Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park encompasses 200,000 acres along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, extending 105 miles from north to south. The park features Skyline Drive, a spectacular 105-mile road that winds along the ridge, providing 75 scenic overlooks across the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont. Established in 1935, the park represents one of America's great conservation success stories, with forests recovering from centuries of farming and logging. The park protects eastern deciduous forests supporting exceptional biodiversity, including over 1,400 vascular plant species, 190 bird species, and 50 mammal species. Black bears thrive in the recovering forests while brook trout inhabit mountain streams. The park's location along the Appalachian Trail provides critical habitat connectivity, and its proximity to major urban areas makes it an accessible wilderness escape for millions. Shenandoah implements forest restoration programs and invasive species management while monitoring air quality impacts from regional sources. The park manages 1.5 million annual visitors through sustainable infrastructure and wilderness preservation covering 40% of the park. Research programs focus on forest health, climate change impacts, and wildlife populations while restoration efforts target native brook trout streams and forest communities.

Water Features

60+ waterfalls, Mountain streams, Shenandoah River

Ecosystem

This destination features a temperate forest ecosystem.