfish Gap or Swift Run Gap Entrance to avoid long wait times.
There is a park admission fee of $30 per vehicle which is good for 7 consecutive days. There are also fees for other type of vehicles, bikers or individuals. One can also purchase annual pass if interested. We would suggest purchasing the pass online to avoid delays at entrance station. When purchasing the pass online, you input your vehicle license plate and the date of first day of your visit. There is also a separate counter or entrance station for pass holders at Front Royal entrance.
Visitor Centers and Picnic Grounds
There are 2 visitor centers inside the park. Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is located near the Front Royal and is open throughout except during winters and holidays. Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center is located near Big Meadows in the center of the park and is open throughout except when the weather conditions are bad.
The park offers several picnic grounds for visitors to take break and enjoy food inside the park. There are grounds at Dickey Ridge, Lewis Mountain, Elkwallow, Pinnacles, Big Meadows, etc.
Where to Stay
There are several accommodation options within and around the park based upon from which entrance you enter and where you exit. There are several hotels available in Front Royal, Waynesboro, Staunton, Luray, Elkton. Other options are at Stephens city, Strasburg and Winchester.
There are also cabins and lodges available at Lewis Mountain, Skyland Resort and Big Meadows within the park. They may be bit expensive when compared to those outside the park. Campgrounds are located at Mathews Arm, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain, Loft Mountain and Dundo. There are fees for booking campgrounds and they can be reserved 6 months in advance.
During our visit to the park, we were travelling from one of the South-Eastern states and stayed at La Quinta Inn & Suites in Lynchburg. Next day after covering most of the park, we stayed at La Quinta Inn & Suites in Winchester. Both the Lynchburg and Winchester had several accommodation and dining options.
Skyline Drive – The Scenic Byway
The skyline drive is a 105 miles long scenic byway located along the Blue ridge mountains inside Shenandoah National Park. This is the only public road that runs through the entire park and this important feature was constructed around 1930s. One may keep an entire day to drive through this road, stopping by the overlooks and enjoying several amazing views. There are around 75 overlooks along this route offering beautiful scenic view of the surrounding mountains and hills, wilderness and Shenandoah valley. Appalachian Trail runs just around by the side of Skyline Drive through the park. The drive also offers access to several other trails for hiking lovers.
The road is marked by mile posts which help one locate any must see overlooks or scenic spots along the route. The mile post 0 is marked at the start of Front Royal Entrance and mile post 105 at the south end of the park which is at Rockfish Gap Entrance. The speed limit is 35 mph and there are many curves along the way, so drive carefully and enjoy the views throughout. The end of Skyline drive is the beginning of Blue Ridge Parkway.
Skyline drive is open throughout the year. It is closed during bad weather especially during winter, so ensure to check the NPS site for driving and weather alerts and conditions before planning the visit.
Our Experience at Shenandoah National Park
We were visiting the park for the first time and had read a lot about beauty of the park during fall and spring season. Hence, we planned our road trip to the park during fall 2020 and travelled from south-eastern state to Virginia. Our first stay was at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Lynchburg.
Next morning, we left from Lynchburg to Shenandoah National Park. We entered the park from Rockfish Gap entrance station around 10:30 AM EDT with no traffic at the station as stated on the NPS site. The drive starts along the Skyline Drive scenic byway and at milepost 105.0.
Per our observation in the past, there must be some rain followed by a cloudy weather to experience the best fall foliage colors. Rain usually clears dust from leaves and makes them glow and cloudy weather keeps them from drying and hence offering bright display of colors. Unfortunately, it was very sunny on the day of our visit and there was no hint of rain. The drive was scenic with trees on both side of the road and we could see some fall foliage color display. We were only planning to cover the scenic overlooks and were not looking for any hikes or trails.
McCormick Gap, Beagle Gap & Calf Mountain Overlooks
Our first stop was at the McCormick Gap overlook which is located around milepost 102.3 and faces west at an elevation of around 2,455 foot. The overlook provides a view of southern end of the Shenandoah Valley. One can also see the Turk Mountain at a far distance.
Next, we stopped by Beagle Gap overlook. It is located near milepost 100.0 and at an elevation of 2,495 foot facing east of the park. The view stretches to the Piedmont region of Virginia. It also provides a view of Charlottesville town to the right and Calf Mountain to the left.
