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Shenandoah National Park is an outdoor lover’s paradise that spans the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. The park offers a variety of outdoor activities that include hiking, rock scrambling, wildlife viewing, waterfall viewing, biking, camping, and bird watching. Exploring the best hikes in Shenandoah National Park with your family is one of the easiest ways to experience the park’s waterfalls, overlooks, and forest trails without committing to long or strenuous adventures.
Shenandoah offers a wide range of hikes that work well for families, from short paved loops to moderate trails with big scenic rewards. Many trailheads are easily accessed from Skyline Drive, making it simple to choose hikes that match your kids’ energy levels while still delivering memorable views and nature experiences.
I’ve explored Shenandoah with my daughter and even though it was rainy when we visited, we have a great experience. We tackled a few of the easier and moderate trails, and have complied a list of the best ones to help with your planning.
Tips for Hiking in Shenandoah National Park
- Black bears are a common site in the park. Make sure you review bear safety guidelines, follow are park guidelines, and have bear spray available just in case it is needed.
- Make sure you follow the Leave No Trace Principles when hiking in Shenandoah National Park.
- Wear sturdy shoes with good traction. There are a lot of hikes that involve rock scrambles, so it is important to have the right footwear.
- Weather can change quickly at the higher elevations. Be prepared and bring extra layers in case of changing temperatures.
- Hiking is a popular activity in Shenandoah National Park. Starting early in the morning can help you avoid the crowds and find parking easier.
- Shenandoah National Park has partnered with Kids in Parks, a program that encourages kids to get outdoors, offering activities and online tracking where kids can earn prizes for exploring trails. There are 3 TRACK trails in Shenandoah National Park.
Best Hikes in Shenandoah National Park: Easy Trails
Blackrock Summit Trail
The Blackrock Summit Trail is a 1 mile, round trip easy hike in the Southern section of Shenandoah National Park at mile marker 84.4. There is an elevation gain of 175 ft. The Blackrock Summit trail is a TRACK trail, designed to encourage outdoor exploration in kids and with online tracking where kids can earn prizes.
The trail, which follows a portion of the Appalachian Trail, will take you to Rocky summit with 360 degree views. The peak is made up entirely of large boulders. The trail takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
There is a large parking area for the trail head located at mile marker 84.4.
Stony Man Trail
The Stony Man Trail is a 1.6 mile round trip trail located at mile marker 41.7 near the Skyland Resort. The hike will take you to the summit of Stony Man Mountain, the second highest peak in the park. At the summit, you will be treated to panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain.
The Stony Man Trail takes you through a heavily forested area, providing good shade from direct sunlight. The trail has a steady incline for the first 0.6 miles until it comes to a fork. Once you reach this point, you can go either way as the trail forms into a loop.
Dogs are not allowed on this trail, so keep this in mind if hiking with your dog. The Stony Man Trail follows a section of the Appalachian Trail.
Tip: The Stony Man Trail is one of the best options for a Sunset hike in Shenandoah National Park.
Limberlost Trail
The Limberlost Trail is a 1.3 mile round trip trail with an elevation gain of 130 ft. The trail is located at mile marker 43. The Limberlost Trail is also a TRACK trail, trails designed specifically with kids in mind, making it one of the best hikes in Shenandoah National park for families.
The trail features a wide walkway that is easily accessible for anyone, including people in wheelchairs and strollers. There are also plenty of benches along the trail for those that need a rest.
Plant life and wildlife are abundant along the trail. The trail also features columnar jointing, a unique rock formation like the one found on the Compton Trail.
Keep in mind, pets are not allowed on this trail.
Millers Head Trail
The Millers Head Trail is a 1.5 mile round trip trail near Skyland. It has an elevation gain of 344 ft. To reach Millers Head Trail, enter the Skyland loop at mile marker 41.7. You will want to follow the signs to the Skyland Amphitheater.
Follow a gravel road to a dirt path leading up a small hill to the start of the trail. When you come to a T intersection, turn left for the Millers Head Trail. Follow the blue blazes, indicating you are on the right path.
The Millers Head Trail begins by taking you through a meadow of tall wildflowers before transitioning into a forest. The Bushy Top Observation Point is only 0.2 miles into the trail and will give you views overlooking Massanutten Mountain.
