Blue Ridge Park way - Massanutten Resort

The park holds more
than 500 miles of trails,
including 101 miles of the
Appalachian Trail. Trails
may follow a ridge crest, or
they may lead to high places
with panoramic views or to
waterfalls in deep canyons.
Facilities and Services
Includes visitor centers, bookstores,
campgrounds, showers and laundries,
picnic areas, gift shops, lodges,
cabins, restaurants, gas stations,
ATMs, waysides, campstores,
a stable, and restrooms.
• All facilities and services are
available mid-May through late
October.
• Some are also available April,
May, and November. Plan to obtain
all food, gas, and lodging outside
of the park in December, January,
February, and March.
• Telephone (540) 999-3500 for the
most current information.
www.nps.gov/shen
henandoah National Park lies astride
a beautiful section of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, which form the eastern rampart
of the Appalachian Mountains between
Pennsylvania and Georgia. The Shenandoah
River flows through the valley to the west, with
Massanutten Mountain, 40 miles long, standing
between the river’s north and south forks. The rolling
Piedmont country lies to the east of the park.
Skyline Drive, a 105-mile road that winds along
the crest of the mountains through the length of
the park, provides vistas of the spectacular land-
scape to east and west. Many animals, including
deer, black bears, and wild turkeys, flourish
among the rich growth of an oak-hickory forest.
In season, bushes and wildflowers bloom along
the Drive and trails and fill the open spaces.
Apple trees, stone foundations, and cemeteries
are reminders of the families who once called
this place home. Shenandoah National Park has
many stories waiting to be told, and a world of
beauty that can renew and bring peace to the
spirit.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Visitors can participate in ranger-guided activities,
view audio-visual programs or exhibits at
visitor centers, fish, enjoy the panoramic views
from overlooks, hike to peaks and waterfalls, or
just plain relax in the peaceful surroundings.
Continuing a tradition set by George Freeman
Pollock, who founded a resort at Skyland long
before Shenandoah National Park was established,
ARAMARK, the park’s concessioner offers
a variety of activities for visitors in spring, summer,
and fall providing a terrific way to have fun
and learn more about the park’s history and wildlife
as well as regional arts, music and crafts.
For a Calendar of Events, visit the park’s
website at www.nps.gov/shen.
A LITTLE HISTORY
In 1926, U.S. Congress authorized
Shenandoah National Park. Today 197,000
acres of eastern deciduous forest are a sanctuary
for more than 100 varieties of trees,
200 bird species, and 1,100 flowering plants.
Lands were gradually purchased using
private donations and through condemnation
using states funds. On December 26,
1935, Virginia gave the deeds to the Federal
Government, formally establishing the park.
In 1936, Shenandoah was dedicated by
President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the recreation
and re-creation found here.
Visit Shenandoah and step back in time.
Over 400 buildings and structures within the
Skyline Drive Historic District are listed on
the National Register of Historic Places as
being nationally significant for their architecture
and association with the history of the
1920s and 1930s.
Today, approximately 1.2 million visitors
come to Shenandoah each year to enjoy this
natural wonder. It is our hope that this park,
created as a peaceful refuge for nearby urban
populations, will continue to offer relaxation,
recreation, and inspiration for many
generations to come.
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