Calf Mountain overlook is located at milepost 99.0 and faces west at an elevation of 2,485 foot. This overlook offers a view of the Waynesboro town which is located on the western side of the Jarman’s Gap. It also provides a view of the Scott Mountain.
Sawmill Ridge, Sawmill Run & Turk Mountain Overlooks
Moving forward, we stopped by Sawmill Ridge overlook which is located at milepost 96.0 facing southwest at an elevation of 2,210 foot. You can get a beautiful view of southern part of the Shenandoah valley. One can also see the Calf mountain to the left, Scott Mountain at a very far distance, Ramsey Mountain and Sawmill Ridge itself to the right.
Sawmill Run overlook is next along the drive. It faces southwest at an elevation of 2,200 foot and located at just before milepost 95.5. It provides a view of Sawmill Run to the left and Sawmill Ridge to the right with other distant mountain views.
Just around couple of miles from Sawmill Ridge is the Turk Mountain overlook. It faces northwest at an elevation of 2,720 foot and is located around milepost 93.7. It offers a view of Turk Mountain and others like Scott Mountain and Sawmill Ridge to the left and Shenandoah Valley to the right at a very far distance.
Crimora Lake, Wildcat Ridge, Moormans River & Riprap Overlooks
Next on the Skyline drive is Crimora Lake overlook which faces northwest at an elevation of 2,980 foot. It is located at milepost 92.5. The overlook provides a view of Crimora lake located between Thorofare and Wildcat Ridge. Just few foot away from this overlook is the parking area to the Trailhead of Wildcat Ridge which is a strenuous hike if one is interested.
After Crimora Lake overlook, we stopped by Moormans River overlook. This was located at milepost 92.0 and at an elevation of 2,975 foot facing east. Charlottesville Reservoir is the main view from this overlook in addition to view of Pasture Fence mountain, Sawlog Ridge and Bucks Elbow mountain. As the reservoir is fed by Moormans River, hence the name of the overlook.
Riprap overlook is next overlook facing west at an elevation of 2,920 foot and located around milepost 91.5. One can get a view of Waynesboro town, Turk mountain and Wildcat Ridge. Riprap trail parking is located at milepost 90 if one is interested in taking the hike.
Horsehead & Trayfoot Mountain Overlooks
Horsehead overlook faces northwest towards Shenandoah Valley at an elevation of 2,580 foot and is located at milepost 88.5. You can see Rocks mountain to extreme left, then Horsehead mountain straight ahead, Trayfoot mountain in the right. Also, one can see the distant view of Shenandoah valley from this overlook.
Trayfoot Mountain overlook faces southeast at an elevation of 2,575 foot and is located around milepost 87.0. From this overlook you will see Cedar mountain to the left, and Pasture Fence Mountain to the right. Trayfoot mountain is on the west side of the skyline drive.
Blackrock Summit and Jones Run parking is located just before Dundo overlook between milepost 83.0 and 85.0. Blackrock Summit hike is said to be easy while the Jones Run trail hike that takes one to the Jones Run Falls is moderate.
Dundo & Doyles River Overlooks
Dundo overlook comes next along the skyline drive located at milepost 83.5. It faces northwest at an elevation of 2,769 foot and provides a view of distant mountains including Trayfoot, Austin and Massanutten mountain in addition to the Dundo Hollow located straight ahead of the overlook. It also offers a view of Harrisonburg town that is located beyond the Massanutten mountain.
There is also a picnic ground located just nearby this overlook which is open year-round. One can find restrooms, drinking water, picnic tables, grills, etc. There is also a campground located at the end of the loop.
Next overlook on the route is at milepost 82.0 and is named Doyles River overlook. It faces east at an elevation of 2,875 foot. One can see the view of Browns Cover located between Little Flat mountain and High-Top mountain to the left, and Cedar mountain to the right.
Big Run Overlook & Loft Mountain Wayside
Next comes the Big Run overlook located just before milepost 81.0. It faces northwest from an elevation of 2,860 foot. The view offered by the overlook is Rockytop and Shenandoah valley. Some of the views is obstructed by the trees. Big Run trailhead is located from around this overlook which is a 5.8 miles loop with moderate hike. Just after the Big Run overlook lies the Doyles River Falls trailhead which is a 3.3 miles round trip moderate hike to Doyles River Falls.
