r/ShenandoahPark

Hello! Context, a few friends and I are staying near the park next month, and me and some of said friends recently did a hike down Washington’s Ditch in the Great Dismal Swamp. I hadn’t thought about ticks in months until going out there, but when we reached Lake Drummond I’d sat down waiting for my friend to catch up. Big mistake, didn’t notice any ticks on the way up, but when I stopped moving oh my god they just didn’t stop coming. Found multiple on my clothing as I was walking back, one on the top of my head in the parking lot, one had crawled up my leg and I noticed it the car, it was awful….

Basically, I’m asking to prevalence of ticks in the park compared to that, how worried should I be hiking some of the trails up here in the summer? I was definitely interested in doing some swimming hole hikes, but this experience with ticks has me second guessing.

Any knowledge at all is appreciated!

Hi, I’m looking for a nice, somewhat remote, cabin to rent for a few days in the middle of the week. WiFi is a must. I would really love a view and some walking access to a few trails. I need a few days of quiet to get caught up on work, organize files, planning, etc…. Doesn’t have to be a luxury rental, just clean and comfortable. Any recommendations for a good place to look? Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Just FYI for anyone looking to hike Old Rag:
The main parking lot is closed for construction. The overflow lot is not large enough to hold cars for the 400 passes issued daily, and the park is not scaling back on the number of passes they issue.
Some locals are willing to sell parking on their properties. Figure $20 or $30 per car in cash. You will still need your Old Rag pass plus pay the park entrance fee. If you’re walking in because you parked off site then theoretically the entrance fee is $15 per person.
No idea why they don’t just cut back on how many Old Rag passes they issue per day. In any case, bring cash.

I'm certain that I'm massively overthinking this but,

We're planning a visit to the park in mid/late September for one day. We're flying in from the Pacific Northwest and are going to be renting a car. Between Costco and Turo it feels like I've got a choice of basically any car I could want. Are there any considerations (AWD, SUV, EV, rough roads, etc?) to make about what kind of car we might want to drive? It's just going to be two of us and I guess we might stop a few places for short/easy hikes. Everything I've seen makes to seem like a well paved road and only the weather could get in your way, but I figured I'd ask.

Thanks in advance!

My family and I are coming from PA in June. We’ll be camping in Luray (just outside of the park). We have an 8 year old and a 6 year old who love to be outdoors, but we are pretty novice hikers.

Does anyone have any suggestions for some hikes in the park that would be good for little legs but also rewarding with some nice views? Any advice would be welcome!

I’m looking for a well maintained weekend backpacking trip in the park for a beginner (I’m the beginner, but I’m going with someone very experienced that’s hiked the AT). I’d like the trail not to be overgrown because I’m very nervous about ticks. So anyplace that’s not likely to have many ticks is good. It will need to start from a place with parking.

Hello~

I used to live in VA, moved to UT and now moving back to Fairfax and was wondering if there were any hikes in shenandoah/nearby besides old rag that I could repeat to get ~5-7 ft vert. Old rag is what I'm planning on doing but jw if there were others for a bit of variety - wouldn't mind driving to 2 or 3 if they're close and I don't need to drive back 3+ hrs at the end.

Mileage-wise I like shorter stair stepper hikes. But expecting 10+ mi for 5k+ ft. Really want to keep my legs strong for ski touring when visiting back west.

Also probably not but just in case - do fire roads in shenandoah get enough snow for ski touring? If so, any preferences for apps or sites that provide snow level/accumulation data in Shenandoah?

Thanks in advance!

Hey r/ShenandoahPark,

I’m a 27-year-old guy from the NoVA area heading to Shenandoah for the first time solo on May 15 for 3-4 days. This isn’t a big backpacking trip — I’m doing car-accessible spots with my folding table + camping chair. The main goal is a quiet spiritual reset: hiking during the day, journaling prayers/thoughts overlooking the valleys for most of the day.

Plan:

• Base at a campground/picnic area with good views (Big Meadows or Mathews Arm recommendations welcome)
• Daily hikes + journaling at the table
• Simple pre-prepped meals (Mac n Cheese with canned peas, kabobs one night)
• Smores in the evening (propane stove for sure, real fire if ban is lifted)
• Zero devices except emergency — phone on airplane mode

Questions for you all:

1. Fire ban status as of mid-May? I know there was one in April — has it lifted? Best campgrounds with fire rings right now?
2. Best quiet spots for sitting still + journaling with valley views (not too crowded mid-week)?
3. Bear tips for someone with food (kabobs/smores)? I have bear spray.
4. Any hidden gem easy/moderate hikes good for reflection? Popular hikes welcome too. This trip cost me 700-800 in total since i had to buy everyhing first time.
5. General advice for first-time solo reset in Shenandoah?

Grateful for any tips. Will update with a trip report when I get back. Thanks.

Hey all, Old Rag has been one of my bucket list hikes for a while and I finally have a free day and am doing it tomorrow. I know its late but this question just struck me while preparing my gear.

Is it worth it bringing my hiking poles? Seems like a stupid question but I'm worried about what to do with them during the rock scramble. I could probably just clip them to my bag and be fine but just want to know if its worth the hassle. Thank you!

Was looking to do a loop of Laurel Prong/AT/Mill Prong. Not sure if I can park at camp Rapidan or if a reservation is needed for that

I have an upcoming solo hiking trip planned and would love to bring my dog, but there are hikes. He won’t be able to do, like old rag. I don’t feel comfortable, leaving him alone all day and was wondering if anybody knew of a dog sitting service near Syria area? Thanks!

Hi,

I’m planning to do old rag tomorrow and got an email saying the main parking lot is closed from 5/1-5/9.

The last time I did old rag was several years ago pre-day pass requirement, so I honestly don’t remember how much parking there is to begin with.

I’d appreciate if anyone has a good suggestion of time to get there to still have parking, being there is no main lot.

Originally planning to get there around 9am, but now thinking closer to 8.

is there a burn ban going on right now? google says yes but i dont see anything on their site. can someone who went recently confirm or deny? thanks!