NPS

Snow nearly covers the sign at Pinnacles Picnic Grounds.

The winter of 2010 brought an unusual amount of snowfall to Shenandoah National Park. Two major snowfalls in February combined with windy conditions and below average temperatures resulted in several feet of snow and huge drifts along Skyline Drive.

When there is a winter event in Shenandoah National Park the first consideration is visitor and employee safety. Conditions on Skyline Drive can be very different from conditions in surrounding areas because of the elevation difference. Temperatures on the mountain are usually 10 degrees cooler. That can mean the difference between rain and ice or snow, and melting and freezing conditions once ice is on the road.

Remember that conditions can be very different on the mountain, and even previously opened sections may be closed if there is additional ice or snow. To monitor the status of Skyline Drive you can:

• Visit our website at www.nps.gov/shen and click on Skyline Drive status.
• Call 540-999-3500, press 1, then 1 again.
• Follow us on Twitter: ShenandoahNPS

Check out our photo gallery for a peek at Skyline Drive after the snowstorm.