Then we stopped by the Loft Mountain Wayside. This is a good place for a quick meal, gifts or souvenirs. There is also a restroom available here. When we visited, the dining room was closed but the gift shop was open, and we bought a souvenir.
Loft Mountain campground is located just on the other side of the road on top of the Big Flat mountain. This is one of the largest campground in the park. Facilities such as picnic area, campstore, restroom, drinking water, campground, ranger station, amphitheater, etc, are available at this place. Most of these facilities are closed during winter.
Rockytop, Ivy Creek & Brown Mountain Overlooks
Heading from Loft Mountain Wayside, we next stopped by Rockytop overlook. This is located at milepost 78.0 and faces northwest at an elevation of around 2,860 foot. In addition to the view of the Rockytop, one can also see Lewis mountain at a far distance and Loft mountain to the right.
Our next stop was at Ivy Creek overlook which is at milepost 77.5 and faces east at an elevation of 2,890 foot. One can see the views of Weaver mountain to the left and Loft mountain to the right. The view of Flattop mountain can be seen straight ahead of the overlook.
Brown Mountain overlook is located at milepost 77.0 facing west at an elevation of 2,844 foot. It provides one with a view of Trayfoot mountain to the far left, Rockytop at a far distance and straight ahead, Big Run and a close view of Rocky Mountain to the right. You can also see the view of Rocky mount, Two Mile Ridge and Shenandoah valley looking northwards.
Two Mile Run, Loft Mountain & Beldor Hollow Overlooks
Next was Two Mile Run overlook, located at milepost 76.2. It faces west at an elevation of 2,770 foot. The view of Brown Mountain, Two Mile Ridge, Two Mile Run, and Rocky Mount are offered by the overlook.
Then we stopped by Loft Mountain overlook located at milepost 74.5 facing east at an elevation of 2,455 foot. One can see the view of Flattop, Brokenback, Countyline, Fox and Loft Mountain from this overlook.
Beldor Hollow overlook is next on the way located at milepost 72.2. It faces west from an elevation of 2,345 foot. It covers view of Weaver Mountain, Two Mile Run and Rocky Mount.
Rocky Mount, Eaton Hollow & Bacon Hollow Overlooks
Next overlook we stopped by was Rocky Mount overlook which is located at milepost 71.2 and faces northwest at an elevation of 2,445 foot. The overlook offers a view of Rocky Mount straight ahead along with views of Two Mile Ridge, Two Mile Run and Massanutten Mountain.
Eaton Hollow overlook is the next along the way. It is located at milepost 70.6 and faces northeast at an elevation of 2,500 foot. The overlook offers the view of Elkton town and Shenandoah Valley. View of Eaton Hollow is mostly obstructed by the trees.
Bacon Hollow overlook provides a view of broad Hollow named Bacon Hollow in the Piedmont of Virginia. It is located at milepost 69.3 and faces southeast at an elevation of 2,455 foot. In addition, it also offers view of Flattop and Brokenback Mountain.
Sandy Bottom, Swift Run & Hensley Hollow Overlooks
Sandy Bottom overlook is located at milepost 67.8 and faces west at the Shenandoah Valley. The overlook offers the view of Sandy Bottom which is a small community in the Shenandoah Valley. One can also see view of Bush Mountain and Beldor Ridge.
Swift Run Overlook faces north west from an elevation of 2,715 foot and located at milepost 67.2. It offers a view of Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain. Most of it is obstructed by vegetation. Swift Run Gap Entrance is located around milepost 65.0.
Hensley Hollow overlook is located at milepost 64.4 and faces north at an elevation of 2,560 foot. One can see view of Shenandoah Valley, Hensley Ridge and Hensley Hollow. One can also see Elkton town at a far distance.
South River, Baldface Mountain & The Oaks Overlooks
South River overlook is located around milepost 62.7 and faces southeast at an elevation of 2,950 foot. The view provided by the overlook is a narrow passage with a distant view of Saddleback Mountain. The overlook is surrounded by field that offer beautiful display of wildflowers during spring/summer. South River picnic ground is just 0.1 mile away from this overlook. There is also a trail to South River Falls from inside the picnic area which one can take if interested.
