What to Do in Shenandoah National Park | Skyline Drive, Old Rag, & Top Hikes

Welcome to Shenandoah National Park—one of the most beautiful and underrated national parks on the East Coast! Located just a couple hours from Washington, D.C., this stunning park runs along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is known for its iconic Skyline Drive, countless overlooks, and some of the best hiking in Virginia.

We spent two weeks exploring as much as we could while staying just outside the park at Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views Campground, and in this video, we’re sharing our full adventure—including tips, highlights, and what not to miss.

🗺️ In this video, we cover:

A rainy first day exploring Skyline Drive and the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center

A beautiful hike to Upper Whiteoak Canyon Falls with family

Classic short hikes like the Stony Man Loop

An incredible ridge hike to Mary’s Rock via The Pinnacle (plus a surprise bald eagle sighting!)

An epic drive along most of Skyline Drive from the northern entrance to near Elkton

A full breakdown of Old Rag, one of the most strenuous and popular hikes in the park

Whether you’re coming for the views, the solitude, or the challenge, Shenandoah has something for everyone.

🌲 Featured Hikes in This Video:

Whiteoak Canyon Falls Upper Trail – 4+ miles RT | ~1,000 ft elevation gain

Stony Man Loop – 1.6 miles RT | ~400 ft gain

Mary’s Rock via The Pinnacle – 7 miles RT | ~1,400 ft gain

Old Rag Mountain – 9.4 miles RT | 2,400+ ft gain | Requires day-use ticket from March–November

🏕️ Where We Stayed: Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views Campground (RV friendly and only ~15 minutes from park entrances)

📍 Park Highlights:

Skyline Drive (105-mile scenic drive with 70+ overlooks)

Endless wildlife, wildflowers, and shifting weather systems

History of the park’s creation in the 1930s as a way to bring the national park experience to the East Coast

🎟️ Pro Tip: If you’re planning to hike Old Rag, be sure to get your permit in advance at Recreation.gov.

👇 Let us know your favorite Shenandoah hike in the comments!

📍Next up: We're heading to New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia—subscribe so you don’t miss it!

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