Shenandoah National Park, Virginia - Loft Mtn. campground

We spent 9 days in Shenandoah NP this month, our first time visiting the park, and it was great! The park basically follows the Blue Ridge Mtns., with Skyline Drive snaking it's way along the ridge for 105 miles from one end of the park to the other. Loft Mountain campground is about 25 miles into the park from the southern entrance - and at this time of year it's all first come first served camping. They have a very nice bathroom with hot & cold running water and flush toilets, something we haven't seen in National Park campgrounds. There's a camp store about a mile away, with great bathroom/shower facilities. The store itself has much of what you need - firewood, ice, beer, blah blah blah.

With over 500 miles of trails to hike, and 75 overlooks along the length of Skyline Drive, there's more than enough to keep the outdoors oriented camper occupied. There are several lodges in the park, with great dining rooms and good food.

We pulled in to our campground when we arrived and were immediately greeted by a black bear crossing the road right in front of us. Big treat. Deer were plentiful - too plentiful, but only because one ran into our truck a couple of years ago and I'm still not over it (I only THOUGHT I was).

The Appalachian Trail pretty much follows the ridge for most of the park, and was only about 150 yards from our site. We hiked quite a bit of it, along with many of the intersecting trails in the park. There are many hikes to summits, and many of those with gorgeous 360 degree views!

We couldn't have had better weather - highs in the mid 70's and lows in the mid 40's. Perfect for sleeping with the screens in and under the down comforter. This was our first trip with the Dometic/Solar setup and it went well.

Colors were a bit muted compared to better years from what we hear, but they got better every day we were there. Seems it's that way over much of the Eastern US this year with the warmer, drier fall.

If you've not been, we'd highly recommend a visit - it is a beautiful park in a beautiful, historic part of the country.

 

Wow! It was indeed Hawksbill - what an eye, and just as impressive - what a memory! No obvious falcons this day, but several buzzards soaring about. I hope you make it back there soon.

 

It's definitely a place we'd visit regularly if it were a few hundred miles closer!

 

From what I've seen of the NC mountains, they're just as impressive. Our Illinois mountains aren't quite the same...