Baldface Mountain overlook faces northwest at an elevation of 3,345 foot and is located around milepost 61.2. It offers a beautiful view of various mountains and the valley of Shenandoah. One can see Huckleberry Mountain and Dean Mountain from this overlook.
The Oaks overlook faces west at an elevation of 3,125 foot and is located at milepost 59.0. This is again another overlook whose view is obstructed by vegetation around with a small view of Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain.
Lewis Mountain, The Point & Hazeltop Ridge Overlooks
Lewis Mountain located at milepost 57.5 and is located east of skyline drive. It offers services such as campground, picnic area, campstore, restroom, showers, grills, and amphitheater. The campground area is open throughout the year except in winter
Next there is Bearfence Trailhead located around milepost 56.5 which takes you through the trail to a beautiful view of Virginia Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley.
The Point overlook faces northwest at an elevation of 3,230 foot and is located around milepost 55.6. The overlook offers view of Powell Mountain straight ahead and other blue ridge mountains such as Green Mountain and Grindstone Mountain. One can also get to see the view of Elkton town to the left and Valley of Shenandoah to the right.
Hazeltop Ridge overlook is located at milepost 54.4 and faces northwest. It offers a wide scenic view with Powell Mountain, Hanse, Grindstone and Smith Mountain at a far distance, Devils Tanyard & Long Ridge straight ahead of the overlook.
Naked Creek & Tanners Ridge Overlooks, and Big Meadows
The next stop was at Naked Creek overlook which is located at milepost 53.3. It faces west from an elevation of 3,250 foot. Most of the view from here is obstructed by the vegetation but one can see Elkton town at far distance and part of Hanse, Green and Grindstone Mountain.
There is a trail located at milepost 52.8 named Milam Gap Trailhead which is a moderate 4 miles round trip hike. The trail is said to take one through dense forest and to the Rapidan camp. We didn’t take any of the hikes but thought to add this information to the post if any interested in taking the same.
We then stopped by Tanners Ridge overlook on our way. It is located at milepost 51.5 and faces west from an elevation of 3,460 foot. The overlook is surrounded by field and beyond the field one can see the valley of Shenandoah along with some view of Stanley town.
Just 0.5 mile away from Tanners Ridge overlook is Big Meadows. Byrd Visitor center is located around this place and has rangers to help with information. In addition to visitor center, there is a wayside, campground, and trails in the area. One can take a break here before proceeding further on the skyline drive. The wayside offers groceries, supplies, gifts and food. The Big Meadows area also offers facilities such as park store, movie theatre, exhibit, restroom, picnic area, drinking water, amphitheater, etc. There is also a lodge, gas station and bike repair station. Most facilities are seasonal and closed during winter.
Dark Hallow Falls, Fishers Gap & Franklin Cliff Overlooks
Dark Hollow Falls is said to be one of the famous and beautiful waterfalls in the park. The trailhead to the waterfall is located at milepost 50.6. The trail is around 1.4 miles round trip and is moderate hike. The falls is visited by a lot of visitors.
Next overlook is Fishers Gap overlook. It is located at milepost 49.4 and faces northwest at an elevation of 3,070 foot. The overlook provides narrow view of Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain and New Market Gap.
Franklin Cliff overlook is located at 49th mile and faces northwest from an elevation of 3,140 foot. One can see the views of Stanley town located in the narrow hollow straight ahead of the overlook, Luray town to the right and view of Blackrock to the right.
Spitler Knoll & Old Rag View Overlooks
Spitler Knoll overlook is located at milepost 48.1 and at an elevation of 3,285 foot. It faces northwest and provides a view of Dovel Mountain, Roundhead Ridge and Stanley town.
Upper Hawksbill trailhead located at milepost 46.7 is said to be an easy 2.1 round trip hike to Hawksbill Mountain which is the highest peak in the Shenandoah National Park with an elevation of 4,050 foot. It offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the valley, blue ridge mountains and Piedmont of Virginia.
Old Rag View overlook is the next overlook located at milepost 46.5. It faces northeast at an elevation of 3,585 foot. The overlook is mostly obstructed by vegetation around with a small view of Old Rag Mountain.
