shenandoah national park

Шенандо́а— национальный парк  США , занимающий часть хребта Блу-Ридж в Аппалачах в штате Виргиния. Парк находится на узком гребне хребта и расположен в меридиональном направлении. С запада он ограничен долиной реки Шенандоа, с востока — холмами Пьедмонта. По гребню холма проходит шоссе, известное как англ.  Skyline Drive, но при этом 40 % территории парка не затронуто человеческой деятельностью. Общая площадь парка 805,39 км². Высшая точка парка — гора Хоксбилл высотой 1235 м. 


По территории парка проходит шоссе англ.  Skyline Drive, фактически идущее по гребню хребта. Вдоль шоссе оборудованы несколько десятков точек наблюдения по обе стороны хребта. От точек наблюдения начинаются пешеходные тропы по склонам хребта. Имеется пять официальных кемпингов и три отеля, возможности для верховой езды и езды на велосипеде.



Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U.S. state of Virginia. This national park is long and narrow, with the broad Shenandoah River and Valley on the west side, and the rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont on the east. Although the scenic Skyline Drive is likely the most prominent feature of the park, almost 40% of the land area 79,579 acres (124.342 sq mi; 32,204 ha; 322.04 km2) has been designated as wilderness and is protected as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The highest peak is Hawksbill Mountain at 4,051 feet (1,235 m).
 

Attractions

Skyline Drive

The park is best known for Skyline Drive, a 105-mile (169 km) road that runs the entire length of the park along the ridge of the mountains. The drive is particularly popular in the fall when the leaves are changing colors. 101 miles (163 km) of the Appalachian Trail are also in the park. In total, there are over 500 miles (800 km) of trails within the park. Of the trails, one of the most popular is Old Rag Mountain, which offers a thrilling rock scramble and some of the most breathtaking views in Virginia. There is also horseback riding, camping, bicycling, and many waterfalls. The Skyline Drive is the first National Park Service road east of the Mississippi River listed as a National Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also designated as a National Scenic Byway.

Backcountry camping

A backcountry camping ground.

Shenandoah National Park offers 196,000 acres (790 km2) of backcountry and wilderness camping. While in the backcountry, campers must use a "Leave No Trace" policy that includes burying excrement and not building campfires. Backcountry campers must also be careful of wildlife such as bears and venomous snakes. Campers must suspend their food from trees while not in use in "bear bags" or park-approved bear canisters to prevent unintentionally feeding the bears, who then become habituated to humans and their food and therefore dangerous. All animals are protected by federal law.

Lodging

Campgrounds and cabins

Most of the campgrounds are open from April to October–November. There are five major campgrounds:[12]

• Mathews Arm Campground
• Big Meadows Campground
• Lewis Mountain Campground
• Loft Mountain Campground
• Dundo Group Campground

LodgesThere are three lodges/cabins:

• Skyland Resort
• Big Meadows
• Lewis Mountain Cabins

Lodges are located at Skyland and Big Meadows. The park's Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center is also located at Big Meadows. Another visitor center is located at Dickey Ridge. Campgrounds are located at Mathews Arm, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain, and Loft Mountain.
Rapidan Camp, the restored presidential fishing retreat Herbert Hoover built on the Rapidan River in 1929, is accessed by a 4.1-mile (6.6 km) round-trip hike on Mill Prong Trail, which begins on the Skyline Drive at Milam Gap (Mile 52.8).
Shenandoah National Park is one of the most dog-friendly in the national park system. The campgrounds all allow dogs, and dogs are allowed on almost all of the trails including the Appalachian Trail, if kept on leash (6 feet or shorter).
Streams and rivers in the park are very popular with fly fisherman for native brook trout.

Hiking trails
Hiking is plentiful well well marked trails that vary in distance and intensity

Шенандоа расположен на западе от Вашингтона. Он простирается 105 миль и имеет четыре входа: Front Royal (северный вход), Симмонс Gap, Swift Run Gap и Rockfish Gap (южный вход и северной вход в Blue Ridge Parkway). Северный вход находется примерно полтора часа езды от Вашингтона.
Вашингтона.

Из Вашингтона
Для Северного входа (Front Royal вход)

     Путешествие на запад на Interstate 66 в Front Royal, Вирджиния (62 миль).
     Возьмите выезд на Route 340 South
     Следуйте указателям на Шенандоа и Skyline Drive.


Для Thornton Gap Вход

     Путешествие на запад на шоссе 66, чтобы выйти из 43A (32 мили).
     Возьмите US Highway 29 South к Уоррентон, Вирджиния (11 миль).
     Возьмите US Highway 211 West в Национальный парк Шенандоа и Skyline Drive (28 миль).


Shenandoah National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, west of Washington, D.C. It stretches 105 miles and has four entrances: Front Royal (northern entrance), Simmons Gap, Swift Run Gap, and Rockfish Gap (southern entrance & the northern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway).


From Washington, D.C. Metro Area
To North Entrance (Front Royal Entrance)

• Travel west on Interstate 66 to Front Royal, Virginia (62 miles).
• Take exit onto Route 340 South
• Follow signs for Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.
• Mapped directions

To Thornton Gap Entrance

• Travel west on Interstate 66 to exit 43A (32 miles).
• Take US Highway 29 South to Warrenton, Virginia (11 miles).
• Take US Highway 211 West to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive (28 miles).
• Mapped directions

All day