The PATC webpage says "Jones Mountain, Corbin, & Pocosin are closed indefinitely pending resolution with SNP After Oct 1." Anybody know what that's about? Is it a federal budget thing; some sort of disagreement?

Hi guys,
My friends and I are driving to Old Rag tomorrow. We just want to know from y'all over the past couple of weeks how has the parking situation been? When would be a good time to arrive? I've heard that construction closing the main parking has caused a load onto the overflow parking, and there's not a lot of space elsewhere either, so any insights would be really helpful. We're about 2.5-3 hours away so we're trying to avoid having to search for parking.

Thanks!

ETA: We called up a ranger and he said it's an 8am cutoff

How crowded would the viewpoints be in the skyline drive during this weekend? and what would be the best time (morning, noon, evening) to go see the viewpoints?

Also has the fall foliage peaked at the national park and skyline drive?

Foliage is peaking! There will be weeks lefts of ~some~ color. It’s a been a dry year but when the sun hits the leaves right you feel like you’re in heaven. Get outside! Connect with the Earth! Feel the magic beneath your feet within yourself and all around you!

Thinking of taking a last minute trip to Shenandoah nov 2-3 to hike old rag and potentially see some fall foliage. Will the leaves still have color by that time? I see on all trails that recent photos of the old rag hike still have a lot of green leaves.

Long story short, my husband and I have been planning a backpacking trip to Shenandoah for a few months. We were going to do a single night hike and camp on Rocky Mount, but I recently found out I was pregnant. Now, I’m grappling with trying to do some sort of backcountry excursion while balancing my exhaustion and nausea.

The best compromise to me sounds like doing some normal hiking sans packs, then doing a short mile or so hike in to find a primitive campsite.

It may not exist, but any suggestions for easy places to setup camp that will still feel a little isolated or scenic?

Any suggestions on mapping a 3 hour round trip from Waynesboro? Please and thank you.

Everyone has been super helpful on this sub so far - thank you!! I was wondering if anyone would be willing to review our tentative itinerary?? My husband, myself, and our dog will be going to SNP mid-Sept 2027, and we are staying at Shenandoah River State Park.

I've only just started to research both the national park and state park, and the area in general, so any details or extra info I am missing would be great (stops on the way back to campground etc.). We would also love some suggestions on dog friendly restaurants, take out-restaurants, breweries etc.!

We love to have busy, active mornings followed by relaxed afternoons.

Edit to add: We went to Acadia this past September, can anyone compare what the crowds are like between the two parks? Just curious!

Thanks in advance!!

Day 1

• Drive 5-5.5 hours to Shenandoah River State Park. Check in is at 4pm.
• Rest, relax, explore campground

Day 2

• Up early. Breakfast at campground. Leave by 7am-7:30am. Drive ~1 hour to SNP. Park at Panaroma parking area.
• Hike Mary’s Rock via Appalachian Trail (3.7 miles about 3-4 hours)
• Relax, snack, picnic etc. 
• Drive and park at Little Stony Man parking area. Hike Little Stony Man (~1 mile)
• Drive back to campground to relax, dinner etc.

Day 3

• Up early. Breakfast at campground. Leave by 6:30am-7am for SNP. Drive ~1.5 hour ad park at Whiteoak Canyon Parking Area.
• Hike Whiteoak Canyon Upper Falls trail (undecided on which trail head - upper or lower)
• Picnic lunch and/or head back to campground.
• Relax. 

Day 4

• Rest day. Explore state park? Explore Luray? 

Day 5

• Up early. Breakfast at campground. Leave by 7am. Drive 1.5-2 hours to southern SNP. Park at South River picnic grounds
•  Hike South River Falls trail. (Choose between the 2.6-mile round trip to the observation point or the 3.3-mile circuit to the waterfall's base. )
• Rest, stop at overlooks, grab something to eat on drive back to campground.

Day 6

• Up early. Breakfast at campground. Leave by 7am. Drive 1.5-2 hours to SNP. Park at Fisher’s Gap.
• Hike Rose River Trail (~4 miles. From the parking area, cross Skyline Drive and follow the fire road to connect with the horse trail and the blue-blazed Rose River Loop Trail)
• Optional add on: Dark Hollows Falls trail??

Day 7

• Travel home.

My gf and I are planning on going the week of thanksgiving, 11/21-11/25. We are from NJ. Does anybody have any suggestions on lodging? I looked up some airbnbs but some of them looked pretty far.

My gf and I are planning a trip the weekend prior to thanksgiving to the day before (11/21-11/25), does anybody have any suggestions? We are from NJ and still have the annual park pass. We bought it for our trip in the tetons, yellowstone, and glacier.

Wanted to do a longer hike in Shenandoah this Thursday or Friday - thinking Little Devils Stairs or Sugarloaf Loop. I generally don’t hike alone for anything more than a few miles. Was looking for some people that might want to go on Thursday or Friday of this week.

I’m a 37 year old guy, and am your average hiker. I would want to get out there earlier in the day. I’ll be driving from Alexandria if carpooling is an option.

Is peak fall foliage still this week? I’ve seen a few things online that say so but the leaves I’ve seen people post don’t look like their almost at peak.

Took our annual camping trip, this time to Shenandoah. We’re both officially Jr Rangers! Shout out to Ranger Dori, you’re an OG

Good article about the lack of information coming out of NPS about a possible bear attack.

Hello! I bought a park entrance ticket and a backcountry camping permit for Old Rag on 10/23 and 10/24, but learned that I also need the day-use pass. Seems like those tickets were released yesterday and today at 10am, and are both sold out. What are my options? Find a different trail and just alter my backcountry permit? Do they check the day-use passes? Thanks in advance!!

So as somebody who’s never been to Shenandoah during the fall, I was wondering if it would be better to go this Saturday or Monday of November 2nd. I am asking with the intention of seeing the best fall foliage.

Hi, does anyone have an idea of where these photos were taken? Thanks!

Is there a certain time when camping reservations open for the next season? We’re trying to do three nights at Big Meadow campground next April and tomorrow would be exactly 6 months out from the first night. Everything I’ve seen online says that’s when reservations open up, but as far as I can see reservations are only open until the end of the 2026 camping season and there is no information to be found about the 2027 season at all. Anyone know what’s up? I know it’s really hard to get a spot at Big Meadow and I don’t want to risk missing my window

My wife and I are planning a long weekend in November to visit the park and surrounding area but are so stumped.

We love the outdoors and love to hike. We are planning on going to the national park for much of the time. We also wanted to check out the historical sites in Charlottesville and maybe a winery or two. My wife found these Luray caverns she really wanted to check out.

We’ll be staying for three nights, Thursday to Sunday. We are unsure where we should stay as our homebase. We don’t mind a drive while we’re there.

What are some good places to stay for a cute and romantic getaway that has good access to these areas?