Hawksbill and Cedar Run trailhead are both located around the milepost 45.5. Hawksbill Trailhead faces west and takes one to the highest peak in the park with a panoramic view same as Upper Hawksbill trailhead. Cedar Run trail faces east and is said to be a steep, strenuous hike to a beautiful waterfall of Whiteoak Canyon and cascades of Cedar Run. The trail is around 7.3 miles long and difficult hike.
Crescent Rock & Timber Hollow Overlooks, Whiteoak Canyon Trailhead & Skyland
Crescent Rock overlook is located at milepost 44.5 and faces west at an elevation of 3,550 foot. One can see the view of Hawksbill Mountain to the left, Nakedtop which descends to Hershberger Ridge and finally onto distant Shenandoah Valley to the right.
Timber Hollow overlook is located at milepost 43.4 and faces west at an elevation of 3360 foot. One can see the views of Nakedtop mountain, Timber Hollow and town of Ida.
Whiteoak Canyon trailhead is located at milepost 42.5 and is a moderate to difficult 4.6 miles round trip hike taking one to Whiteoak Falls and cascades around. The complete hike is around 7.3 miles which is similar hike as that from Cedar Run trailhead.
To the other side of the Whiteoak Canyon trailhead is the south entrance of Skyland area. This area has Skyland lodge with variety of accommodations options, restaurants, gift shop, amphitheater, picnic tables and a historic Massanutten Lodge. There is also a place to charge your electric vehicle and bike repair station. Skyland north entrance is located at milepost 41.7. The highest point on the Skyline drive is located around milepost 41.7 and has an elevation of 3,680 foot.
Thorofare Mountain, Hemlock Springs & Stony Man Overlooks
Thorofare Mountain overlook faces east and is the highest overlook in the park with an elevation of 3,595 foot. It is located at milepost 40.5 and provides a view of Thorofare Mountain to the left, Hazel Mountain at a far distance, Old Rag and Robertson Mountain.
Next on the route is Hemlock Springs overlook located at milepost 39.8. It faces east with an elevation of 3,380 foot. Part of the view from this overlook is covered by vegetation but one can see the views of Pinnacle Ridge, Hazel Mountain and Nicholson Hollow.
Stony Man overlook is located at milepost 38.6 and faces northwest at an elevation of 3,100 foot. One can view a part of Shenandoah valley called the Page valley and the Market Gap at a far distance.
Little Stony Man trailhead is located just a few feet before this overlook. It is an easy 1-mile round trip hike taking one to the Little Stony Man Cliffs. From here one can get the view of Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain.
Pinnacles Picnic Ground is located at milepost 36.6 and is open year-round. The area offers facilities such as picnic tables, drinking water, grills, restrooms, etc.
Jewell Hollow, Pinnacles & Hazel Mountain Overlooks
Jewell Hollow overlook is located at milepost 36.4 and faces northwest at an elevation of 3,320 foot. It offers view of Leading Ridge which is closest to the overlook, Jewell Hollow behind the Leading Ridge and Morning Star Lake to the left.
Pinnacles overlook is located at milepost 35.1 and faces south towards the Virginia Piedmont side from an elevation of 3,320 foot. One will get to see the view of Hot Mountain to the left, Hannah Run, Old Rag at a far distance behind the Hannah Run and Pinnacle Ridge close to the overlook.
Hazel mountain overlook is located at 33rd mile. It faces southeast at an elevation of 2,770 foot. The overlook offers visitors with a view of Granodiorite rock formation, Buck Ridge and Hazel mountain at the far distance. The view of Hazel mountain is between the Granodiorite and Buck Ridge.
Buck Hollow & Tunnel Parking Overlooks
Buck Hollow overlook is located at milepost 32.8 and faces northeast from an elevation of 2,710 foot. One can get to see the view of various mountains from here. Skinner Ridge is located to the left and Hazel Mountain to the right at a far distance. Buck Ridge is at the center of the view or straight ahead of the overlook and the town of Sperryville is just behind it.
