Shenandoah National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shenandoah National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Shenandoah National Park Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Shenandoah National Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Virginia, United States
Nearest city	Luray, Front Royal, Elkton, Waynesboro
Area	200,445.92 acres (313.19675 sq mi; 811.1759 km2)
Established	December 26, 1935
Visitors	1,666,265 (in 2020)
Governing body	National Park Service
Website	Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park is a beautiful national park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, United States. It is a long, narrow park with the Shenandoah River and its wide valley to the west. To the east are the rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont.

The main road through the park is Skyline Drive. This road generally follows the top of the mountains. A large part of the park, almost 40%, is a special wilderness area. This means it is kept very natural and protected. The highest point in the park is Hawksbill Mountain, which stands at 4,051 feet (1,235 m) tall.

Discover Shenandoah National Park

Why Shenandoah Park is Special

Shenandoah National Park was created to protect important natural and cultural treasures. It also preserves the stunning mountain scenery. The park offers many ways for people to enjoy nature. Visitors can have fun, find inspiration, and help take care of this special place.

Where is Shenandoah National Park?

Mist at Shenandoah National Park - Front Royal, VA

Park map

The park covers parts of eight different counties in Virginia. It stretches for about 105 miles (169 km) along Skyline Drive. This goes from Front Royal in the north to Waynesboro in the south. The main office for the park is in Luray.

The Ancient Rocks of Shenandoah

Shenandoah National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These mountains rise to over 4,000 feet (1,200 m) high. Some of the rocks in the park are over one billion years old. This makes them some of the oldest rocks in Virginia.

The rocks include very old granite and other rocks changed by heat and pressure. You can see interesting rock columns at Compton Peak. Over millions of years, these rocks were folded and broken. This created the rugged mountains we see today.

How Shenandoah Park Was Created

Satellite view of Shenandoah in autumn, the leaf peeping season

The idea for a national park in the Appalachian Mountains started in 1901. President Theodore Roosevelt supported it, but it took many years. The National Park Service (NPS) was created in 1916. They wanted a national park in the eastern United States.

Early Ideas for a Park

In 1926, Congress approved creating Shenandoah National Park. They also approved Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, no federal money would be used to buy the land. Virginia had to raise money and use its power to acquire the land.

Finding the Land for the Park

Virginia's Governor Harry F. Byrd and businessman William E. Carson supported the park. They believed it would bring tourism and jobs. The land was beautiful but many trees had been lost to a disease. Many families had lived on this land for generations.

It was hard to figure out who owned all the land. There were over 5,000 different pieces of property. Some people did not want to sell their homes. They had lived there for a very long time.

Moving to a New Home

Virginia slowly bought the land. The government has the right to buy private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell, as long as they pay a fair price. Many families had to move from their homes. They had worked the land for their living.

Some families accepted the payments because they needed the money. They wanted a different way of life. Other families did not want to leave their homes at all. Some old homes were removed to make way for the park.

Building the Park with the CCC

A small family cemetery along Skyline Drive

During the Great Depression, many young men found jobs through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). About 1,000 men worked on Skyline Drive. They also removed dead trees and built trails and facilities. These jobs helped many families during a difficult time.

Shenandoah National Park officially opened on December 26, 1935. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt formally opened it on July 3, 1936. A few people were allowed to live out their lives on the land. The last resident, Annie Lee Bradley Shenk, passed away in 1979 at age 92.

A Park for Everyone: Ending Segregation

In the 1930s, when the park was being planned, Virginia had laws that kept people of different races apart. This was called segregation. Park facilities were planned to be separate for white and Black visitors.

Initially, most park facilities were only for white visitors. A separate, smaller area was created for African Americans at Lewis Mountain. However, the government soon decided that all national parks should be open to everyone. By the early 1950s, all facilities in Shenandoah National Park were open to people of all races. This was an important step towards fairness.

Remembering the Park's Past

View from Skyline Drive

After the 1960s, the park began to focus more on its human history. Groups like the Children of the Shenandoah helped share the stories of the families who once lived there. Today, the park offers hikes and tours that explain the history of the mountain people.

Fun Things to Do in Shenandoah

Driving the Scenic Skyline Drive

View from Skyline Drive's Pinnacles Overlook

The park is famous for Skyline Drive. This 105-mile (169 km) road runs along the mountain ridge. It offers amazing views. The Appalachian Trail also runs for 101 miles (163 km) through the park. In total, there are over 500 miles (800 km) of trails.

