Located within half a day’s drive from the homes of the tens of millions of Americans, Shenandoah National Park is a popular getaway in central Virginia.
Although it can get quite busy, especially in the fall, the park does offer plenty of space and activities to escape the crowds and enjoy nature in solitude and silence.
Contents
- How to Spend 24 Hours in Shenandoah National Park in the Fall
- 8 Ways to Enjoy Fall Colors in Shenandoah National Park
- 1. See Spectacular Fall Scenery on Skyline Drive
- 2. Hike to a Waterfall
- 3. Picnic at Big Meadows
- 4. Enjoy the Autumn Landscape from Stony Man
- 5. Look for Black Bears
- 6. Watch the Sunset from a Skyline Drive Overlook
- 7. Spend the Night at a Historic Lodge
- 8. Experience the Peacefulness of a Shenandoah Sunrise in the Fall
- When Is the Best Time for Fall Foliage in Shenandoah National Park?
- Wildlife Safety While Leaf Peeping at Shenandoah
- More Information About Fall in Shenandoah National Park
How to Spend 24 Hours in Shenandoah National Park in the Fall
By far my favorite season in Shenandoah National Park is the aforementioned fall season, which brings crisp air, stunning sunsets, great wildlife watching and breathtaking fall colors.
This is easily one of the best national parks for fall foliage, a place home to wonderful deciduous forests, rolling mountains, waterfalls and epic views.
Red oak and chestnut dominate Shenandoah’s forests (which cover 95% of the park), but other trees like poplar, maple, birch and ash are common as well. Each occupying its own distinct spot in the park’s ecosystem, they all combine to create a spectacular palette of fall colors in Shenandoah National Park.
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8 Ways to Enjoy Fall Colors in Shenandoah National Park
Having spent a number of fall seasons in Shenandoah, I can recommend the following activities if you’re planning to spend a day (and night) in the park in autumn.
From scenic foliage drives and historic lodges to waterfalls, wildlife and sunsets, these are the best things to do in in Shenandoah National Park in the fall.
1. See Spectacular Fall Scenery on Skyline Drive
Running for 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Skyline Drive is the only road through Shenandoah National Park. Four entrance stations offer access to this exceptionally scenic national park road.
Along the way, you can enjoy spectacular views of Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge in the fall from more than 70 overlooks. Countless trailheads line the road as well, while several campgrounds and historic lodges provide a place to sleep.
Discover the greatest Skyline Drive viewpoints for fall foliage here!
All the Shenandoah National Park fall activities below are on this fantastic road. Take in the scenery, take tons of photos and, above all, take your time—it’s a marvelous drive.
Driving Skyline Drive in the fall is one of the absolute highlights in the entire U.S. National Park system, a must-do road trip for all national park fans. While you can get there in about an hour from Washington, D.C., I do suggest extending your trip and exploring Virginia some more.
There are several national battlefields in the region, while charming Charlottesville has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Additionally, at its southern terminus, Skyline Drive connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway, which offers hundreds more miles of fall foliage fun.
2. Hike to a Waterfall
Waterfalls are one of Shenandoah National Park’s signature features. More than a dozen are scattered throughout this long and narrow mountain park, tumbling and cascading down wooded slopes and outcrops.
None of the park’s major waterfalls, however, are directly on Skyline Drive. To see them, you have to hike at least a little bit.
The most accessible and, therefore, most popular waterfall in Shenandoah National Park is Dark Hollow Falls. Located near Big Meadows, it’s a relatively steep 1.5-mile roundtrip to this stunning waterfalls.
Other favorite Shenandoah waterfalls of mine are Doyles River Falls, South River Falls and the Whiteoak Canyon waterfalls.
Hiking to a waterfall in Shenandoah National Park in the fall is arguably the park’s ultimate outdoor activity this time of year. It’s an essential Shenandoah experience.
3. Picnic at Big Meadows
Situated in the heart of the park, Big Meadows is a large expanse of grasslands in the middle of the forest. This is also one of the park’s visitor hubs.
At Big Meadows, you’ll find the Byrd Visitor Center, the park’s only gas station, a wayside, picnic area, campground and the iconic Big Meadows Lodge.
Across Skyline Drive from those facilities, you can wander across a diverse mountain meadow. Numerous paths weave through this extraordinary ecosystem. In fall, you’ll be greeted by the oranges and browns of the grasses, shrubs and surrounding trees.
Big Meadows is also one of the best places for wildlife viewing in Shenandoah National Park. Home to hundreds of plant and animal species, from butterflies and birds to bears, its grasses also attract dozens of deer. Black bears are occasionally seen foraging on the forest edges.
4. Enjoy the Autumn Landscape from Stony Man
One of the classic Shenandoah National Park hikes, the Stony Man Trail is an easy walk to a spectacular viewpoint.
Only 0.8 miles from the trailhead near Skyland Resort (a 1.6-mile roundtrip hike), you can enjoy a breathtaking fall panorama that takes in the Shenandoah Valley below, as well as the rolling mountain to the north.