Tunnel Parking overlook is next along the way located at milepost 32.4. The overlook faces east at an elevation of 2510 foot and offers view of two big mountains straight ahead of it. Oventop Mountain is located towards the left and bit far from the overlook while Skinner Ridge is closer and towards the right. Beyond the two mountains is the town of Sperryville. This is one of the popular overlooks in the park and located just before the Marys Rock Tunnel
Marys Rock Tunnel & Trailhead
Marys Rock Tunnel is a 610-foot long tunnel drilled through the Marys Rock mountain so that the Skyline drive passes from within. The Marys Rock mountains is a 3,514-foot tall mountain in the park and this tunnel passing through it is the iconic feature of the drive. The tunnel is located at milepost 32.2 just south of Thornton Gap entrance. Ensure to turn on the headlights and be in your lane.
Mary Rock Trailhead is a moderate 3.7 miles round trip hike to Marys Rock Summit and is located at milepost 31.5. The view offered from the Summit is said to be obsoletely beautiful and worth taking the hike if interested and have time.
Panorama is a large parking area located south of Thornton Gap Entrance and offers several facilities such as restrooms, drinking waters, picnic area, etc. Thornton Gap entrance is located at milepost 31.3 and Park Headquarters is located on route 211 few miles away from the Thornton Gap entrance station.
Pass Mountain, Beahms Gap & Thornton Hollow Overlooks
Pass Mountain overlook is located at milepost 30.0 and faces west at an elevation of 2,460 foot. One can get to experience the view of Luray town, the Kemp Hollow and Neighbor mountain.
Beahms Gap overlook is located at milepost 28.5 and faces west at an elevation of 2,485 foot. The view offered from the parking lot is of Shenandoah valley but is mostly obstructed by the vegetation around. One can also see a view of Hogback Mountain, Fork Mountain and Oventop Mountain on the east side from the same overlook by crossing the road.
Thornton Hollow overlook faces east at an elevation of 2,460 foot and is located at milepost 22.5. It offers view of Thornton Hollow and Mount Marshall towards left, and several other mountains such as Fork Mountain, Oventop Mountain towards right.
Jeremys Run, Rattlesnake Point & Hogback Overlooks
Jeremys Run overlook is around milepost 26.4 and faces west at an elevation of 2,410 foot. One will get to see a clear view of Hollow formed by Jeremys Run along with views of Neighbor mountain and Knob mountain. This overlook is near Elkwallow wayside.
If you are tired at this point, there is Elkwallow Wayside located at milepost 24.0. It provides facilities such as groceries and camp supplies, food, drinking water, picnic area, restrooms, bike repair station, etc. The wayside is usually closed during winters.
Rattlesnake Point overlook is located at milepost 21.8. It faces southeast from an elevation of 3,105 foot and offers view of several distant mountains. Jenkins Mountains to the extreme left, Pignut Mountain and Oventop Mountain straight ahead of the overlook, and at a far distance towards right are Old Rag, Marys Rock and Stony Man Mountain.
Hogback overlook is located at milepost 21.0 and faces north from an elevation of 3,385 foot. This is said to be the longest overlook in the park spanning around 2 miles. The view offered is of Gimlet Ridge straight ahead of the overlook with Matthews Arms and Shenandoah Valley.
Little Devils Stairs, Little Hogback & Mount Marshall Overlooks
Little Devils Stairs overlook is located at milepost 20.0 and faces southeast at an elevation of 3,120 foot. The view offered from this overlook is amazing. Straight ahead of the overlook is view of Little Devils Stairs. One can also enjoy views of distant mountain such as Jenkins Mountains, Pignut Mountains and Old Rag.
Little Hogback overlook is located at milepost 19.7 and faces northeast at an elevation of 3,035 foot. This overlook offers a narrow view covering close by Browntown valley and Massanutten Mountains at a far distance.
Mount Marshall overlook faces southeast at an elevation of 2,850 foot and is located at milepost 19.0. One can get to see a clear view of Jenkins Mountain and Keyser Mountain straight ahead of the overlook. It also offers view of Virginia Piedmont region towards right at a far distance.
Gimlet Ridge, Range View & Browntown Valley Overlooks
Gimlet Ridge overlook is located at milepost 18.4 and faces north from an elevation of 2,675 foot. It offers view of descending slops of Gimlet Ridge along with view of Signal Knob at a far distance and valley of Browntown towards right.
