Blue Ridge Country May/June 2021 - 29

LEFT: Hawksbill Mountain is above
4,000 feet and offers a fine 2-mile hike.
RIGHT: Upper Whiteoak Canyon
Falls is a major lure in the park.
BELOW FROM TOP TO
BOTTOM:
Skyland Resort offers ridge-line dining
and accommodations.
Little Stony Man Cliffs are within .8
mile of Skyland.
The climb of Old Rag Mountain is
strenuous and challenging.

WIKIMEDIA

DACHUN BAO (YYDB)

he long pandemic winter has
brought cabin fever to new
heights and left most of us
craving an escape. While overseas travel and domestic plane
rides remain untenable or risky,
Shenandoah National Park offers
convenient, world-class nature experiences close to home.
Centered around iconic 105-mile
ridgeline highway, Skyline Drive, the park
brings easy access to countless 3,000-plusfoot overlooks to the east and west. A pair
of central lodges make perfect basecamps
for exploring 200,000 protected acres-including 115 miles of Appalachian Trail,
more than a dozen waterfalls, 80,000 acres
of wilderness and more.
In celebration this July of the 85th
anniversary of President Franklin Roosevelt dedicating the park, here's a quick
guide to help you make the most of one of
America's greatest natural treasures.

CLASSIC HIGHLIGHTS
From a 4,050-foot peak with panoramic
views to a majestic 93-foot waterfall,
Shenandoah National Park is chock full
of beloved staples. Here are a few of our
favorites.
Old Rag Mountain. The 8.8-mile circuit
hike to this rocky, 3,284-foot peak is one of
the country's most beautiful. The parking
lot is located on the park's eastern slope,

about a dozen miles from the charming
farm village of Sperryville, Virginia. Expect panoramic vistas, a challenging but
nifty rock scramble, seasonal wildflowers
and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. A shorter route-a strenuous 5.4-mile
out-and-back-starts from the Berry Hollow parking area.
Skyland Resort. Nestled atop a 3,680foot peak at milepost 41.7, the 28-building, 178-room resort boasts some of East
Coast's best bedside views. Established in
1885 as a wilderness getaway for natureloving elites, this gem has been renovated
to include modern amenities and well-appointed premium rooms and suites. The
Pollock Dining Room dishes up American-style farm-to-table cuisine, while the
Mountain Taproom offers craft brews,
fresh java and nightly live entertainment.
Rooms start at $101.
Stony Man. This action-packed .8-mile
quickie carries you from Skyland via the
Appalachian Trail and Stony Man Trail to
a rocky, 4,011-foot summit with dazzling
views of the Page Valley, Shenandoah
River and town of Luray. Add another 3.4
miles by following the lariat trail back to
the A.T., heading north, then taking the
Passamaquoddy Loop back to the lodge.
Whiteoak Canyon Falls. While the canyon boasts a series of six cascading falls,
the uppermost drops 86 feet and is the
star of the show. Get there by way of a 4.6-

MAY/JUNE 2021

Blue Ridge Country May/June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country May/June 2021