The Ultimate Shenandoah National Park Family Hiking & Camping Guide with Kids

If you are looking for the perfect place to venture into hiking and camping with kids, Shenandoah National Park is it! The campgrounds are gorgeous and wildlife are plentiful. The hikes are well labeled and maintained, among the best that we have had the pleasure of experiencing. Hiking Shenandoah National Park with kids is the perfect place for beginners or those more experienced hikers in your family.

If you are thinking about making the trip to Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia, this Shenandoah Family Hiking Guide will answer all your questions and more. Not only is Shenandoah National Park a treasure trove of breathtaking hikes and waterfalls, but it is the perfect destination with 516 miles of hiking trails many along the Appalachian Trail. We guide you through our favorite family-friendly Shenandoah National Park hikes with kids with all the tips of an expert so you can have a more enjoyable trip.

What You Need to Know Before Visiting

Before making the trek to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, there are a few big things to consider. The first is to understand the layout of the park. Shenandoah is a long park vertically following the 105 mile Skyline Drive Road through the park. The second is to prepare for the large number of insects found at Shenandoah National Park. Depending on the season that you visit, you will encounter beautiful to behold insects like the butterflies and dragonflies, as well as some more annoying insects like mosquitos, ticks, and gnats.

What is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Shenandoah?

Let’s start with the logistics. We suggest planning your trip for late spring, summer or early fall to avoid the coldest temperatures and icy roads found in the winter. However, Shenandoah National Park is open year and much less visited in the winter. The summer and fall are usually busier at Shenandoah than in the spring as well.

For this reason, we made the decision to make the trek in early June and were pleasantly surprised with the weather. The temperatures were very mild, with Shenandoah National Park feeling cooler than just outside of the park. Expect temperatures in the upper 60s – lower 80s each day. Just be sure to plan enough water for your day full of hiking and exploring.

What about winter? For the hiking family, winter may be preferable to summer because the crowds will be less and with many bare trees, the views are amazing. However, let us caution you that the weather does fall below freezing and they Skyline Drive may close due to icy conditions. So you will definitely want to layer up and plan to be in a heated lodge or camper with heating for the night.

How to Get to Shenandoah National Park?

There are four main entrances into Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. There are two entrances in the north of the park and two lesser used entrances in the south of the park. All of the hiking trails, dining, lodging and campgrounds are located along Skyline Drive, but a few hiking trails can be accessed from outside of the park as well.

Front Royal is the north entrance of Shenandoah National Park. This entrance is located off of Route 340, also called Stonewall Jackson Highway. This is the most well known and utilized entrance to the park. When entering at Front Royal, you will drive right past Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. The other northern entrance is Thornton Gap, located Highway 211, also known as Lee Highway. This entrance is a little more central than Front Royal.

To enter from the south of the park, Rockfish Gap is the southern most entrance in the town of Waynesboro. It is located off of Highway 250. This entrance is near Humpback Rocks Visitor Center. The second southern entrance is Swift Run Gap, located on US 33. This entrance is a little more central than Rockfish Gap. These two entrances tend to be less crowded so may be the best choice during peak crowd times in late spring, summer, and early fall.

Driving in Shenandoah National Park

As you venture into Shenandoah National Park with kids, you will spend a lot of time driving on the 105 miles of Skyline Drive. This is the main road through Shenandoah National Park and the hiking trails, campgrounds, and visitor centers are located along this main road.

As Shenandoah National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you will need to drive slowly and take your time going from one place to the next. Do prepare to spend quite a bit of time in the car. As you prepare for your day’s adventures, keep in mind the location of the hikes you want to try. We grouped our days into hikes by location to limit the amount of driving through the park.

If you have limited time, driving the entire Skyline Drive near dawn or dusk is an amazing experience. Animals tend to enjoy the cooler temperatures found at these times and the amazing sunset or sunrise views should not be missed. Just be sure to have the time to make the trip, as driving from one end of Shenandoah National Park to the other takes about 3 hours.

Animals in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia is home to many different kinds of animals. You will want to prepare your kids for the possibility of seeing more dangerous animals. Shenandoah National Park is home to black bears, bobcats, and two types of venomous snakes: timber rattlesnakes and copperheads. For tips for encountering a wild animal, visit our post on Hiking Safely with Kids.

Shenandoah National Park Hiking With Kids

As you plan your trip with your kids, keep in mind the 200,000 acres of land that is Shenandoah National Park. This can be rather overwhelming if you have never traveled to this park before, and as many people will only travel here once in a life time, you definitely want to make the most of this vast land.