Range View overlook is another overlook offering beautiful view of the Shenandoah Mountains range. It is located at milepost 17.1 and faces south from an elevation of 2,810 foot. The overlook offers view of several mountains located side by each other. It includes Hogback Mountain, Mount Marshall and Pass Mountain toward right, Jenkins Mountain and Keyser Mountain towards left, and straight ahead of the overlook at a far distance is view of Old Rag and Stony Man Mountain.
Browntown Valley overlook is located at milepost 14.9. It faces northwest from an elevation of 2,890 foot and majorly offers view of Browntown Valley. One can also see Hogback Mountain, Gimlet Ridge and Massanutten mountain at a very far distance.
Hogwallow Flats, Jenkins Gap & Indian Run Overlooks
Next overlook is Hogwallow Flats overlook located at milepost 13.8. It faces southeast from an elevation of 2,665 foot. The close by view from the overlook is mostly vegetation around but one can get to see view of Rappahannock County at a far distance. The only prominent mountain view from this overlook is that of Mount Marshall located towards the right.
Jenkins Gap overlook is one of those overlooks that offer narrow window with a view obstructed by vegetation. It is located at milepost 12.5 and faces east at an elevation of 2,355 foot. One may get a slight view of Bolton Branch Hollow and Virginia Piedmont.
Indian Run overlook is located at milepost 10.7 and faces east at an elevation of 2,400 foot. It provides view of Indian Run Stream straight ahead of overlook along with Virginia Piedmont at a far distance.
Just after the Indian Run overlook is Low Gap which is located at milepost 10.0. This place offers a beautiful view of fall foliage and you may not want to miss this place if you are planning your visit around the fall.
Gooney Manor, Gooney Run and Signal Knob Overlooks
With only a few overlooks left, the next along the way is Gooney Manor overlook located at milepost 7.3. It is located at an elevation of 1,930 foot and faces southwest towards Browntown and Shenandoah Valley. It offers an expansive view of several other mountains such as North and South Marshall, Hogback Mountain, and Gimlet Ridge.
Gooney Run overlook is located at milepost 6.8 and faces northwest at an elevation of 2,085 foot. It offers a narrow window with a view of Browntown and Shenandoah valley. Most of the other surrounding is obstructed by vegetation.
Signal Knob overlook mostly provides a flat clear view of Shenandoah River and Valley, along with views of Signal Knob and Gimlet Ridge at a far distance. It is located at milepost 5.6 and faces northwest from an elevation of 2,090 foot.
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center and Shenandoah Valley Overlook
Dickey Ridge Visitor center is located just 4.5 miles away from Front Royal Entrance. One can stop by this place and spend some time talking to ranger, wander around exhibit and gift shop, view park movie, etc. The visitor center is mostly closed during winters. There is picnic ground and restrooms available here. Fox Hollow trailhead is located just opposite side of the road. The trail hike is around 1.2 miles and takes one Fox Hollow.
Shenandoah Valley overlook is the last on the skyline drive when travelling from south and is located at milepost 2.8. It faces northwest at an elevation of 1,390 foot. It offers view of the northern part of the Shenandoah Valley covering Signal Knob to the left and Front Royal town to the right.
Lastly one would end up exiting at Front Royal Entrance. Do not miss to take a stop at the entrance and click a photo with the Park Entrance Board. When entering from North, one will have to go through this entrance and being close to Front Royal town, it is one of the busiest entrance. Spring is one of the beautiful seasons to visit this park and is said to display spectacular colors of flowers inside the park.
Entrance from Front Royal on 2nd Day
During our trip, we planned to visit the park again on the 2nd day but this time from the north entrance. There was heavy traffic at Front Royal entrance and it took a while before we made it to the entrance station inspite of purchasing the pass online because there is no separate line for pass holders until you are around 1000-1500 feet away from entrance station.
The day was perfect to experience the fall foliage colors because of early morning rain followed by cloudy weather. As expected we got to see some good fall colors than that on the 1st day.
We did cover the park till Thornton Gap Entrance and then took exit as we had plans to cover part of Blue Ridge Parkway by accessing its north entrance from Waynesboro.
Pin it here!
