Stanley, Virginia
Top Spots in and near Stanley
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Stanley, Virginia
Three Falls Hike
8.3 mi / 2200 ft gainThe Three Falls Hike in Shenandoah National Park will take you past three beautiful waterfalls all found within the central district of the park: Lewis Spring Falls, Dark Hollow Falls, and Rose River Falls. You are able to start the loop from any of the waterfalls’ trailheads, but I prefer to sta...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Camp at Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park
4.4Visiting Shenandoah National Park for the first time can be quite overwhelming. The 109 mile long Skyline Drive, combined with over 500 miles of hiking trails, makes camping is a necessity if you truly want to experience Shenandoah.From the Appalachian thru-hiker to the RV'er, Big Meadows is perf...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Photograph Spilter Knoll Overlook
5.0The Spitler Knoll is one of 72 overlooks for people to enjoy as they travel through Shenandoah National Park along Skyline Drive. Skyline Drive is the road that winds through the heart of Shenandoah National Park, starting at Front Royal in the north and ending at Rockfish Gap in the south. This...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Hike the Rose River Falls to Dark Hollow Falls Loop
5.04 mi / 950 ft gainParking at the trailhead is a few miles north of Big Meadows at the Fisher's Gap Overlook parking area. You will find much more solitude along this loop trail than if you were to park at the Dark Hollow Falls trailhead as the Dark Hollow Falls is much more popular. That makes being able to fin...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Backpack Rose River Loop
5.04 mi / 900 ft gainThe trail can be found on Skyline Drive. Though it is a little challenging to locate, you should park at Fisher’s Gap Overlook (mile marker 49.4), and then walk over across the road and find the trail. You'll spot it by looking over the side of the road and then hiking down. The Rose River Loo...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Lewis Falls via Lewis Spring
3.01.71 mi / 607 ft gainLewis Spring is the source of Hawksbill Creek which forms Lewis Falls (also known as Lewis Spring Falls) and eventually flows through the town of Luray and joins the Shenandoah River. The waterfall starts with 2 streams before hitting rock halfway down and fanning out. During dry seasons and summ...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Hike to Rose River Falls
4.54 mi / 853 ft gainRose River Falls is often overshadowed by it's more popular cousin, Dark Hollow Falls, as both hikes begin at the same trail head. But because Dark Hollow Falls is such a short and well known hike, it can get extremely crowded. It is also one of the few trails in Shenandoah where dogs are not al...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Big Meadows Loop
4.71 mi / 30 ft gainBig Meadows is home to many types of wildlife and is a great location to photograph many different types of animals. The best time to see the wildlife in the meadow is near dawn and dusk. White-tailed deer and a variety of local birds are the most common animals seen in the meadow, and because o...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Dark Hollow Falls
4.61.32 mi / 440 ft gainCatch the trailhead to these falls at mile 50.7 on Skyline Drive, just north of Big Meadows Lodge and Campground and the trailhead is just to the left of the parking lot. This is an easy 1.4 mile roundtrip hike, straight down to get to the falls, and straight up to arrive back at your car. Many...Read more -
Rapidan, Virginia
Hike to Historical Rapidan Camp in Shenandoah National Park
5.04.5 mi / 890 ft gainFor this hike park at the Milam Gap parking lot located at mile 52.8 on Skyline Drive. Once parked you will cross Skyline Drive to reach the trail. Hikers will follow the blue blazes along the trail and creek. After you have crossed the creek twice you will come to a larger waterfall. At this po...Read more -
Luray, Virginia
Explore the Luray Caverns
4.8The caverns are located in the town of Luray, which is in the Shenandoah Valley of northwest Virginia. They can only be explored by tour, and at first I was hesitant to pay the $26 entrance fee, but after an hour-long tour that blew my mind, I had absolutely no regrets. The tour includes about 30...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Hike to Naked Creek Falls
3.01 mi / 1000 ft gainPlease note that there is no trail leading to these falls. This hike is for advanced hikers.Park your car at Naked Creek Overlook in Shenandoah National Park and walk through the field staying to the left. As you start to enter the woods you will hear the creek running on your left. Make your wa...Read more -
Luray, Virginia
Upper Hawksbill Trail
2.09 mi / 482 ft gainThe trailhead has a small parking area at mile marker 46.7 on Skyline Drive, just past the Old Rag overlook (on the opposite side of the road) if you're driving south. The hike is a 2-mile out-and-back that takes you right to the summit. The first ~2/3 of it is relatively flat and very easy walk...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Hawksbill Mountain Summit
4.81.54 mi / 669 ft gainA hike to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain will not only put you at the highest point in Shenandoah National Park (4050'), but you'll have a 270 degree view perfect for a sunset. This moderate hike is located at MP 45.6 on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, so you'll have to pay a $2...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Lower Hawksbill to Salamander to Appalachian Trail Loop
2.68 mi / 666 ft gainThis is one of 2 trails that will take you to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain. The other is the Upper Hawksbill Trail (which I also wrote an adventure about!). This trail is a combination of the Lower Hawksbill Trail, the AT, and the Salamander Trail. The parking are area for this hike is at mi...Read more -
Luray, Virginia
White Oak Canyon to Upper Falls
4.84.28 mi / 866 ft gainBetween mile 42 and 43 of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park is the trailhead for WhiteOak Canyon. Begin at the trailhead from the parking lot and cross the Limberlost Trail in .3 miles. Continue on and you will cross your first footbridge shortly. After another mile you will cross the s...Read more
Top Activities
Camping and Lodging in Stanley
Stanley, Virginia
Big Meadows
Overview
Secluded in the thick trees and rolling hills of Shenandoah National Park, the Big Meadows Campground is the ideal spot for an o...
Broadway, Virginia
Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA Holiday
This KOA in the heart of Shenandoah Valley is a family campground - all families are welcome! It's an easy on/off I-81 Exit 257, 4 miles ...
Rileyville, Virginia
Mathews Arm Campground
Overview
Secluded in the thick trees and rolling hills of the Shenandoah National Park, Mathews Arm Campground is the ideal spot for a ca...
Stanardsville
Getaway Shenandoah
Just a short distance from Shenandoah National Park, recharge at our Outpost near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Stanardsville, VA.
From $199 / night
Crozet, Virginia
Loft Mountain Campground
Overview
Perched on top of Big Flat Mountain, this is one of the largest campgrounds in the park. Loft Mountain is a popular destination ...
Grottoes, Virginia
Dundo Group Campground
Overview
Dundo Group Campground is a beautiful campground located at milepost 83.7 along the Skyline Drive with the Appalachian Trail pas...
