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Shenandoah[a] is a borough in Schuylkill County in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. It is distinct from Shenandoah Heights, which is part of West Mahanoy Township immediately to the north. As of 2021, the borough's population was 4,247.
Things to Do in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania: See Tripadvisor's 132 traveler reviews and photos of Shenandoah tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October. We have reviews of the best places to see in Shenandoah. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
- Make a Stop at the Visitor Center. First things first, before diving into your list of things to do in Shenandoah National Park, it’s best to start your adventure at one of the two visitor centers in the park.
- Take the Scenic Skyline Drive. Mileage: 105 miles. Elevation Gain: 9,927 feet. The Skyline Drive is arguably the best part of Shenandoah National Park. Traversing the length of the park from north to south, this scenic drive straddles the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Go Leaf Peeping Along the Skyline Drive. Skyline Drive is one of the best places in Shenandoah National Park to go leaf-peeping. Peak fall foliage in the park can be seen from late September through November, so prepare for larger crowds and full parking lots across the scenic drive’s 75 overlooks.
- Hike a Portion of the Appalachian Trail. Mileage: 101 miles point-to-point. Elevation Gain: 21,880 feet. Difficulty: Hard. The Appalachian Trail is a legendary footpath trail that traverses over 2,190 miles of varied scenery in the Eastern United States, from wooded to pastoral and rocky landscapes.
Top Things to Do in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania: See Tripadvisor's 132 traveller reviews and photos of Shenandoah tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October.
- When Should I Go to Shenandoah National Park?
- How Much Time Should I Spend in Shenandoah National Park?
- Is It Easy to Get Around Shenandoah National Park?
- Top Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park
- My Favorite Thing to Do in Shenandoah National Park
- How Much Money Do I Need For Shenandoah National Park?
- How Do I Prepare For An Old Rag Summit Hike?
- Can I Bring My Dog?
- Where Can I See The Best Fall Foliage?
The park hosts its annual Wildflower Weekend in early May. Later in the month, the park’s azaleas are in bloom and lush green foliage has returned to the trees. June through August is high season, when families travel to the park during the summer break. Expect crowds at campgrounds, lodges and on popular trails. Check weather reports if you plan t...
If you’re pressed for time, don’t sweat it. The park works well for short visits. Start with a dose of park history at the Byrd Visitor Center at Big Meadows, where exhibits tell the story of the park's creation. Next, hike to the summit of Hawksbill and its 360-degree views – look northeast to see the boulders clustered atop Old Rag. Hawksbill is ...
The park and Skyline Drive are best explored by car, although cyclists are a common sight on the byway. Mile markers dot the roadside along Skyline Drive. The park’s only gas station is in Big Meadows, which is located at Mile 51. There are no park shuttles. The Appalachian Trail runs parallel to Skyline Drive for much of its 101-mile journey throu...
Hit the Appalachian Trail
Stepping onto the legendary Appalachian Trail (AT) is easy. The white-blazed footpath runs the length of the park, and it pauses near spur trails that lead to some of Shenandoah's most iconic sights. From the Hawksbill Gap parking lot (Mile 45.6), take the short path to the AT. Turn left onto the AT and follow it south along a ridgeline that overlooks the bucolic Shenandoah Valley. In early summer you might pass AT thru-hikers trudging north with their backpacks. From the AT, hook onto the Sa...
Admire the beauty of Shenandoah's waterfalls
Waterfalls are a specialty of Shenandoah, and it’s ridiculously easy to find them between Big Meadows and Skyland in the Central District. It’s also easy to hike to two or three falls in one day thanks to the many intersecting trails. Dark Hollow Falls gets crowded, but it’s a beauty as it drops 70ft through the thick forest greenery. Wildflowers dot the path to Rose River Falls, which is especially pretty after a rainstorm.
Learn local history at Rapidan Camp
When you first hear about Rapidan Camp, it can sound rather boring. A bunch of old cabins favored by Herbert Hoover? Who cares? Well, prepare to be surprised. A leafy 2-mile hike ends at a tidy collection of creek-side cabins frequented by Hoover and the First Lady during his presidency. Historic markers share stories of camp visitors and global events at the time. It’s an idyllic location, and the history is fascinating. Shuttle tours (late May-Oct) of the camp depart from Byrd Visitor Center.
Many of my oldest friends are hikers, and for the last 15 years or so I’ve made time to meet them for a day hike in the park. I’ve meandered over snow patches on the Riprap Trail and huffed and puffed up Old Rag under the hot June sun. I also met a friend and her energetic dog Luke for a climb to the summit of Hawksbill. Shenandoah is an easy meet-...
Shenandoah National Park is a great option for travelers on a budget. The entrance fee is $30 per car. Motorcyclists pay $25, and pedestrians and cyclists pay $15. The park typically has six Free Entrance days every year, and they often coincide with a federal holiday. Camping at one of the park’s four developed campgrounds is a low-cost option for...
Old Rag is a standalone peak set apart from Skyline Drive. The primary trailhead for the climb to the summit is a one-hour drive from Big Meadows. Many visitors stay in Charlottesville the night before the hike. To manage crowds, the park now requires a day-use ticket (March to November; $2 per person), which you can purchase at recreation.gov. Cel...
Leashed dogs ARE allowed on most trails in Shenandoah as well as in all campgrounds. Dogs are not permitted on the Old Rag, Bearfence, Limberlost and Dark Hollow Falls Trails, and a few others. Check the park website for full details.
Leaf peeping is a scenic highlight in the fall, but keep in mind that the leaves don’t all change color simultaneously. Rainfall, elevation and other factors play a role in the timing, which means you won’t necessarily see canopies of color blanketing the park for miles on end. But discrete swaths can be quite impressive. Check the park’s social me...
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Shenandoah National Park preserves and protects nationally significant natural and cultural resources, scenic beauty, and congressionally designated wilderness within Virginia’s northern Blue Ridge Mountains, and provides a broad range of opportunities for public enjoyment, recreation, inspiration, and stewardship.
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