Outdoor living in the Shenandoah Valley is about choosing your adventure. From kayaking and canoeing, to hiking and trail running, mountain biking to road cycling, climbing, swimming, fly fishing, skiing and snowboarding, scenic drives, photography opportunities, bird watching, or star gazing at a night sky so clear you can see the Milky Way, adventures abound. Stunning scenery in every direction make it is easy to see why some have referred to our region of Virginia, our home, as one of the best kept secrets in the US. With easy access to the Shenandoah National Park, George Washington National Forest, Jefferson National Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway, Massanutten Resort and Wintergreen Resort our home overflows with world class outdoor adventures.
Shenandoah National Park
The historic 105-mile long Skyline Drive weaves through the 200,000 acres of the Shenandoah National Park and the famed Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. This national treasure is your backyard. The Shenandoah National Park offers over 500 miles of hiking trails, Park Ranger programs, camping, trail running, horseback riding, photography, and seasonal events.Cascading waterfalls, blooming native flora, plentiful wildlife, breathtaking vistas, wooded hollows, mid-summer blackberries & a SNP favorite summer treat, Blackberry Ice Cream Pie. Dine at Skyland or Big Meadows Lodge for the ultimate culinary experience.
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
These two parks stretch through the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains of the Shenandoah Valley. Combined, the parks have 23 wilderness areas encompassing over 139,000 acres of national forest land offering numerous outdoor adventures just a short drive from your home.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Known as “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited division of the National Park system. As you wander this picturesque 469-mile corridor that links the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of North Carolina, passing through forests and meadows be sure to stop at a scenic overlook and enjoy the breathtaking views. The Blue Ridge Parkway was designed by Stanley Abbot, a landscape architect, who was influenced by Frederick Law Olmstead, the designer of New York’s Central Park and the grounds of the historic Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
Massanutten Resort
Massanutten Resort where you can stay, play, relax, dine and shop is known as the Mid-Atlantic’s premiere four season resort destination. With 6,000 acres of mountain adventures Massanutten offers skiing, winter tubing, two golf courses, an indoor-outdoor waterpark, day spa, mountain biking in the Bike Park and on the Western Slopes, farm to table dining, zip line, canopy tour, Kids’ Adventure Course, summer tubing, climbing walls, an escape room, hiking, and horseback riding, just to name a few.
Wintergreen Resort
Located on the eastern side of the Shenandoah Valley, high in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Wintergreen Resort with 11,000 acres offers thrill seeking adventures combined with unparalleled mountain vistas and a luxurious resort. Offering four seasons of adventures from downhill skiing, snowboarding, a terrain park and snow-tubing in the winter to 45 holes of golf, hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, swimming, archery, zip lining, climbing and trail running this Virginia resort has an adventure for everyone. After a day of adventuring relax at one of the fine dining establishments or enjoy a spa treatment before heading home.
South Fork Shenandoah River
Immortalized in song, “Oh, Shenandoah,” flows northeast from Rockingham County to join the North Fork in Warren County before meandering on through West Virginia and emptying into the Potomac River. Fed by streams from the bordering mountains to the east and west the South Fork of the Shenandoah River is renowned as one of the best smallmouth bass rivers in the world and is on the “50 Places to Fish Before You Die” list. From afternoons spent fly fishing, to summer days tubing, or simply enjoying this lazy river with calm waters and few rapids from your kayak or canoe, the South Fork of the Shenandoah River provides a peaceful retreat.
Harrisonburg Mountain Biking
Recognized with a bronze level designation by the International Mountain Biking Association, and named by National Geographic as one of America's 20 Best Mountain Bike Towns, Harrisonburg offers over 500 miles of trails both in the city and in surrounding areas for novice to expert. Numerous races throughout the season spotlight mountain biking in the area including the Shenandoah 100, part of the National Ultra Endurance Series
