Winter in Shenandoah

Snow and clouds at Big Meadows in winter.

NPS photo

 

Download the Winter Site Bulletin (1.4mb pdf) for a printer-friendly copy of this information.

Experience the solitude of winter in Shenandoah National Park. In winter you'll have a better chance of seeing woodland animals like deer, squirrels, and turkeys as they forage for food. Foxes and bobcats are active through winter. Snow on the mountains makes it easier to spot tracks of mice, rabbits, and other animals.

Listen and look for Shenandoah's winter birdlife. Chickadees, nuthatches, and a host of woodpeckers will be searching for seeds and berries or peeking under bark for hard-to-find insects.

As leaves fall and cooler temperatures improve visibility, the valleys below and mountains beyond are more spectacular than ever.

 

Know Before You Go

Stay up to date with the current operating hours and seasons. While many services in Shenandoah National Park close during the winter, the Park is always open and there are many ways to visit and enjoy the Park in the colder months. Lodging and food services, campgrounds, and other facilities are closed from late November to March. Byrd Visitor Center at mile 51 is open weekends (Fridays through Sundays) until December 29. Fuel is available through self-pay at Big Meadows, but is is best to enter the park with a full tank because the pumps don't work during power outages which are not unusual in the winter months.

Portions of Skyline Drive, the only public road in the Park, are periodically closed during inclement weather. Visitors may still enter the Park on foot for hiking or backcountry camping even when Skyline Drive is closed. Please call the Park's recorded information line: [phone] (select option 1, then option 1) for the most current Skyline Drive status.

 

Picnicking and Restroom Facilities Along Skyline Drive

Status from December through March, from north to south.

Winter Picnic and Restroom Facilities

MILE	SITE	FACILITY
4.6	Dickey Ridge Visitor Center	flush restroom; hydrant not frost-proof - will be turned off
24.1	Elkwallow Picnic Grounds	picnicking, vault toilets, frost-proof hydrant
31.5	Thornton Gap Entrance Station	water only; frost-proof hydrant
31.5	Panorama	flush restroom; frost-proof hydrant
35.1	Pinnacles Picnic Grounds	picnicking, vault toilets, frost-proof hydrant
51	Byrd Visitor Center	flush restroom; hydrant not frost-proof - will be turned off
62.7	South River Picnic Grounds	picnicking, vault toilets, water must be boiled
65.5	Swift Run Entrance Station	water only, not potable
83.7	Dundo Picnic Grounds	picnicking, vault toilets, frost-proof hydrant

 

Hiking When Skyline Drive is Closed

Skyline Drive is an historic scenic byway with twists, turns, and grades designed to maximize the mountain views and the driving experience. Even with diligent work crews it can be days before Skyline Drive opens after temperatures drop and the road is icy or blanketed with snow

The road closure does not have to deter you from enjoying and exploring the Park with these tips:

• Park at the entrances and access the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). To do this get a good, topographic map. The Shenandoah National Park Association sells Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) maps. These are a series of detailed topographic maps, one for each of the Park's districts: North, Central, and South. Using these maps you will be able to see where the A.T. intersects with the boundary and with other nearby trails.
• Access other trails through the Park boundary. Some boundary trails are better than others, and you will still need a good topographic map. Learn about boundary access (83kb pdf). Boundary accesses can change from time to time, so be sure to check the information on this list against the alerts: https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/alerts.htm

 

NPS

Winter Safety

Winter in Shenandoah is unpredictable. Temperatures are usually 10 to 20^oF cooler than in the lowlands and weather conditions can change quickly. What comes down as rain below can be ice and snow on the mountain.

• Be sure your gas tank is full before you enter the park.
• Have warm clothing and/or blankets in case your vehicle becomes disabled. You may have to wait for assistance.
• Cell phones do not work from many areas in the park. Leave an itinerary with someone at home.
• If you plan to hike wear layers, bring extra water and food, bring a flashlight, and bring a map. Even on mild days, be prepared for unpredictable weather changes.
• Weather conditions may require traveling at lower speeds than the 35 mile per hour limit. There may be icy patches on shaded curves that otherwise appear dry.

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	Pay phone
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)

There are two emergency phones at popular boundary access points:
Old Rag Parking Area on VA Rt. 600, near Nethers, VA
White Oak Canyon Boundary Trailhead on VA Rt. 600, near Syria, VA

*Emergency phones connect directly to the Park emergency services number: [phone]

 

Be Prepared

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  Operating Hours & Seasons

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  Driving Skyline Drive

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  Maps