• Visitors bask in a golden sunset at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center in Shenandoah National Park

    Shenandoah

    National Park Virginia

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  • Vehicle Fuel Available at Big Meadows ONLY!

    Vehicle fuel is only available at Big Meadows (mile 52). Gas service has been discontinued at the Loft and Elkwallow areas.

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    There has been an outbreak of Norovirus among Appalachian Trail (A.T.) hikers. For information about how to protect yourself click here. More »

Let's Move Outside! Junior Ranger Program

A collage of photos showing children hiking and exploring Shenandoah National Park with Rangers.
 
Official Let's Move Outside logo

Hey kids! Did you know that you should have at least 60 minutes of active and vigorous play each day in order to stay fit and healthy? What better way is there to meet this goal than to “play” outdoors in a National Park?

First Lady Michelle Obama launched Let’s Move Outside as a component of her national Let’s Move! campaign to battle childhood obesity. Let’s Move Outside! gives kids - and parents! – ways to get moving in America’s great outdoors.

 
A Park Ranger leads a group of young students across Big Meadows.

John F. Mitchell

National parks across the country are joining the Let’s Move Outside effort with a new feature of the National Park Service’s popular Junior Ranger program called Let’s Move Outside Junior Ranger. Young people who complete at least one physical activity in pursuit of their Junior Ranger badge can receive a special sticker that designates them as a Let’s Move Outside Junior Ranger.

At Shenandoah National Park, the Let’s Move Outside Junior Ranger program offers kids and parents the chance to hike on park trails during a ranger-guided Junior Ranger program. Or, you can explore on your own with one of three Ranger Explorer Guides. These activities are not only great exercise, but also provide incredibly fun ways to see and learn about the park.

Before heading out, visit Let’s Move Outside for more information about activities and participating parks. This website hub will link families to the great outdoors and give tips and ideas on how to best plan and enjoy an active adventure. The National Park Service provides 84 million acres to explore, so there are many places and ways to move outside!

Did You Know?

A sea of green flora in this Big Meadows photo - just a small sample of  the many plant species found here.

The Big Meadows area has the highest concentration of rare plants in Shenandoah National Park.