You can even see a part of Skyline Drive from here.
While there are more strenuous fall hikes in Shenandoah National Park, too, Stony Man is one of the easiest and most scenic. Hiking this trail is truly a must-do activity in the park in fall.
If you are looking for a more challenging hike to a viewpoint, you can hit the Hawksbill Summit Trail, which leads to the highest point in the park, or drive over to Old Rag, by far the park’s most difficult hike and one of its few trails that don’t start on Skyline Drive.
5. Look for Black Bears
Shenandoah National Park is a black bear paradise. The population varies depending on the seasons, breeding cycles and other factors, but there are several hundred black bears in Shenandoah National Park at any given time.
In the fall, they are particularly active while foraging and fattening up before winter arrives. The Shenandoah National Park website says that “feeding during fall is intense with one to two pound gains per day.”
This time of year, they mainly eat nuts and berries, as well as carrion and small animals. You can see them in trees or wandering around in the forest, both day and night.
I’ve seen several while hiking in the park and literally dozens along Skyline Drive. Be patient, take your time and you will most likely see one—full disclosure, though: sightings aren’t 100% guaranteed.
The best time to see black bears in Shenandoah National Park is around sunrise and sunset.
6. Watch the Sunset from a Skyline Drive Overlook
With more than 70 overlooks, there’s no shortage of epic views on Skyline Drive. On average, there’s a viewpoint every 1.5 miles! Whether they’re facing east, west, north or south, these overlooks offer the easiest fall foliage viewing in Shenandoah National Park.
While I don’t suggest stopping at every single one of them—some are much better than others—there are a number that you definitely shouldn’t miss.
For the best sunset viewing in Shenandoah in the fall, these are my personal favorite Skyline Drive overlooks:
- Hazeltop Ridge Overlook (Mile 54.5)
- The Point Overlook (Mile 55.5)
- Bearfence Mountain Summit (Mile 56.4, short hike and rock scramble)
- Brown Mountain Overlook (Mile 77.0)
- Rockytop Overlook (Mile 78.0)
7. Spend the Night at a Historic Lodge
In addition to four regular campgrounds and one group campground, Shenandoah also has two historic national park lodges. Set in the heart of the park, both lodges offer comfortable accommodation near some of the top Shenandoah attractions.
Skyland, located at mile 41.7, sits at the highest point on Skyline Drive and has accommodation ranging from small cabins to premium rooms and suites.
Big Meadows Lodge, located at mile 51, also has a wide range of accommodation options, from detached cabins to traditional rooms and suites in the main lodge building.
I’ve stayed at both lodges and I can confirm that accommodation and services are excellent. Both lodges also have a dining area, taproom and a gift shop.
Skyland has an amazing patio offering great views, while the Great Room at Big Meadows Lodge is an incredibly cozy place to kick back after an active day of hiking—or to dry off if a fall rainstorm has surprised you on the trail.
8. Experience the Peacefulness of a Shenandoah Sunrise in the Fall
As amazing as watching the sun drop behind the Shenandoah National Park fall landscape is, I personally am a bigger fan of sunrises in the park. Sunsets can be quite busy in the park, especially when the fall colors are at their peak.
Sunrises, on the other hand, are almost always peaceful and quiet. Few people make the effort to get up for sunrise, even fewer people drive to the park before dawn from surrounding towns.
When you do rise early, you can quite literally have the park to yourself. Nothing beats enjoying a sunrise in Shenandoah National Park in the fall all by yourself. These are my favorite spots on Skyline Drive to do that:
- Tunnel Parking Overlook (Mile 32.5)
- Buck Hollow Overlook (Mile 32.8)
- Hazel Mountain Overlook (Mile 33.0)
- Thorofare Mountain Overlook (Mile 40.5)
When Is the Best Time for Fall Foliage in Shenandoah National Park?
The leaves usually begin turning at Shenandoah’s highest elevations in early-October, the colors slowly working their way down the slopes and into the valleys as the season progresses. In mid-October to late-October, the Shenandoah National Park fall foliage is typically at its peak.
“A walk or drive through the park at this time of year yields beautiful views of rich red-brown oaks (Quercus spp.), brilliant yellow birches and poplars, and the red and orange black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), sumac (Rhus spp.), maples, and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).”
National Park Service
Wildlife Safety While Leaf Peeping at Shenandoah
The park’s 79,579 acres of designated wilderness provide a refuge and haven for all kinds of wildlife in the eastern United States. While the majority of Shenandoah’s wildlife is small and harmless, there are a few animals that are potentially dangerous.
Black bears are abundant in the park and are often spotted along Skyline Drive, on trails or at Big Meadows. I’ve seen my fair share of black bears while hiking in Shenandoah National Park in the fall. Rattlesnakes are present in the park as well.
Read the wildlife safety guides below for tips and guidelines on how to recreate safely in black bear and rattlesnake country.
More Information About Fall in Shenandoah National Park
- Fall Foliage Prediction Map – Amazing!
- Fall in Virginia