![]() ![]() “There are four entrance points to Skyline Drive located at US 340 near I-66 in Front Royal, US 211 in Thornton Gap, US 33 in Swift Run Gap and US 250 near I-64 in Rockfish Gap,” according to Wikipedia, and the speed limit never exceeds 35 miles per hour. The road is divided into three districts: North, Central, and South. ![]() Backcountry camping is abundant for hikers, but bicycles are never allowed to leave the paved roadways within the park. Lodging opportunities, both indoor and outdoor, are typically less than 20 miles apart from each other. To turn the entire roadway into a multi-day trip, check out this list of campgrounds and cabins - all typically open late-March or early-April, and closed again in early to mid-November. It has also been mapped north to south, which leads into the northern entrance of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway. The better option, however, would be to divide the ride into two or three sections – as it’s mapped in this guidebook. Map of Skyline Drive from Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip travel guide.For an experienced road cyclist, the entire 105-mile roadway could be ridden in one day. One of the country’s great scenic drives, the Blue Ridge Parkway continues all the way to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we’ve got a blog post covering its mile-by-mile highlights here. If you’re not ready to get off the road, the Blue Ridge Parkway begins at the southern end of Shenandoah National Park. Near the southern end of Skyline Drive, Calf Mountain provides a grand panorama over the Shenandoah Valley. Milam Gap marks the start of a two-mile walk to Rapidan Camp, where President Hoover established a trout-fishing retreat in 1929.Ī short, steep hike scrambles up to the 3,300-foot-high summit of Bearfence Mountain for a 360-degree panorama.Ī parking area marks the trailhead for the rewarding 3.6-mile hike to Jones Run Falls, tumbling over a mossy 45-foot cliff. Outside the Byrd Visitor Center, a macho statue of “Iron Mike” commemorates the efforts of the workers who built the trails, overlooks, and campgrounds as part of the New Deal Civilian Conservation Corps. Near Big Meadows, under a mile from the well-marked trailhead, Dark Hollow Falls tumbles over a 70-foot incline. Mary’s Rock Tunnel in Shenandoah National Park. RV drivers beware-it is just 12 feet, 8 inches high. Mary’s Rock Tunnel is a 670-foot-long, 13-foot-wide bore cut through the granite in 1932. Thornton Gap is the junction with US-211. You can also reach the falls from Matthews Arm campground, just down the road. Here are some more great places to look out for: Skyline Drive HighlightsĪ roadside parking area marks the trailhead for a lovely, 3.2-mile hike to Overall Run Falls, the tallest in the park. The scenic driving is definitely memorable, but by far the best way to really see the park is to get out of the car and walk along the many miles of trails (including more than 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail) that lead through the dense green forests to innumerable waterfalls and overlooks.Ī helpful map and brochure is handed out at National Park entrance booths along the route (one at either end and two midway). Mileposts, arranged in mile-by-mile order from north to south, mark your progress along Skyline Drive. The drive, which was plotted and surveyed in 1931 and opened in 1939, runs (at 35 mph!) along the crest over 100 miles, winding between the I-66 and I-64 freeways while giving grand vistas at every bend in the road. ![]() Most people experience Shenandoah National Park by driving the spectacular Skyline Drive.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |