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Hiking Shenandoah: Appalachian Trail & Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah National Park, VA
6 Days
From $3995
Hiking
Hiking Shenandoah: Appalachian Trail & Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah National Park, VA
6 Days
From $3995
Hiking
Trip Overview
Hiking Shenandoah—Blue Ridge Views, Forest Trails, and Appalachian History
Stretching along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park offers over 100 miles of ridgeline beauty and more than 450 miles of hiking trails through rolling hills, quiet hollows, and lush forests. Every season brings its own magic to the landscape, making it a perfect setting for exploration on foot.
Each day, we’ll set out on scenic hikes that showcase the park’s diverse terrain and sweeping vistas. In the evenings, we return to comfortable accommodations and warm meals—well-earned after a day on the trail. Along the way, we’ll also discover the rich human history of Shenandoah, learning about the communities who once lived in this now-protected wilderness.
It’s the perfect mix of natural beauty, fascinating stories, and peaceful hiking in one of the East Coast’s most beloved national parks.
Maximum group size: 12
Highlights
- Hiking the trails of Shenandoah National Park without having to carry an overnight backpack
- Enjoying the seasonal offerings in this beautiful mountain forest
- Staying at beautifully situated lodges every night
- Being surprised at just how cool the Luray Caverns really are
- Having our luggage transported for us
Inclusions
- 1 - 2 experienced AGC guides based on group size
- Five nights double occupancy accommodation
- All transportation during the trip, starting and ending at Dulles Airport (IAD)
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 to the final day
- Entrance fees to Shenandoah and Luray Caverns
Not included: travel to and from Dulles, alcoholic beverages, guide gratuities, and Travel Insurance.
Trip Info
This trip is suitable for any woman who either enjoys hiking or is new to hiking and wants to learn in a safe and fun environment. As in any mountainous area, trails will be up and down but because the Shenandoah National Park is on the ridge, these ups and downs are very manageable. A rating of 3 requires aerobic conditioning, such as walking vigorously up hills, jogging, cross country skiing or stair stepping for 30 - 45 minutes at least 3 - 4 times a week.
Rating: 1 2 [3] 4 5
Curious about how we rate our trips and how to prepare for yours? Explore our AGC Fitness Guide for more details.
This is a hiking trip through the Shenandoah National Park trails. You will have the chance to hike anywhere from about 3 miles to upwards of 8 miles per day. The trails include a few tricky ups and downs, exhilarating rocky scrambles, and many nature viewing opportunities. These hiking adventures will test the limits of the title Level 3, so be prepared for a beautiful, naturistic challenge within each day.
Wondering what kind of gear works well for our trips? Our AGC Gear Guide highlights some of our go-to favorites.
We'll be spending our nights at the Shenandoah National Park Lodges. The two lodges have standard rooms with 2 beds and a bathroom in each room. All participants are guaranteed their own bed. A limited number of single supplement rooms may be available for an additional cost and can be selected during booking if available.
See the FAQs below for more details about accommodation options.
Big Meadows: Built in 1939 with stones hewn from the Massanutten Mountains and native wormy chestnut, Big Meadows Lodge has an easy, natural feeling and is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Skyland Lodge: The legacy of Skyland Lodge begins in 1888, when George Freeman Pollock Jr. makes it his mission to find the perfect spot for a summer retreat. He calls the property's breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley "beauty beyond description."
Ready to picture yourself on this adventure?
Download the detailed trip summary for a closer look — daily highlights, travel notes, and everything you need to know before you go. It’s the perfect way to dream, plan, and share with a friend!
Itinerary
Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.
DAY 1
Although just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. There's much to explore with over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are a haven for deer, songbirds, and black bears! The best way to explore this park is on foot, and we’ll be covering as much of the park as possible during our week in the Shenandoah Mountains! If you are flying in, plan to arrive at Dulles Airport (IAD) by 1 PM. We will pick you up at the airport and make the hour-and-a-half drive to the park. If you are driving, you can meet us at our first lodging – the Big Meadows Lodge in Shenandoah at 3:30 PM. We will gather to introduce ourselves and start getting to know each other before a trip orientation and dinner.
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Big Meadows Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Welcome Dinner
Travel Time: Driving: Airport Transfer (~1.5 hours)
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Big Meadows Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Welcome Dinner
Travel Time: Driving: Airport Transfer (~1.5 hours)
DAY 2
After a hearty breakfast we’ll pack our day packs and head for the South River Falls Picnic Area. Our hike today is a lovely 6-mile section of the famous Appalachian trail. This trail has a beautiful overhead canopy and lush fern fields. It is one of the easier parts of the trail, fairly level with just enough up and down to be interesting, giving us the perfect beginning to stretch our legs. Along the way we may see deer, peregrine falcons soaring overhead, or notice brightly colored salamanders scurrying underfoot. We end today’s hike at Lewis Mountain Campground and Cabins where we can admire the rustic cabins and visit the camp store for a well-deserved treat! Tonight, we'll enjoy dinner in the Big Meadows Dining Room before retiring to our comfortable rooms.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Big Meadows Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking (~6 miles)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Big Meadows Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking (~6 miles)
DAY 3
After breakfast at the lodge, we’ll begin our day with a short shuttle to the Rose River Falls trailhead. This 4-mile circuit takes you through a federally designated Wilderness area, where you’ll marvel at a dazzling 67-foot waterfall and serene forest cascades. With an elevation gain of 910 feet, you’ll experience a mix of peaceful trails, rocky climbs, and beautiful scenery, including an optional detour to Dark Hollow Falls. We will have lunch at the falls, or at Big Meadows in case of inclement weather.
After lunch, we’ll set out on our second hike: a 3-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail from Bootens Gap to Milam Gap. This section starts with a steady ascent, climbing 1 mile to Hazeltop's summit at 3,812 feet. This section of trail provides a rewarding challenge. From there, the trail becomes more forgiving, with short switchbacks easing the climb. The descent from Hazeltop covers 1.9 miles, leading us to the Mill Prong Trail junction and Milam Gap, where our van will be waiting. We’ll wrap up the day with dinner and a relaxing evening back at the lodge.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Big Meadows Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking (~7 miles)
After lunch, we’ll set out on our second hike: a 3-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail from Bootens Gap to Milam Gap. This section starts with a steady ascent, climbing 1 mile to Hazeltop's summit at 3,812 feet. This section of trail provides a rewarding challenge. From there, the trail becomes more forgiving, with short switchbacks easing the climb. The descent from Hazeltop covers 1.9 miles, leading us to the Mill Prong Trail junction and Milam Gap, where our van will be waiting. We’ll wrap up the day with dinner and a relaxing evening back at the lodge.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Big Meadows Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking (~7 miles)
DAY 4
After breakfast at the lodge, meet at the vans with your luggage packed and ready—today, we’re heading to Skyland Lodge! We’ll start the day with a short drive to Milam Gap where we begin our 4.5 mile hike on the Rapidan Trail, which will take us to Rapidan Camp, the summer retreat of President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. We’ll have a chance to explore and learn about the history of the camp, and if lucky a volunteer will be on site to answer any questions. We’ll enjoy a scenic lunch on the trail before we return to the vans.
After the hike, you have the option to relax at the lodge for a peaceful afternoon on your own, or keep the adventure going with a hike on the Bearfence Rock Scramble or Bearfence Loop Trail. The Bearfence Scramble is an exhilarating 1.5-mile hike that includes a challenging rock scramble, leading to a stunning 360-degree view of the Virginia Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley. Though it might push your hiking boundaries, the incredible views and sense of accomplishment make the challenge worth it. (Note: This section is for experienced hikers—if you have a fear of heights, it’s best to skip it). For those not up for the scramble, you can still join the adventure by hiking the loop section of the trail, avoiding the rock scramble but still enjoying the beautiful scenery. Both trails are relatively short (around 1.5 miles round trip) but require effort, with plenty of steps to navigate.
Finally we’ll head to our new accommodation at the Skyland Lodge. Tonight's dinner will be in the dining room at Skyland which has a lovely panoramic view overlooking the valley below.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Skyland Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking (~6 miles)
After the hike, you have the option to relax at the lodge for a peaceful afternoon on your own, or keep the adventure going with a hike on the Bearfence Rock Scramble or Bearfence Loop Trail. The Bearfence Scramble is an exhilarating 1.5-mile hike that includes a challenging rock scramble, leading to a stunning 360-degree view of the Virginia Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley. Though it might push your hiking boundaries, the incredible views and sense of accomplishment make the challenge worth it. (Note: This section is for experienced hikers—if you have a fear of heights, it’s best to skip it). For those not up for the scramble, you can still join the adventure by hiking the loop section of the trail, avoiding the rock scramble but still enjoying the beautiful scenery. Both trails are relatively short (around 1.5 miles round trip) but require effort, with plenty of steps to navigate.