If you can, grab a Shenandoah National Park map. You will see that Shenandoah is divided into 3 main areas: The North, Central, and The South. The hikes in the northern end of Shenandoah National Park tend to involve fairly easy, level hiking grounds. In the Central Region of the park, you will find the Big Meadow, some rock scrambles, and many beautiful waterfalls. Additionally, you can find a few amazing trails to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail. The southern end of the park features longer hikes, but there are still a few family friendly hikes that are great to try when you visit the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center or head on your way to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

How many days do you need in Shenandoah with Kids?

We planned 4 days and 3 nights at Shenandoah National Park. After our trip, we found this to be the perfect amount of time to spend at Shenandoah. Our plan allowed us to spend 2 full days exploring the Central Region near Big Meadow, with a full day in the North Region and another day in the Southern Region of the park combined with a drive down the Skyline Drive.

However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy Shenandoah National Park with a different itinerary. If you only have one day, plan for mostly driving the 3 hour drive down Skyline Drive with short hikes along the way. You could easily choose one northern hike, 1-2 hikes in the central region, and a parting hike at the end of your drive in the south. With three days, you can get out of the car and enjoy a few more hikes, but will most likely stay on the beaten trail. If you plan to stay a little longer, you could add in some backcountry camping and more exploration of the Appalachian Trail.

Kids Hiking Gear for Beginners

If you plan to tackle some of the mile or longer hikes at Shenandoah National Park, you will want to come prepared. At a minimum, you will want to purchase a hiking hydration backpack for each of your children and each adult who will be hiking that is able to walk. Regardless of the time of year you plan to hike, you will need plenty of water. And if you plan to travel during the summer, you will need even more water for each hike.

Kid’s Hiking Hydration Pack

Hiking Hydration Backpack

We purchased a Miracol hiking hydration backpacks for each of our kids and absolutely love them! Each of our kids has a different color and it works so well for our family. These packs are so easy to prepare and get ready each day, plus they hold plenty of water for some of the longer hikes we want to try.

You’ll find with these packs, just the right amount of pockets to hold everything your child needs. Our children are able to carry their own 2 liters of water in the thermal insulated compartment, which is easy to fill. Drinking from the straw is so simple, our 3-year-old was independent with her water supply. We are able to have each child carry their own first aid kit, water, lunch or snack, and any other accessories. A safety whistle is built right into the pack too. We like our kids to carry a second better quality whistle, but having a spare is awesome with curious kids.

High Visibility Hats

High Visibility Hiking Hat

We absolutely love these high visibility hats. If you plan to buy only 2 items, the hiking hydration pack and a high visibility hat are must haves. If you plan to hike in the summer, sun protection is a must. We love hats for the added tick protection as well. With these high visibility hats, you’ll be able to spot your children no matter where they go. You won’t lose your kids with these hats!

Looking for more hiking essential gear for beginners, head on over to our post on Hiking Safely with Kids. You will see all our must have hiking gear for kids, plus learn our hiking safety rules and even being safe around animals.

What are the Best Hikes for Families in Shenandoah National Park?

With more than 500 miles of trails, how do you know which to try with your family, especially when hiking with young kids? The Shenandoah newspaper is a great resource to find kid-friendly hikes and learn a little about each hike. For novice hikers, we highly suggest hikes less than 3 miles. You may think 1 mile seems long, but most kids can complete a mile long hike in less than 30 minutes. And once you start hiking, the extra mile or two tend to just blend in.

Once your kids have a few shorter hikes (3 miles or less) under their belt, you can slowly begin to increase the number of miles per hike. Additionally, if you have a younger child and are willing to carry them in a backpack, you can shoot for longer hikes as well. We kept our hikes under 2.5 miles for our first National Park visit and added one longer hike per visit with each additional National Park we visited.

Kid-Friendly Hikes in the North End of Shenandoah National Park

When hiking Shenandoah National Park, there are so many hiking trails to explore. Dividing up your hikes by location will help to limit your driving and allow for maximum time exploring in the park. The hiking trails that we enjoyed in the northern section of the park include Fox Hollow Trail, Lands Run Falls, Fort Windham Rock, and Traces Trail. These are located between Dickey Ridge Visitor Center and the Matthew’s Arm Campground.

Fox Hollow Trail

The Fox Hollow Trail hike is located near the northern entrance at Front Royal at mile 4.6. On this historical walk in Shenandoah National Park, you will explore historic rock walls, a cemetery, and periwinkle plants planted by the early settlers in the area.

