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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
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. There are 4 single supplements available for this trip.
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."
Trip Resources
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.
Getting out into nature with a great group of women and excellent guides. Beautiful views on hikes and at Skyland Lodge.
The Guides, the people, the lodging, the hikes, the lunches...
Guides were excellent. Hiking was great.
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
The guides and the participants.
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.
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
Great hikes, guides and location! Such a sense of joy and laughter and beauty is how I will remember this trip.
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.
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.
I loved having Lainie as a leader again. The group of women were very congenial.
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.
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.
Great group of people and guides
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.
The hiking, the camaraderie of the group, the weather cooperated, and the National Park was spectacular.
The guides and other participants.
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!
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.
The camaraderie between the hikers was wonderful. The offering of short and longer hikes was really nice! The guides were superb.
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.
The scenery, lodging, food, and camaraderie!
Seeing part of the Appalachian Trail - and the beautiful vistas!
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.
It was good for all level hikers.
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!!
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)!!
First hiking trip.
Beautiful scenery, challenging hikes, good company, well organized plans and schedules
Year | Departure Date | Availability | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2025 |
October 12 to October 17 |
FULL |
$3195.00 |
|
2026 |
May 24 to May 29 |
Available |
$3395.00 |
|
2026 |
September 21 to September 26 |
Available |
$3395.00 |
2025
October 12 to October 17, 2025
FULL
$3195.00
2026
September 21 to September 26, 2026
Available
$3395.00
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.
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