Stretching north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Skyline Drive earns its place as one of the most scenic drives in the country. The paved road runs 105 miles and covers the length of Shenandoah National Park, taking about three hours to drive in a single day. Since completing construction in 1939 (the Civilian Conservation Corps, a work relief program during the Great Depression that employed young men to work on environmental projects, built many of the road's amenities), Skyline Drive has been the central fixture of Shenandoah National Park, enabling travelers to take in the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Piedmont Plain to the east. 

Past visitors appreciated the road's 35 mph speed limit, which they say allowed them to enjoy the stunning vistas along the two-lane road safely. They also praise the numerous places to pull over and swap drivers, snap photos or enjoy the panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley. Nature lovers should keep their eyes peeled for the park's residents, ranging from wild turkey and deer to black bears.

The most popular hike in Shenandoah National Park and one of the most popular hikes in the mid-Atlantic region, summiting Old Rag is strenuous for even experienced hikers. Old Rag Circuit proves the most trafficked trail to the mountain's peak, though potential hikers should keep in mind that this loop covers almost 9.5 miles and more than 2,300 feet in elevation gain. One perk (or drawback) of this route is a section of rock scrambling near the summit of Old Rag Mountain, affording hikers 360-degree views of the surrounding wilderness. If you'd prefer to avoid the portion of rock scrambling, but still want to summit the mountain, head to the Berry Hollow parking lot for a roughly 5.5-mile (round-trip) hike with approximately 1,700 feet in elevation gain. Both routes take more than six hours on average. 

Past travelers recommend you arrive early (before 8 a.m.) and well-prepared, with water, sunscreen and food, to tackle the lengthy hike. The advice to arrive early becomes crucial on weekends, when recent visitors warn of overflowing parking lots and queues at chokepoints along the trail. While most online sources recommend wearing hiking boots, some previous hikers say that Old Rag can be conquered in just sneakers if the weather is dry enough. 

Located along Skyline Drive, Byrd Visitor Center includes all of the facilities you'd expect at a visitor center: restrooms, information about the area, exhibits, ranger programs, historical film screenings and a bookstore with relevant publications and maps. The visitor center is named after of Harry Flood Byrd Sr., a prolific politician and newspaper publisher who opposed racial desegregation during his decades in public office, serving as Virginia's governor and a United States senator. Past visitors praise the visitor center's assortment of amenities as well as the helpful and cheery guides who are happy to recommend hikes and other activities.  

The Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center sits in the park's Big Meadows Area, between the Thornton Gap Entrance Station and the Swift Run Gap Entrance Station. This location puts travelers near the Dark Hollow Falls and the Bearfence Mountain hiking trails. The visitor center welcomes travelers daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from mid-March to mid-January, but closes during the colder months. Access to the visitor center is included with park admission. Additional information about the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center is available via the National Park Service's website. 
 

The northernmost visitor center in Shenandoah National Park, Dickey Ridge Visitor Center provides an excellent jumping-off point for most travelers passing through the park. It offers restrooms, exhibits, an orientation movie, a bookstore and maps. More importantly, park rangers are on-site to answer any questions, recommend hikes and lead programs. Past visitors said that Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is worth stopping at to orient yourself in the park and shore up your strategy for hiking and driving.

The Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from mid-March through late November but closes during the rest of the year. The visitor center sits 4 miles south of the Front Royal Entrance Station along Skyline Drive. Access to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is free, provided you pay the admission fee to Shenandoah National Park. Additional information about the visitor center, including updated hours and ranger programs, is available online on the National Park Service website. 
 

Dark Hollow Falls is a short out-and-back hike to a waterfall in the Big Meadows area of Shenandoah National Park. The route only includes a 0.75-mile trail to the falls themselves, but the relatively steep incline makes navigating back up from the falls a bit tricky. Past hikers warn that the 440-foot elevation change can be difficult for some with limited mobility, and many amateur hikers recommend bringing a walking stick. Overall, hikers say that the Dark Hollow Falls trail's steep nature proves worthwhile for the rewarding view of the beautiful waterfall at the end. 

Access to the trail is included with park admission. The trailhead for Dark Hollow Falls sits just north of the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center, along Skyline Drive and between the Thornton Gap Entrance Station and the Swift Run Gap Entrance Station. A handful of visitors mention that the small parking lot nearest the trailhead fills up on busy days, so plan to get there early if the Dark Hollow Falls is on your must-see list. Additional information about Dark Hollow Falls is available online on the National Park Service website. 

As Shenandoah's highest peak at 4,051 feet, Hawksbill provides unmatched views of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Virginia Piedmont. There are three routes visitors can use to reach the Hawksbill Viewing Platform at the summit. The most popular option is the Hawksbill Loop Hike, which is less than 3 miles and takes visitors on a circuit of the area's trails. Note that as a circuit, Hawksbill Loop is made up of numerous connecting trails. In comparison, the Hawksbill Summit Hike provides a short, steep route (less than 2 miles) to the summit's viewing platform and back. For a slightly longer and less steep option, take the Upper Hawksbill Trail to the Summit Hike, which trades about a half a mile of additional distance for a more than 150-foot reduction in elevation gain. Regardless of which path they took, past visitors overwhelmingly recommend summiting Hawksbill Mountain to enjoy the stellar panoramic views.