You can also enjoy horseback riding, camping, and bicycling. Many beautiful waterfalls are waiting to be discovered. Skyline Drive is a special historic road and a National Scenic Byway.

Camping in the Wild Backcountry

Red oaks in late fall along the ridges.

Shenandoah National Park has 196,000 acres (306.2 sq mi; 793.2 km²) of backcountry for camping. When camping in the wilderness, remember to "Leave No Trace." This means packing out everything you pack in. You should also bury human waste properly. Campfires are not allowed in the backcountry.

Be aware of wildlife like bears and snakes. Always hang your food in "bear bags" or use special bear canisters. This keeps bears from getting your food. All animals in the park are protected by law.

Places to Stay: Campgrounds and Lodges

Most campgrounds are open from April to October or November. There are five main campgrounds:

• Mathews Arm Campground
• Big Meadows Campground
• Lewis Mountain Campground
• Loft Mountain Campground
• Dundo Group Campground

You can also stay in lodges or cabins:

• Skyland Resort
• Big Meadows
• Lewis Mountain Cabins
• Potomac Appalachian Trail Club public use cabins

Massanutten Lodge at Skyland Resort

The park has two visitor centers. One is at Big Meadows, and the other is at Dickey Ridge. You can also visit Rapidan Camp. This was President Herbert Hoover's fishing retreat. It is a 4.1-mile (6.6 km) round-trip hike.

Shenandoah National Park is very friendly to dogs. They are allowed in all campgrounds and on almost all trails. Dogs must be on a leash (6 feet or shorter). However, dogs are not allowed on ten specific trails. These trails are less than 20 miles out of the park's 500 miles of trails.

Many people enjoy fly fishing for native brook trout in the park's streams.

Amazing Waterfalls to Explore

The park has many beautiful waterfalls. Here are some of the most notable:

Popular Hiking Trails

Dark Hollow Falls Trail

Dark Hollow Falls

This trail starts at mile 50.7 on Skyline Drive. It is near the Byrd Visitor Center. The trail goes downhill next to Hogcamp Branch. It leads to Dark Hollow Falls, a 70 ft (21 m) waterfall.

The hike to the base of the falls is about 0.7 mi (1.1 km). You might see black bears or timber rattlesnakes. The trail is short but can be steep in places. Be careful of slippery rocks near the falls.

Weather and Nature in the Park

Shenandoah's Climate

The park has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and no dry season. The average lowest temperature in winter can be around -7.1 °F (-21.7 °C). The park gets a good amount of rain and snow each year.

Plants and Trees of the Park

The park's plants are typical for the eastern Mid-Atlantic mountains. You will find many kinds of trees and smaller plants. Pines grow on sunny hillsides. Hemlocks and mosses prefer cooler, wetter spots.

Other common plants include oak, hickory, maple, and tulip poplar trees. You can also see mountain laurel, milkweed, daisies, and many types of ferns. The American chestnut tree was once very common. However, a fungus called chestnut blight almost wiped them out in the 1930s. Now, oak trees are the most common.

Animals of Shenandoah National Park

Mammals and Birds

Deer at Tanner Ridge Overlook

The park is home to many mammals. These include black bears, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, beavers, and white-tailed deer. You might even spot a bobcat.

Over 200 types of birds live in the park for at least part of the year. About thirty species stay all year long. These include the barred owl, Carolina chickadee, and wild turkey. The peregrine falcon was brought back to the park in the 1990s. Now, many pairs nest there.

Fish and Other Creatures

Juvenile American black bear at Old Rag Mountain

Thirty-two kinds of fish have been found in the park's waters. These include brook trout and different types of dace. Remember, all animals in the park are protected.

Learning with Park Rangers

Park rangers offer many programs from spring to fall. These include guided hikes and talks about the park's history, plants, and animals. You can also join "Shenandoah Live" online. This lets you chat with rangers and learn about the park from experts.

Art in the Park

Since 2014, Shenandoah National Park has had an Artist-in-Residence Program. Artists come to the park to create art inspired by its beauty. Their work helps people see the park in new and creative ways.

Images for kids

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  Whiteoak Canyon

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  Rose River Falls

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  South River Falls

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  Jones Run Falls

See also

In Spanish: Parque nacional Shenandoah para niños

• List of amphibians of Shenandoah National Park
• List of birds of Shenandoah National Park
• List of national parks of the United States