From here, continue on the trail and down a mostly rocky trail for 300 ft. before coming to the former location of a fire tower. Just before this you will be treated to 180 degree views of the surrounding mountains.
Parking for this trail is very limited. There are two paved accessible parking spots. Otherwise, parking is in a grassy area near the trail head.
Fox Hollow Trail
The Fox Hollow Trail is an easy 1 mile round trip trail with an elevation gain of 310 ft. that will introduce you to the park’s history. It is located in the Northern section of the park at mile marker 4.6. This is the first trail that we did in Shenandoah National Park. It provides a good and easy introduction to hiking in the park, making it one of the best hikes in Shenandoah National Park for families.
The trail will take you past historic rock walls and a cemetery, preserving the history/culture of the Fox family that once lived in the area. The trail is also a TRACK trail, with a self-guided brochure designed specifically for kids.
The Fox Hollow Trail connects to the Snead Farm trail at mile marker 1.1. The Snead Farm trail takes you to the historic Snead family barn. The trail is a 3.7 mile circuit trail.
The Fox Hollow Trail is accessible from the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. Keep in mind, pets are not allowed on this trail, so if traveling with a dog you will have to skip this one.
Frazier Discovery Trail
The Frazier Discovery Trail is an easy trail that has many great overlook views. It is a 1.2 mile round trip trail with an elevation gain of 429 ft. The trail has a steady incline if you follow the path straight up. If you head towards the right, the climb is steeper but you get to the overlooks faster.
The Frazier Discovery Trail is one of the less popular trails in the park, so it is often less crowded than other trails in the park. Despite this, the Frazier Discovery Trail has some jaw dropping overlooks and views of the surrounding mountains, a reason you should not skip it!
The parking area for the Frazier Discovery Trail is at the Loft Mountain Wayside Parking Area at mile marker 79.5. in the Southern section of the park. Pets are not allowed on the Frazier Discovery Trail.
Fort Wyndham Rocks Trail
The Fort Wyndham Rocks Trail is a 0.8 round trip trail with an elevation gain of 130 ft. making it one of the best hikes in Shenandoah National Park for families. The main highlight of this trail is the interesting geological feature-split greenstone boulders rising 50 ft. above the ground.
Parking for the Fort Wyndham Rocks Trail is at the Compton Gap Parking Area at mile marker 10.4 in the Northern section of the park. From the parking area, follow the Appalachian Trail North until you reach the intersection with the Dickey Ridge Trail. Turn left and in about 300 ft. you will come to the Fort Wyndham Rocks.
Avoid climbing/scrambling on the rocks in the summer months, as poison ivy is often abundant in the area. The Fort Wyndham Rocks Trail takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Best Hikes in Shenandoah National Park: Moderate Trails
Whiteoak Canyon Trail
The Whiteoak Canyon Trail is one of the most popular trails in Shenandoah National Park. The Whiteoak Canyon Trail follows along the Robinson River with several small and large waterfalls along the way.
The Whiteoak Canyon Trail is 4.6 miles total with an elevation gain of 2,400 ft. If you don’t want to hike the entire trail, you could hike from the lower parking lot to the first waterfall, a 1.6 mile hike with only 390 ft. of elevation gain. You could also opt to take the extended trail down to the bottom of the canyon, which totals 7.3 miles.
There are two parking areas for the Whiteoak Canyon Trail-the upper (off Skyline Drive) and lower parking area (a boundary parking lot-privately owned land).
Dark Hollow Falls
The Dark Hollow Falls trail is one of the best hikes in Shenandoah National Park for families. The Dark Hollow Falls trail is 1.5 miles round trail with an elevation gain of 440 ft. The trail is steep and rocky, with an initial descent down to the waterfall. The return trip can be challenging, especially for families with younger children.
The highlight of the trail is Dark Hollow Falls, a 70 ft. waterfall flowing down the side of a mountain. Along the trail you will follow the Hogcamp Branch.
The Dark Hollow Falls trail takes about an hour to complete. Pets are not allowed on this trail, so if your furry companion is accompanying you, you will have to skip this one. The Dark Hollow Falls parking area is located at mile marker 50.7.
Dark Hollow Falls is one of the most popular trails in the park and gets crowded easily. Plan on arriving early in the morning to try to avoid the crowds and get a parking spot.