This is an easy 1.2 mile loop hike that is fairly flat. It is a great place to begin your exploration after a quick stop at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center to grab junior ranger books for your young hikers. This trail is a Track Trail, where your kids can earn prizes for tracking their hike online. Completing the hike specific activity guide is one option in their junior ranger books.

Lands Run Falls

This is a beautiful hike down a fire road to a series of cascades ending in an 80 foot gorge at mile 9.2. This is an easy 3 mile round trip relatively flat hike. During the dry season, the cascades may be waterless. While this hike is a little longer than the other hikes highlighted in the northern region of Shenandoah National Park, it is a relatively easy waterfall hike for your family.

If you happen to go during the dry season, from August to April, you will get a unique view of behind the waterfall. October is the driest month in the park.

Fort Windham Rock

The Fort Windham Rock Trail meanders along the Appalachian Trail at mile 10.4. This hike is rated an easy 0.8 mile round trip hike. The fun part comes at the end near a deeply split boulder viewing area.

This short trail allows your family the opportunity to take a stroll on the historic Appalachian Trail and includes a boulder scramble area for the little climbers in your midst. The stunning views add to the ambience.

Traces Trail

This was one of our favorite trails since it was located right outside of our campground. Our children were startled by the 2 year old male black bear climbing trees along our hike. This hike is a 1.7 mile easy loop hike, located at mile 22.2. The hike circles around the Matthew’s Arm Campground with slight elevation changes and round corners.

This hike is the perfect place to explore the local plant-life in Shenandoah National Park. With so many trees and cover from the sun, this is a perfect midday hike in the mountains.

The Best Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails in Shenandoah National Park that are Centrally Located

When going on Shenandoah National Park hiking trips, it’s important to plan your hikes out by location. This will help your family to maximize your available hiking time, while limiting your driving. You will want plenty of water for any hike in Shenandoah National Park.

The hikes below follow the Skyline Drive from just south of Matthew’s Arm Campground, located near mile 22.1, to just south of the Big Meadows Campground, located near mile 51.2. The central region had the most family friendly hikes available including Limber Lost, Stony Man, Dark Hollow Falls, Story of the Forest, Appalachian Trail Tanner’s Ridge Road, Bearfence Rock Scramble, South River Falls, and White Oak Falls (Lower).

Limber Lost

Limber Lost Trail is a hike through the forest. Depending on the time of your trip, you may see the mountain laurel, which usually blooms in the spring. The trail begins at mile 43.

This is an easy 1.3 mile loop hike that is fairly flat. This trail is another Track Trail, where your kids can earn prizes for tracking their hike online. Completing the hike specific activity guide is one option in their junior ranger books.

Stony Man Trail

The Stony Man Trail follows a portion of the Appalachian Trail and ends with an amazing view and small rock scramble! The trail begins at mile 47.1.

This easy 1.6 mile round trip hike includes many overlook view points along the way. Be sure to have your camera ready to snap a few pictures as you go. Each little vista offers another amazing view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Dark Hollow Falls Trail

For this hike, you have two choices on the length of the hike you would like to embark. For a shorter hike, start at mile 50.7 and follow the dark hollow falls trail. If you are looking for a little longer hike, pair the Dark Hollow Falls Trail with the Rose River Falls Trail which begins at mile 49.4.

The Dark Hollow Falls Trail is a 1.4 mile moderate loop hike. The trail follows a stream to a beautiful waterfall, but does include a steep descent on the way to the waterfall. The return trip can be a little challenging as it is just as steep and a little rocky. However, this trail was easy to navigate with our children and one of our favorites.

To pair the Dark Hollow Falls Trail and the Rose River Falls Trail is a bit longer. You will complete a 4 mile moderate loop hike. This longer hike adds more waterfall views and offers a different view of the 67 foot waterfall from the Dark Hollow Falls Trail.

Story of the Forest Trail

The Story of the Forest Trail is located in the woods next to the Big Meadow near mile 51. This is one of the most centrally located hikes and near most of the action at Shenandoah National Park.

Our family loved exploring the Big Meadow and add the Story of the Forest Trail on afterwards as a refreshingly easy 1.8 mile round trip hike. The woods in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers a different atmosphere to many of the mountain hikes and signs of animal life abound. While exploring the Big Meadow, we did encounter a lot of squish, or muddy ground. So do prepare by wearing the right shoes and guiding your children through the more muddy areas.

Appalachian Trail – Tanner’s Ridge Road

For another option to hike along the historic Appalachian Trail, give the Appalachian Trail – Tanner’s Ridge Road hike a try. This hike follows the Appalachian Trail north through a former homestead. The trail begins near mile 52.8.

