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| SNP Collage |
Shenandoah National Park is a beautiful park if you're in the mid-atlantic region. A road called Skyline Drive runs from the North end of the park to the South along the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Appalachian Trail also runs directly through the park. In addition to the drive with over 75 overlooks, there are 500 miles of hiking trails and 4 campgrounds. One of the most popular times of year to visit is when the leaves change in the Fall.
This past fall, I reserved a campsite way in advance for the peak weekend. During this weekend, every year, Skyline Drive is inundated the entire length with families, photographers, and tourists. Armed with cameras, packed into vans and SUVs to save on the per car entrance fee, they take over!
But if you show up friday night and camp out, you beat the crowds to the punch! We camped at Matthew's Arm, which is the furthest north campground in the park. On top of avoiding the traffic, you are also guaranteed a parking spot at your camping site.
The campground has a trail that connects to the popular Tuscarora Overall Run Trail, that provides views of several waterfalls. One of the falls is 93 feet tall and stunning as it cuts through the fall colors.
I would like to embarass myself a bit now and share my experience of trying to sleep outside in October in the mountains. It's cold! I wasn't quite prepared. I had my tent and sleeping bag and lots of layers, but I forgot my air matress, which would have lifted me off the cold ground. So instead of bothering my other friends in their tents and trying to spoon... I ran to my car in the middle of the night and slept on my passenger seat laid out flat, snuggled in my bag. I wasn't sure I'd be able to sleep in my car... I thought it would be uncomfortable, but I passed out. I think after shivering for two hours, I was exhausted.
OK, spare me the lecture... I learned my lesson.
Enjoy the pictures from our hikes and drive along Skyline.
For more information, visit: http://www.nps.gov/shen
This past fall, I reserved a campsite way in advance for the peak weekend. During this weekend, every year, Skyline Drive is inundated the entire length with families, photographers, and tourists. Armed with cameras, packed into vans and SUVs to save on the per car entrance fee, they take over!
But if you show up friday night and camp out, you beat the crowds to the punch! We camped at Matthew's Arm, which is the furthest north campground in the park. On top of avoiding the traffic, you are also guaranteed a parking spot at your camping site.
The campground has a trail that connects to the popular Tuscarora Overall Run Trail, that provides views of several waterfalls. One of the falls is 93 feet tall and stunning as it cuts through the fall colors.
I would like to embarass myself a bit now and share my experience of trying to sleep outside in October in the mountains. It's cold! I wasn't quite prepared. I had my tent and sleeping bag and lots of layers, but I forgot my air matress, which would have lifted me off the cold ground. So instead of bothering my other friends in their tents and trying to spoon... I ran to my car in the middle of the night and slept on my passenger seat laid out flat, snuggled in my bag. I wasn't sure I'd be able to sleep in my car... I thought it would be uncomfortable, but I passed out. I think after shivering for two hours, I was exhausted.
OK, spare me the lecture... I learned my lesson.
Enjoy the pictures from our hikes and drive along Skyline.
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| Smart People have campers... |
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| Going down the trail. Down the mountain! |
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| Creek crossing |
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| The fall foliage and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. |
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| One of the waterfalls |
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| Overlook from the trail |
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| Hikers enjoying the vista |
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| Last look before heading back to campsite. |
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| To warm our feet after a long day of hiking. |
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| From a Skyline Drive overlook |
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| Skyline Drive view |
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| Hiking in the Fall - wear layers and enjoy the colors! |
For more information, visit: http://www.nps.gov/shen
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