Shenandoah National Park

If you keep your eyes and ears open, you have a pretty good chance to spot a black bear while you visit Shenandoah National Park. Seeing a bear in its natural habitat is quite a memorable experience, but you need to know how to keep yourself safe—and even keep the bear safe–if you encounter one. Remember, these animals are wild and deserve your respect. American black bears are one of the park’s most iconic wildlife species. You may see black bears near the road, picnic grounds or camping areas as they search for wild fruits, berries, insects and small mammals. Female bears, or sows, often lead their cubs through natural foraging activities, such as finding berries and turning over rocks. Sows also teach their cubs to use their incredible sense of smell and to act opportunistically. Unfortunately, this clever behavior frequently leads bears into conflict with humans when food is not properly secured. When black bears have access to human food, they often become food-conditioned, so rangers trap and relocate them. In some cases, bears cause significant property damage and lose their fear of humans, which can result in euthanizing the animal. Properly securing food when camping or picnicking not only keeps you safe but can also help you save a bear’s life. The best way to secure these items is to store all food and scented items in a bear-proof food storage locker or in a locked vehicle. When you dispose of trash, always use the park’s bear-proof dumpsters. To learn more about bear safety in Shenandoah, visit the park website: https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/bear-safety.htm Image: A visitor watches a sow and cub in tall vegetation at Mathews Arm Campground.

#NationalPoliceWeek recognizes the dedicated officers who demonstrate integrity and courage every day to keep all of us safe. It reminds us that each badge represents service, sacrifice and family. Shenandoah National Park extends the deepest gratitude to both current rangers and the 43 National Park Service rangers who have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1913.

From the Cairngorms to Shenandoah, our landscapes tell a story millions of years in the making. ⛰️ During the State Visit, King Charles III unveiled two commemorative stones: one from Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park and one from Shenandoah National Park in the United States. The parks gifted the stones to one another, where they will be displayed at their respective parks as lasting symbols of shared natural heritage. More than 250 million years ago, the Appalachians and the Scottish Highlands were part of the same ancient mountain range, before geological change separated them across the Atlantic. A shared past and a shared responsibility for the future. From conservation to stewardship, National Parks on both sides of the Atlantic are working to protect the landscapes we all depend on. #NationalParks #SharedHeritage

As warmer weather quickly approaches, Shenandoah National Park welcomes more winged wildlife. Birders flock to the park at this time of year to observe the migration of many song-bird species. While they may not see every bird singing their song, birders and ornithologists rely on careful listening to identify which species fly nearby. From hummingbirds to bald eagles and all wingspans in between, more than 200 species of birds call Shenandoah home or stop here during migration. Whether birds choose the park for a rest, a dip in one of the streams or to eat some of the insects that “bug” us on trails, these warming May days offer you a wonderful opportunity to visit and admire our avian residents on the move. If you plan to go birding in the park or take those fledgling steps out of the nest, remember that you can look and listen for feathered friends along more than 500 miles of trails, 70 overlooks and almost 80,000 acres of designated wilderness within our nearly 200,000-acre park! Images: Black crowned night heron lurks by a stream waiting to catch its prey; female pileated woodpecker inspects its drum site; male American goldfinch surveys its surroundings; ruby throated hummingbird midflight; wild turkey walking on the stone barrier on Skyline Drive.

Last month, Shenandoah National Park hosted the National Park Service (NPS) Basic Technical Rescue Training East course. Students and instructors came from other NPS park units, volunteer search and rescue organizations, and agencies all over the region to train in the skills necessary to rescue injured or ill people in steep and inaccessible terrain. While you enjoy Shenandoah’s rocky vistas and waterfalls, you can avoid the need for a specialized rescue by staying a safe distance away from the edge. Stay aware of your surroundings. Please never risk your own safety just to get a photo. No photograph is worth your life or safety! Shenandoah National Park thanks the agencies who sent students and instructors from far and wide to join us for this important training.

If you’ve hiked along the Appalachian Trail (AT) near Marys Rock, you may recognize these two parts of the trail. But have you ever wondered what they looked like before crews constructed these sections of the AT? These images from 1934 show the two areas of the AT near Marys Rock. Planners and workers put a considerable amount of thought and effort into choosing a location, then beginning the hard work of clearing the pathway and building all the support necessary to keep the path safe for hikers. The trail up to Marys Rock changed several times before the current Appalachian Trail took shape. When the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) first started looking for routes across the Blue Ridge in the late 1920s, one of the club’s founders, Harold C. Anderson, remembered the existing trail to the summit of Marys Rock as remarkably steep. Whether the PATC disliked the steepness of the path or not, they changed the trail’s location during the summer of 1928 when they routed the AT from Thornton Gap to Skyland. Then, during the 1930s, construction crews altered the trail’s location again while they built Skyline Drive. Some parts of the AT disappeared from Thornton Gap to Fishers Gap to make room for the road, so park staff reconstructed the trail along the Drive, creating what exists today.