This easy 2.1 mile round trip hike is very level and easy for children. They will enjoy being able to run along the trail and explore the Appalachian Trail. Throughout this hike, you will have a good view of your children and an easy walk through the past.

Bearfence Rock Scramble

The Bearfence Rock Scramble hike offers two different options for your family. Both choices begin at mile 56.4. The Bearfence Rock Scramble offers beautiful views but is not for those with a fear of heights. If you want the views but wish to avoid the rock Scramble, try the Bearfence Viewpoint instead.

The Bearfence Rock Scramble is a moderate 1.4 mile loop hike with a rock scramble. The rock scramble offers a full circular view of the Blue Ridge Mountains where you will seem high above the ground. Our children enjoyed the rock scramble, but my fear of heights definitely did kick in.

You can still reach the Bearfence Viewpoint on an easy 1.1 mile round trip hike without the rock scramble by choosing the Bearfence Viewpoint Trail instead. Both trails walk along the same portion of the Appalachian Trail.

South River Falls

The South River Falls Trail winds around to the base of an 83 foot waterfall. While hiking, you will need to cross a stream. Our children loved walking on the rocks and had no trouble crossing the stream to the other side. In fact, it was one of the most enjoyable moments of our trip. This hike is located at mile 62.7.

This is a moderate 3.3 mile loop trail. While the length may seem a little longer than most of the recommended trails, the hiking was lovely and our children were more than entertained with the views and the waterfall. Be sure to check some of the runoff areas for small lizards or other animals.

White Oak Falls Lower

The White Oak Falls Trails have an upper and a lower option. You can choose to hike one or both of these trails, but we found the White Oak Falls Lower Trail to be the perfect option for kids. The lower trail is located in the central region, but you will need to travel off of Skyline Drive to Route 600 and the Whiteoak Boundary Parking Lot.

This 2 mile easy round trip hike is perfect for a family, especially those with young kids. You will explore a little rock scrambles, cross streams over bridges and rocks, and see many smaller cascades on your way to the base of the White Oak Falls waterfall.

The Best Southern End Shenandoah Hikes to Experience with Kids

As you plan your Shenandoah National Park Hiking Trips, don’t miss out on the south side of the park. It’s a long drive from the northern entrance, a good 3 hour drive down Skyline Drive. However, the drive alone is well worth the trip, especially if you plan for a dawn or dusk trip through the park. Animals love to roam during the cooler times when the sun is just rising or setting.

The hikes below follow Skyline Drive south of Lewis Mountain Campground to the southern entrance to the park at the Rockfish Gap entrance. If you’ve made it this far, be sure to stop at the Humpback Rock Visitor Center just south of the entrance. This could even be a great time grab your children’s junior ranger badges if they have earned them. The best family friendly hikes in the southern region include Doyles River Falls and Blackrock Summit Trail.

Doyles River Falls

The Doyles River Falls Trail begins at mile 81.1. You will hike along cool, clear mountain streams past two stunning waterfalls. While hiking, prepare for various stream crossings. Dress for a little cooler weather and be sure to have shoes fit for stream crossings. While the rocks allow for fairly easy stepping points, nature does shift and change.

This hike is a 3.3 mile moderate round trip hike. The waters of the stream mountain crossings were incredibly clear and our children loved seeing the bottom of the shallow streams.

Blackrock Summit Trail

The Blackrock Summit Trail is located at mile 84.4 near the south end of Shenandoah National Park. You will hike along the lower point of the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park. This trail offers beautiful views of the Shenandoah Valley but is a little rocky near the top.

This 1 mile easy loop hike is the final Track Trail, where your kids can earn prizes for tracking their hike online. Completing the hike specific activity guide is one option in their junior ranger books.

Camping at Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park is the perfect place for a family camping trip. Whether this is your first time camping or you are experienced campers, there is something for everyone. There are four main campgrounds within Shenandoah National Park, as well as a group campground and backcountry camping options. Each campground offers a different experience as well as amenities, so be sure to choose the perfect campground for your family.

The campgrounds open each spring and close each fall, so winter camping is not possible at the Shenandoah National Park campgrounds. Two of the campgrounds offer reservations for the entire season, one offers reservations for part of the season, and the last campground is first-come, first-served only. Reservations are highly recommended but not required; however, if you do not have reservations, please plan to arrive early for the best chance to obtain a campsite.