Two parking lots provide easy access to the Hawksbill Mountain trailheads, Upper Hawksbill Trailhead Parking and Hawksbill Gap Parking. Both lots are located on Skyline Drive between the Thornton Gap Entrance Station and the Swift Run Gap Entrance Station. Access to the trail is included with park admission. Additional information about Hawksbill Mountain, including detailed instructions on each route, is available on the National Park Service website. 

Located in the Thornton Gap Area of Shenandoah National Park, Mary's Rock Trail takes hikers to the summit of Mary's Rock Mountain, offering views of Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain. Fragile plants grow along the rocky route, so be sure to watch your step. The park provides two routes to the summit, Mary's Rock Summit Hike and Mary's Rock Summit Hike – Alternate, and both options are rated moderately difficult and involve hiking on the Appalachian Trail. The primary route is about 4 miles, while the alternative option runs roughly 3 miles, so budget roughly three to four hours. Past hikers agree that the trail is difficult, but manageable and say the trek is worth it for the beautiful views at the end. 

Most past visitors recommend taking the primary route, which begins at the Panorama parking lot, just north of the Thornton Gap entrance. The alternative route starts at the Meadow Spring parking area, farther south along Skyline Drive, and requires hikers to switch trails. The routes are open year-round and are free with park admission. Additional information about Mary's Rock Summit Trail is available online on the National Park Service website. 

Recent travelers recommend tackling the Rose River Falls hike because it exposes you to Shenandoah National Park's diverse ecologies, with flowers, birds, scenery and plenty of shade. The hike's primary draw, unsurprisingly, is a 67-foot waterfall near the end. Many hikers recommend adding an extra quarter-mile trek along Dark Hollow Falls Trail to see an additional waterfall. The Rose River Falls loop is moderately difficult and covers 4 miles and more than 900 feet in elevation gain, so set aside about four and a half hours to complete the hike. 

The Rose River Loop Hike trailhead sits on the north end of the Fishers Gap parking lot, in the park's Big Meadows Area and between the Thornton Gap Entrance Station and the Swift Run Gap Entrance Station. Like most other hikes, it is accessible via Skyline Drive and access to the trail comes included with park admission. Additional information about the Rose River Falls hike is available on the National Park Service website. 

There are two routes to Bearfence Mountain, the Bearfence Rock Scramble Hike and the Bearfence Viewpoint Hike. Both routes lead to a panoramic view of the surrounding Virginia Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley. Many past visitors recommend taking the rock scramble route, which they describe as more challenging but also more rewarding and fun than the trail. Keep in mind that the rock scramble route, which runs about 1.5 miles and covers more than 300 feet in elevation gain, is not suitable for young children and gets significantly more dangerous in icy conditions. As an easier alternative, the Bearfence Viewpoint Hike is about a mile, cuts out the rock scrambling and rewards hikers with the same stellar views. Both options involve a short connector hike on the Appalachian Trail. 

The Bearfence Mountain trailhead is located between Thornton Gap Entrance Station and the Swift Run Gap Entrance Station, about 5.5 miles south of the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center along Skyline Drive. The trailhead has its own parking area and is accessible year-round for anyone who paid the National Park's entrance fee. Keep in mind that pets are not allowed on the Bearfence Mountain hikes. Visit the National Park Service website for additional information on Bearfence Mountain. 
 

The Appalachian Trail stretches from Maine to Georgia, totaling more than 2,100 miles through 14 states. Shenandoah National Park's stretch of the trail predates the park and originally ran the same route as Skyline Drive. During the construction of Skyline Drive from 1931 to 1939, the Appalachian Trail was relocated from the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains to lower down the mountains. Today, the Shenandoah National Park portion of the iconic Appalachian Trail totals 101 miles and winds through the park, crossing many other notable hikes. 

Past visitors claim that just stepping foot on the bucket-list trail was worthwhile. If you have time to hike or backpack a portion of the trail, recent hikers say that you'll be rewarded with memorable views of the park's wilderness, from foliage to animals.

One of the easiest hikes in Shenandoah National Park, Limberlost Trail provides an excellent option for travelers with small children and anyone with limited mobility. The entire 1.3-mile trail is covered in crushed greenstone, making it particularly easy to traverse. What's more, hikers can expect a moderate 130 feet of elevation gain as they complete the loop. The hike is also a TRACK Trail, which means visitors can download a self-guided brochure with information about the plants and animals they may encounter on their hikes from the Kids in Parks website. 

Past visitors described the route as mostly flat with benches along the trail, making the hike appealing to parents pushing strollers and groups planning a picnic. Though the hike doesn't boast any jaw-dropping views, it offers a quieter atmosphere compared to some of the park's other trails. 

Two waterfalls serve as the primary attraction for the moderately difficult Doyles River Falls hike. The route covers more than 3 miles and includes an elevation gain of 1,189 feet. Hikers can expect multiple stream crossings and a few rock scrambles, so be sure to wear adequate boots or shoes. 

Past park visitors described the hike as arduous, but worth it for the interesting trail challenges and amazing waterfalls. Also, keep in mind that this is an out-and-back trail, so the convenient downhill on the way to the falls turns into a workout on the walk back to your car.