Poaching poses a significant threat to Shenandoah National Park, endangering both wild creatures and the integrity of the park’s ecosystem. Illegal hunters and those who illegally remove plants undermine decades of conservation efforts and disrupt the park’s natural balance. Park rangers tirelessly monitor activity and educate visitors about the importance of protecting animals, birds and plants within the park’s boundaries. Challenge yourself to spot native plants and animals. Remember: every visitor who helps keep the park safe is part of our team. If you witness suspicious activity or discover evidence of poaching during your visit, report it immediately to park authorities. Protecting Shenandoah is everyone’s adventure. Image: Bag filled with illegally poached plants.

Don't overlook the overlooks! Shenandoah National Park sits atop the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Skyline Drive offers more than 70 overlooks to take a rest and enjoy the view. For great sunsets, drive through the park and stop at some of the many western-facing overlooks. Image: Sunset from Franklin Cliffs Overlook.

This past weekend, Shenandoah National Park celebrated the 40th annual Wildflower Weekend. The park was alive with color as visitors gathered to appreciate the incredible diversity of spring blooms across our trails and meadow. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the participants, guest naturalists and volunteers who made this milestone event such a success. We look forward to many more years of celebrating the wonders of wildflowers together! Images: Guest Naturalist Dave Stapleton points to the forest floor during a guided hike; Guest Naturalist Jodi Davis leads a group into the meadow to explore; a line of Wildflower Weekend participants hike along Lewis Mountain Trail. NPS Photos | A. Walker

A special stamp for a special visit. 🌲🇬🇧🇺🇸 To mark the State Visit of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, visitors to Dickey Ridge Visitor’s Center in Shenandoah National Park can stamp their National Park passports with a specially commissioned UK State Visit stamp throughout the month of May. A small but meaningful way to remember a visit that celebrates the American people, the great outdoors, and the enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States. #GreaterTogether #America250 #StateVisit2026

The National Park Service (NPS) has selected a new concessioner to provide lodging, food and beverage, retail, grocery, automobile services (fuel), stable operations, and campground operations in Shenandoah National Park. This includes all commercial operations at Big Meadows, Skyland, Elkwallow, Lewis Mountain and Loft Mountain developed areas. The new contract with Shenandoah Hospitality, LLC, a company owned by ExplorUS, will address more than $10,000,000 worth of deferred maintenance and repairs in the park. It is expected to create more than 200 private sector jobs in the local community, while allowing NPS employees to serve visitors in new ways. It will also generate more than $80,000,000 for the NPS. The new contract requires Shenandoah Hospitality, LLC to complete several major capital improvement projects, which will upgrade critical systems and restore historic structures. Visitors will notice expanded restroom facilities at Elkwallow Wayside and Loft Mountain Wayside. Guests at the historic Big Meadows Lodge and Lewis Mountain Cabins will enjoy restored facilities. Campers at Mathews Arm Campground will have access to fully electric campsites. The contract has a 15-year term, which begins on January 1, 2027. ExplorUS, the 100% owner of Shenandoah Hospitality LLC, is a family-owned company with almost 30 years of experience operating national, state, and local park concessions. Their NPS portfolio includes operations at Acadia, Blue Ridge Parkway, Carlsbad Caverns, Crater Lake, Death Valley, Gateway, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Hawaii Volcanoes, Hot Springs, Lake Mead, Lassen, Mammoth Cave, Muir Woods, Petrified Forest and White Sands. To learn more about the contract, please visit the Concessions Prospectus Frequently Asked Questions page on the park website: https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/management/concessions_prospectus.htm

Members of Virginia Tech’s entomology program, along with park rangers and volunteers, visited Shenandoah with biological technician Dale Meyerhoeffer on April 13. For Dale, the date marked 19 years of forest health work, 11 years of collaboration with Virginia Tech on hemlock woolly adelgid control and one month before his retirement. Over the years, Dale’s efforts saved more than 30,000 eastern hemlock trees and protected a vital park resource. He attributes the program’s success to teamwork which led to excellent beetle establishment and dispersal in the park. The National Park Service recognized this milestone when Dale received the 2023 Director’s Awards for Excellence in Natural Resource Management. Staff here at the park will remember Dale not only for his career achievements, but also for his kind nature toward Shenandoah’s plants and friends at the park. Happy trails! Image: Dale (third row, second from left) stands with family, park staff, volunteers, and members from Virginia Tech.