Driving Skyline Drive in the Winter
Skyline Drive remains open throughout the winter, unless it is closed due to snowy or icy conditions. Because of cold mountain temperatures, it can take diligent work crews several days to reopen Skyline Drive after winter storms. If the Drive is open, however, here are a few things to keep in mind when driving through the Park in the winter:
- Be sure your gas tank is full before entering the Park. Fuel is available through self-pay at Big Meadows, but gas pumps can be unreliable.
- Have warm clothing and/or blankets in case your vehicle becomes disabled. You may have to wait for assistance.
- Weather conditions may require driving under the speed limit (35 miles per hour). There may be icy patches on shaded curves that otherwise appear dry.
Hiking in the Winter
Just because fall is over doesn't mean you have to give up hiking for the year! With all of the leaves off the trees, trails can offer views during the winter that they don't feature the rest of the year. Even if Skyline Drive is closed due to inclement weather, Shenandoah National Park is still open to hiking. The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is accessible from the Park entrance stations, and many other trails are easily accessible from the Park boundary. Whenever you're out hiking in the colder months, here a few tips to help keep yourself safe:
- Winter weather in Shenandoah is unpredictable. Temperatures are usually 10oF to 20oF cooler than in the lowlands and weather conditions can change quickly. What comes down as rain in the valley below can be ice and snow on the mountain.
- Wear extra clothing layers, and bring extra water, food, flashlights, and a map in case you get caught in a winter storm.
- Be sure to carry microspikes or traction coil devices for your boots with you. Even when it's perfectly clear in lower elevations, trails can be be icy and snow-covered and these devices can protect you from a nasty fall!
- Cell phones do not work in many areas of the Park. Because of this, there are phones available for use at various locations along Skyline Drive (listed below).
Available Phones Along Skyline Drive
| MILE |
LOCATION |
PHONE TYPE |
| 0.6 |
Front Royal Entrance Station |
Emergency phone (auto dial) |
| 4.6 |
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center Restrooms |
Local/calling card/collect only phone |
| 24.1 |
Elkwallow Wayside |
Emergency phone (auto dial) |
| 31.5 |
Thornton Gap Entrance Station |
Emergency phone (auto dial) |
| 51.2 |
Big Meadows Campground |
Emergency phone outside campground office |
| 65.5 |
Swift Run Gap Entrance Station |
Pay phone |
| 79.5 |
Loft Mountain Wayside |
Emergency phone (auto dial) |
| 104.9 |
Rockfish Gap Entrance Station |
Emergency phone (auto dial) |
| |
Old Rag Parking Area (Rt. 600, near Nethers, VA) |
Emergency phone (auto dial) |
| |
Whiteoak Canyon Boundary Trailhead (Rt. 600, near Syria, VA) |
Emergency phone (auto dial) |
Emergency phones connect directly to the Park emergency services number: (800) 732-0911
Water, Picnic, and Restroom Facilities
| MILE |
LOCATION |
FACILITY |
| 4.6 |
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center |
Flush restroom, water spigot (not frost-proof; will be turned off) |
| 24.1 |
Elkwallow Picnic Ground |
Picnic area, vault toilets, frost-proof water spigot |
| 31.5 |
Thornton Gap Entrance Station |
Frost-proof water spigot |
| 31.5 |
Panorama |
Flush restroom, frost-proof water spigot |
| 35.1 |
Pinnacles Picnic Grounds |
Picnic area, vault toilets, frost-proof water spigot |
| 51 |
Byrd Visitor Center |
Flush restroom, water spigot (not frost-proof; will be turned off) |
| 62.7 |
South River Picnic Ground |
Picnic area, vault toilets, water spigot (not potable; must be boiled) |
| 65.5 |
Swift Run Entrance Station |
Frost-proof water spigot |
| 83.7 |
Dundo Picnic Grounds |
Picnic area, vault toilets, frost-proof water spigot (not potable; must be boiled) |
Status from December - March. Listed geographically from north to south.
