Exploring the Shenandoah
I'm really growing to love the National Park Service website. It's broken down by parks, lots of good free information, and so far I've found it to be a huge help. I'm exploring the possibility of spending a lot of my trip in the Shenandoah Nation Park (SNP) and jumping around from the AT to the other trails. Since I'll be there in July it seems silly to 'avoid' some of the waterfalls and swimming holes. Anyway, here's what I've discovered so far.
Backcountry Camping
Full details here. You must have a camping permit, but it is free (will need to buy a pass if you are leaving a car in the park though). Bear bagging is ok, fires are NOT permitted except in a park fire ring. The following areas are closed to backcountry camping:
- Limberlost Trail area (bounded by the Skyline Drive, the Whiteoak Canyon Fire Road, and the
Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail)
- Hawksbill Mountain summit (area over 3,600 feet elevation)
- Whiteoak Canyon (between the Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail and the Cedar Run Link Trail)
- Old Rag Mountain summit (area over 2,800 feet elevation)
- Big Meadows (Big Meadow clearing area within view of Skyline Drive)
- Rapidan Camp (no camping within ½ mile of buildings)
Maps
Not topo maps, but fairly good for free downloads! Go SNP! Other VA trail map resources can be found on Backpacker.com here.