Finally we’ll head to our new accommodation at the Skyland Lodge. Tonight's dinner will be in the dining room at Skyland which has a lovely panoramic view overlooking the valley below.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Skyland Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking (~6 miles)
DAY 5
After breakfast, we’ll set out for the Hawksbill Trailhead, starting our day with a hike to the park’s highest peak. The 3.5 mile loop trail ascends to the Hawksbill summit, offering sweeping panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley. At the summit, we’ll pause to soak in the scenery before continuing to the nearby Appalachian Trail Shelter, where we’ll enjoy a well-earned lunch in the heart of nature. Following lunch, we’ll complete the Hawksbill loop and return to Skyland Lodge for a brief break.
In the afternoon, you'll have the option to relax or we will hike the Stony Man loop. This 1.6-mile loop leads us to the Stony Man summit, which boasts another incredible vista and is a perfect way to round out the day’s adventures. Tonight, we’ll gather for dinner in Skyland’s dining room.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Skyland Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking (~ 5 miles)
In the afternoon, you'll have the option to relax or we will hike the Stony Man loop. This 1.6-mile loop leads us to the Stony Man summit, which boasts another incredible vista and is a perfect way to round out the day’s adventures. Tonight, we’ll gather for dinner in Skyland’s dining room.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Skyland Lodge (or similar)
Daily Activities: Hiking (~ 5 miles)
DAY 6
But wait, there's more! If you grew up on the East Coast, you have undoubtedly heard of the Luray Caverns, which are advertised by countless attention-grabbing billboards. So, you know it is a tourist trap but with good reason! The Caverns are intriguing and definitely merit a visit so we will leave the Shenandoah’s and head to the caverns for an hour-long tour of this underground spectacle. After enjoying the cool temperatures and amazing sights we will begin the 2-hour drive to the Dulles Airport. We will have you back to the Washington Dulles (IAD) airport by 1:00PM and you can plan to fly out any time after 2:30PM. If you drove, you can plan to be on the road from the Luray Caverns by 11AM.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Travel Time: Driving: Airport Transfer (~2 hours)
Included Meals: Breakfast
Travel Time: Driving: Airport Transfer (~2 hours)
Reviews
4.6
(34 reviews)
5
(24)
4
(8)
3
(2)
2
(0)
1
(0)
*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "What made this trip special for you?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.
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Most Recent
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Low-High
Debby H.
6 months ago
The group
Cathy F.
6 months ago
meeting new people
Nancy A.
6 months ago
Hiking every day was awesome! Being with my dear friend, Cathy, really made the trip too. Enjoyed being outdoors and visiting a National Park I haven't been to yet.
Stacy M.
11 months ago
Getting out into nature with a great group of women and excellent guides. Beautiful views on hikes and at Skyland Lodge.
Sarah A.
11 months ago
The Guides, the people, the lodging, the hikes, the lunches...
Dawn W.
11 months ago
Guides were excellent. Hiking was great.
Cynthia F.
11 months ago
The guides made this trip exceptional. They were attuned to each woman’s ability and preferences. They were resilient to weather accommodations . It was a team building experience where each participant was cheering all others’ sucess
Janet S.
11 months ago
The guides and the participants.
Karen K.
11 months ago
It was very well planned. The guides had thought of everything and were also able to re-arrange things in a helpful way due to weather. They really wanted us all to have good experiences and paid attention to how we were all doing.
Carol K.
1 year ago
I loved seeing this part of the US. I was pumped to hike on parts of the AT. I really liked all of my fellow travelers and enjoyed sharing the hikes, our lives, and the special bonfire we shared the last evening. The hike to Rapid Dan and learning about President Hoover and wife was memorable. I was amazed by the Luray Cavern I so enjoy the small group size. The guides were amazing and as with my 2 previous trips, I will always remember them. Thank you so much
Karen H.
1 year ago
Great hikes, guides and location! Such a sense of joy and laughter and beauty is how I will remember this trip.
Kathleen W.
1 year ago
I am making a return to hiking, and the trip was perfect for someone with more limited experience. I felt well-cared for. The most special part was all of the women in the group, and how we got along and shared the experience. Our guides were excellent, I made new friends, and the park was beautiful.
Heidi P.
1 year ago
As always, the camaraderie among a group of women who didn't know one another at the beginning of the trip, and wound up friends by the end, is the hallmark of AGC trips. This trip was no exception. Our group was extremely cohesive, and Shenandoah National Park is a must-do. It's an underrated national park that deserves more kudos.
Ellen I.
1 year ago
I loved having Lainie as a leader again. The group of women were very congenial.
Andrea B.