Bearfence Trail
Located in the Central section of the park, the Bearfence Trail is one of the best family friendly hikes in the park. We rated it as moderate due to the rock scrambling, which might be difficult for younger children. The Bearfence Trail is 1.1 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 311 ft.
The trail begins as a gentle climb before you reach the start of the rock scramble. From the start of the rock scramble to the peak is about 0.25 miles. The hardest part of the hike is the rock scramble right before you reach the peak. Once you reach the peak, you will be treated to 360-degree views of the surrounding the Shenandoah Valley and Virginia Piedmont.
The Bearfence Trail takes about an hour to complete. The parking area for this hike is at mile marker 56.4. Once you have parked, you will want to cross the road to a set of stairs, where you will begin your hike.
For those traveling with dogs, it is important to note that dogs are not allowed on this trail.
Upper Hawksbill Trail
The Upper Hawksbill Trail will take you to the highest point in the park, providing you with stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont. Despite taking you to the highest point in the park, the Upper Hawksbill Trail is one of the easier hikes in the park, making it one of the best hikes in Shenandoah National Park for families.
The hike is 2.1 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 520 ft. The hike takes about an hour to complete. The Upper Hawksbill Trail follows a portion of the Appalachian Trail.
The parking area for the Upper Hawksbill Trail is found at mile marker 46.7.
There are two alternative routes to the Hawksbill Summit. The Hawksbill Loop Hike is 2.8 miles. This trail shares a parking area with the Upper Hawksbill Trail. The other route is the Hawksbill Summit Hike, which is 1.6 miles, but steeper than the other options. The parking area is found at mile marker 45.5.
Compton Peak Trail
The Compton Peak Trail is a 2.5 mile round trip, moderate hike in Shenandoah National Park known for its unique rock formations (columnar jointing). The trail has an elevation gain of 855 ft. It is located in the Northern section of the park at mile marker 10.4.
The trail features two main highlights: the column-like volcanic rock formations and the sweeping paranormal views of the mountains and valleys. Once you reach the end of the trail, you will want to go left for the rock formations (this part of the trail is a little tricky with some steep steps) and right for the view.
Parking for the Compton Peak Trail is at the Compton Gap Parking Area at mile marker 10.4.
If You’re Up For A Challenge
If you are visiting Shenandoah National Park with older children who are more experienced hikers, consider doing Old Rag, one of the most popular hikes in the park. We were not able to do this one during our visit, but we would be doing you a disservice if we did not mention it.
Old Rag has a combination of forested trail, rock scrambling, and once you reach the summit 360 views of the Shenandoah Valley. The rock scrambling on the Old Rag trail can be challenging in some places, which is why this trail is better for more experienced hikers.
The Old Rag trail is 9 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 2,380 ft.
The Old Rag trail is very popular, so planning to hike it during the week is a good option. You will also want to plan on arriving early in the morning before the parking lot fills up. The Old Rag parking area is found off of Route 231 (not Skyline Drive).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for hiking in Shenandoah National Park?
No permit is needed for day hiking in Shenandoah National Park, only an admission pass. If you are back country camping, a permit is needed for that.
Is Shenandoah National Park a good place to hike with kids?
Yes, Shenandoah has plenty of kid friendly hikes that families can enjoy. They have hikes ranging from 1 mile, mostly flat trails to more challenging trails. Based on your family’s needs, you can choose some hikes that are perfect for you!
What is the best time of year to hike in Shenandoah National Park?
The best weather for hiking in Shenandoah is typically in the spring and fall months, when the temperatures will be milder. Summer is great if you are looking for the warmest temperatures. If you are looking for snowshoeing or hiking in the snow, visit in the winter months.
Are dogs allowed on Shenandoah hiking trails?
Dogs are allowed on most Shenandoah National Park hiking trails. However, there are some that they are not. Be sure to do your research ahead of time and make sure they are allowed on any trails you plan on hiking if you’re bringing your furry friend.
Can you swim in waterfalls/streams?
There are no lifeguard protected areas in Shenandoah National Park. If you choose to wade/swim in shallow waters, you do so at your own risk.
What forms of wildlife are common on Shenandoah trails?
Black bears are one of the most prevalent types of wildlife in Shenandoah National Park. Other forms of wildlife you might encounter include deer, snakes, a variety of bird species, and smaller mammals.
***The Navigating Mom (and this post) may contain affiliate links. If you purchase from one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.****
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