Hiking through History in Shenandoah National Park

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

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
Daily Activities: Hiking (~6 miles)

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
Daily Activities: Hiking (~7 miles)

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
Daily Activities: Hiking (~6 miles)

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
Daily Activities: Hiking (~ 5 miles)

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