Shenandoah

Just got back from a quick weekend up at Shenandoah National Park. Stayed in a cabin at Big Meadow and spent most of the time hiking nearby trails. The weather was perfect for October and the fall colors were just starting to come in.

Getting There

The drive up wasn’t too bad. Left on Friday afternoon and made it to the park around dusk. Big Meadow is right off Skyline Drive at mile marker 51, so it was easy to find. The cabin was pretty basic but comfortable. Had everything we needed for a few days in the mountains.

Sunrise Photo from Skyline Drive

Morning Walks

Woke up early the first morning and caught the sunrise from Skyline Drive. The view from up there is something else. You can see the valley stretching out for miles with the mountains in layers going back to the horizon. The air was crisp and clear. Worth getting up before dawn for sure.

Skyline Drive runs 105 miles through the park along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was built in the 1930s and connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway down south. During our stay we drove different sections of it each day. There are overlooks every few miles where you can pull off and take in the views.

Wildlife

Saw plenty of deer around Big Meadow. They’re used to people so they don’t spook easily. One morning a nice-sized buck was grazing right near the cabin. He had a solid rack and just went about his business.

White-tailed Deer Buck

Big Meadow is one of the best spots in the park for wildlife viewing. It’s an open grassy area that attracts deer, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. The meadow is actually maintained by the park service to keep it from reverting back to forest. Makes for great viewing though.

Hiking Dark Hollow Falls

The highlight was probably the hike down to Dark Hollow Falls. It’s only about a mile and a half round trip but it’s steep in places. The trail follows a stream the whole way down and you can hear the water rushing over rocks as you go.

Trail to Dark Hollow Falls

Dark Hollow Falls drops about 70 feet and it’s one of the most popular waterfalls in the park. The trail starts right off Skyline Drive near mile marker 50.7, which made it convenient from our cabin. Going down was easy enough but coming back up was a workout. Worth it though. The falls were flowing well and the setting was really peaceful.

Looking Back

Three days went by quick. Did a few other short hikes around Big Meadow and spent time just relaxing at the cabin. It was nice to unplug for a bit and get out into the mountains. Already thinking about going back, maybe in the spring when everything’s green again.

The park gets crowded during peak fall foliage season in mid-October, so we timed it well by going a bit earlier. Had the trails mostly to ourselves. Can’t beat that.