There is truly something to do for everyone in Shenandoah Valley — from breathtaking climbs and gushing waterfalls to historical sites and natural wonders. There are so many fun activities for you and your family to enjoy!
Stony Man Mountain Hike
Discover three walks along the Stony Man trail to the second-highest mountain in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park for breathtaking vistas and lush trees. The second-highest mountain in Shenandoah National Park is Stony Man, at 4011 feet, after Hawksbill, at 4,051 feet. Despite its height, a trail with only a 400-foot elevation rise makes it quite simple to reach the summit.
The Stony Man Trail is among the most well-liked walks in Shenandoah’s Central District due to its flat terrain and superb vantage point. Depending on the path you choose, you can come across deer and other animals. In the spring, summer, and fall, wildflowers bloom, and the fall foliage enhances the scenery.
Shenandoah River Outfitters
Located in the lovely town of Shenandoah, Virginia, just east of Harrisonburg and approximately 15 minutes from Massanutten Resort, Shenandoah River Adventures is an outfitter/livery. They are ideally located close to all the landmarks and tourist destinations that Virginia’s renowned Shenandoah Valley has to offer, including the Luray Caverns, Shenandoah National Park, and the George Washington National Forest.
Luray Caverns
Since its discovery in 1878, Luray Caverns, originally known as Luray Cave, has brought numerous tourists to the area west of Luray, Virginia, in the United States. The Great Stalacpipe Organ, a lithophone constructed from solenoid-fired strikers that tap stalactites of various sizes to produce tones resembling those of xylophones, tuning forks, or bells, is perhaps the most famous feature of the caverns.
A route leading lower through the caverns leads visitors into the cave where they can finally see Dream Lake, The Saracen’s Tent, The Great Stalacpipe Organ, as well as numerous sizable stalactites and stalagmites. The route continues to the Wishing Well and a war memorial dedicated to Page County veterans. After passing the Fried Eggs rock formation, it ascends to a tiny corridor before descending to the entrance through a smaller passage.
Shenandoah National Park
Visitors frequently have that nostalgic expression in their eyes while speaking of Shenandoah National Park, remembering the adventures they had there. This picturesque mountain jewel is perched high in Virginia’s Appalachians. Why is Shenandoah such a unique place? Consider the expansive vistas from the several overlooks dotted along the 105-mile-long Skyline Drive, which winds through the sanctuary’s 300 square miles. Additionally, there is another Shenandoah beyond Skyline Drive, where bears prowl the hollows and brook trout swim the raging streams. Woods along trails are decorated by flowers. Outcrops of quartz, granite, and greenstone protrude above the various types of trees, providing distant views of the Blue Ridge and the Shenandoah Valley.
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
You will hear the terms George Washington National Forest and Jefferson National Forest if you spend any time in Virginia. What are they, though? They are where? What can you do there, then?
The George Washington National Forest and Jefferson National Forest (GWJNF), named after two of our nation’s founders, were united in 1995 and are now governed as one unit of the national forest system, with an astounding 1,664,110 acres in Virginia. These vast tracts of land span in pieces roughly from the Tennessee state line along the spine of the Appalachians, following the northwest Virginia boundary with Kentucky and West Virginia. They can also be found on a few tiny plots in West Virginia and Kentucky as well as along the Blue Ridge from Roanoke to Waynesboro.