1 year ago
This trip was one of the best AGC trips I've completed. The combination of great guides, beautiful scenery, and the comradery of the group made this trip very special for me. We lucked out with the weather, having rain only one day. The fall colors were at peak. The hikes were scenic and just the right amount of challenge. We had beautiful sunrises and a full moon! The fire and "witches" party on the last night was a special treat. I highly recommend this trip in the fall as the temps are perfect for hiking and the views are lovely.
Diane J.
1 year ago
The group of ladies was very cohesive and enjoyable. The leaders were accessible and adaptive. The hikes were beautiful and well suited to the group’s abilities.
Lori M.
1 year ago
Great group of people and guides
Carrie B.
1 year ago
Jackie R.
1 year ago
Our guides Anne & Sarah were great! Fun group! Safe and clean van for transportation. I appreciate the food accommodation for lunch and my black pepper allergy. Anne & Sarah made sure we were informed about what was going on each day and kept to our schedule while giving us time to enjoy our surroundings.
Nancy F.
1 year ago
The hiking, the camaraderie of the group, the weather cooperated, and the National Park was spectacular.
Patricia G.
1 year ago
The guides and other participants.
Christina G.
2 years ago
A great trip! The guides were amazing and so knowledgeable, and I very much enjoyed the company of the other participants. The scenery was amazing-there were beautiful views on every hike. Looking forward to my next trip with AGC!
Sue M.
2 years ago
Donna G.
2 years ago
Liked the fellow travelers, loved the lodges, food was great, loved all the hikes and the option to sit some out when I needed to.
Ruth T.
2 years ago
The camaraderie between the hikers was wonderful. The offering of short and longer hikes was really nice! The guides were superb.
Hilda R.
2 years ago
The hiking was wonderful and the scenery gorgeous and the trip very well organized but the guides and participants (of which I knew no one prior to the trip) made it extraordinary.
Sarah B.
2 years ago
The scenery, lodging, food, and camaraderie!
Charlotte M.
2 years ago
Seeing part of the Appalachian Trail - and the beautiful vistas!
Lisa S.
2 years ago
The guides were excellent. The other women on the trip were extremely nice. I loved being in nature and the difficulty of the hikes was just right.
Rebecca W.
2 years ago
It was good for all level hikers.
Debra S.
2 years ago
I had always wanted to hike on the AT and we did a little of that each day to get to the trail. Plus the guides were great!!
Nancy C.
2 years ago
The views of the mountains in Shanandoah National Park were spectacular! It was a pleasure meeting all of the women on our tour. Our guides were excellent. They quickly assessed our strengths and shortcomings and helped us to overcome those shortcomings (physical and emotional, i.e., fear of heights)!!
Lynn G.
2 years ago
First hiking trip.
Maureen B.
2 years ago
Beautiful scenery, challenging hikes, good company, well organized plans and schedules
Dates & Prices
| Year | Departure Date | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2026 |
May 24 to May 29 |
FULL |
$3995.00 |
|
|
2027 |
May 23 to May 28 |
Available |
$4295.00 |
Make It Your Adventure
Turn any trip into a private experience for your group, or let us design a custom itinerary just for you! Whether it’s friends, family, or colleagues, we’ll make your journey unforgettable.
Common Questions
All participants are guaranteed their own bed on our trips.
A Single Supplement (SS) means you will have your own room with your own bed, and no other participants will share that room with you. Single supplements are limited, offered at an additional cost, and will appear as a booking option at the time of registration if still available.
A Double Accommodation means you will share a room with another participant. You will still have your own bed. Shared beds can be requested but cannot always be accommodated depending upon the property.
Bathrooms: Bathroom arrangements vary depending on the trip and lodging. A single supplement guarantees your own sleeping space but may still include a shared bathroom. Double accommodations typically share a bathroom with a roommate and sometimes additional participants, depending on the property. Private or ensuite bathrooms will be noted in the trip details when available.
Breakfasts and dinners will be in restaurants where you can order off the menu. Before you start the day, the guides will put out lunch 'fixings' and you'll take a packed lunch or occasionally lunch will be picnic style.
Due to this specific lodging, dietary accommodations can be challenging. We cannot guarantee a completely gluten-free diet and we cannot provide a kitchen guaranteed to be free of cross-contamination. If you are vegan, we ask that you bring some additional protein bars; and if you are gluten-sensitive, please bring some gluten-free snacks. If you have severe allergies, Celiac disease and/or other significant dietary restrictions, please call the office before you register. Breakfast are either ordered off of a menu or continental style with a selection of options. Dinners eaten in restaurants can be ordered off of menus.
You only need to pay a single supplement if you want to guarantee you have your own room. Otherwise, we’ll pair you up with someone and then switch roommates every time we switch lodging.
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