Bearfence at Shenandoah Valley National Park

The Bearfence trail leads up to a steep slope that eventually turns to a rock scramble to the summit of Bearfence Mountain. It is one of only three summits in the park that has a 360 degree view. Most of the section of the trail includes scrambling up and down on the ridge of the mountain before returning back to a regular hiking trail. The trail is parallel to the Appalachian trail (AT), so you can take the AT trail to loop back down the mountain to Skyline Drive. The scramble and view makes this trail very unique in Shenandoah.

If you are reasonably fit and flexible should be able to handle the scramble to the summit. There is an exposed section and sheer drop before the summit, so beware if you have an issue with heights. This is also definitely not the trail for pets and small kids that might have difficulty scrambling up the rocks.

Whiteoak Canyon Hike

Whiteoak Canyon is one of the best waterfall hikes in Shenandoah Valley National Park. There are six waterfalls ranging from 35 to 86 feet and many smaller cascades along the Whiteoak Canyon Trail, making this trail one of the most popular places to hike in Shenandoah. During the warmer months, the swimming holes along the way are great places to cool off, but expect lots of company. Being one of the most popular hikes in the park, it can be very busy in the peak seasons of spring and fall.

Big Meadows Hike

I couldn’t make to Stony Man, so I made detour to Big Meadows near Skyland Drive. It is located near the center of the park and the largest developed area of Shenandoah National Park (SNP). It is near the park’s Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center, as is a lodge, camp store, and camping area. A wildlife and plant observation log is kept at the Byrd Visitor Center desk, you are encouraged to add your sightings to the list.

Big Meadows was the site of the dedication of Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936. The meadows area has the highest concentration of rare plants in SNP. Big Meadows is also the most visible and studied wetland at SNP. It also supports an abundance of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects, some of which are not found elsewhere in the Park. A state listed snake, a rare insect, and several salamander and bird species are among the animals that occupy the Big Meadows wetland areas.

Franconia Ridge Loop Hike

The Franconia Ridge loop is a nine-mile loop that traverses Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, and Little Haystack. It is one of the best and most popular hike New England has to offer in the middle of the White Mountains. The loop is the second highest range of peaks in New Hampshire. The Franconia Ridge hike stays well above the tree line for more than a mile and a half. The White Mountains is known for dangerous winds and unpredictable weather so make sure to check the forecast. Our goal was to hike it during the Fall peak foliage, We really didn’t have the luxury to avoid the bad weather since we drove from Maryland. We were able to see glimpses when the fog clears up, but I definitely don’t recommend hiking this loop in fog or in the rain.

We took a break on at Greenleaf hut, before ascending to the summit of Mount Lafayette. The trail from Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln to Little Haystack is exposed and is the most beautiful part of the hike. Unfortunately, we were to see the 360 views because of the fog. There are some dangerous spots on the route and the elevation dips up and down between the three summits. After descending from Little Haystack, we hiked along the Falling Waters trail next to the river and waterfalls on the way back down to the parking lot. Overall, we enjoyed the hike, but it would’ve been perfect if it was a sunny day.