Matthew’s Arm Campground

The Matthew’s Arm Campground is the furthest north of the four main campgrounds, located at mile 22.1. This campground is between the Front Royal and Thornton’s Gap entrances and situated between the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center and the Byrd Visitor Center. If you choose to camp here, you will have quite the drive to reach the southern end of the park.

This campground is very primitive with no RV hookups or showers available. You will need to drive to Big Meadows Campground to access showers. The nearest camp store is 2 miles south at Elkwallow Wayside. Since this campground is farther away from the more popular areas of the park, more wildlife tends to enter the campground.

While camping at Matthew’s Arm Campground, we had the wonderful opportunity to see a mama bear and her cubs scrolling through the campground one morning. Throughout our stay, we often saw the 2 year old black bear playing in the woods near the campground, which was very fun for the kids. You will need to ensure that your food is protected.

There is a short hike around the campground that is perfect if you have a little one who needs to nap or rest for part of the day. This is also a great way to start your morning if your early risers struggle to stay quiet in the morning.

Big Meadows Campground

The Big Meadows Campground is the most centrally located at mile 51.2. This campground is between the Thornton’s Gap and Swift Run Gap entrances and right next door to the Byrd Visitor Center. Choosing to camp here places you in the center of the park with equal driving to the north or south end of the park.

While this campground does not offer RV hookups, they do offer a camp store, coin showers, and laundry. Since this campground is more centrally located, it is a much more popular campground. In the early spring, this campground does not offer reservations and instead is a first-come, first-served campground, so be sure to arrive early. The campground does begin accepting reservations for trips beginning in early May.

This campground has everything you will need and is located near many of the most popular hikes in Shenandoah National Park. While this campground tends to be busier, you will still need to ensure your food is locked up for safety.

Lewis Mountain Campground

The Lewis Mountain Campground is also centrally located at mile 57.5.. This campground is between the Thornton’s Gap and Swift Run Gap entrances and south of the Byrd Visitor Center. Camping here places you just south of the center of the park and near most of the popular hiking trails.

While this campground does not offer RV hookups, they do offer a camp store, coin showers, and laundry. This campground is always a first-come, first-served campground. Therefore, be sure to arrive early to ensure you have a campsite as this campground can fill up during the busy months of later spring, summer and early fall.

Loft Mountain Campground

The Loft Mountain Campground is the furthest south of the four main campgrounds, located at mile 79.5. This campground is between the Swift Run Gap and Rockfish Gap entrances and situated between the Byrd Visitor Center and the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center. If you choose to camp here, you will have quite the drive to reach the northern end of the park.

Loft Mountain is the biggest campground in Shenandoah National Park. While this campground does not offer RV hookups, they do offer a camp store, coin showers, and laundry. Since this campground is located near the Big Run Wilderness Area, you are likely to see a variety of animals throughout your stay. Be sure to ensure that your food is protected.

The campground sits on top of Big Flat Mountain, so each campsite offers great views to the east and the west. Prepare for some amazing sunrises and sunsets. You will also have access to two waterfalls nearby along the Doyles River Falls Trail.

Food Safety

Ensuring your food is safe may seem a little overwhelming but it’s really easy. Yes, you can purchase a food storage locker, but you can also keep your food locked in your car or RV when you are not preparing or eating. Yes, you will also need to keep your garbage locked up too if you place food scraps inside.

Is Shenandoah National Park worth the trip?

The Shenandoah National Park Trip is a must for every family. The kid-friendly hikes are well labeled and maintained, some of the best hiking trails we have experienced. The views and scenery from all the different overlooks and vistas will delight children of all ages. And being able to hike a portion of the historic Appalachian Trail is well worth the trip alone.

We’d Love to Connect with You

Have you traveled to Shenandoah National Park? If so, drop us a comment below and let us know what you loved about the park and any recommendations you may have. If you haven’t, we would definitely suggest adding Shenandoah National Park to any family vacation passing through or near Virginia. It is well worth the extra stop.

For more great family camping and hiking, be sure to check out our posts on Family Safety Tips for Hiking with Kids, Kid-friendly Stunning Big Bend Hikes, 5 Day Itinerary to Hiking Big Bend with Kids, White Sands National Park with Kids, Driving from Guadalupe Mountains National Park to Big Bend National Park, and Hiking at Guadalupe Mountains National Park with Kids.

Looking for more content from us, we’d love it if you would subscribe to our newsletter. We send out two newsletters a month with family friendly tips and often include a freebie to help parents problem solve real-life family problems in practical ways.

Hi, I’m Nicole.

Here at Creatingbutterflies we provide families with practical solutions to real life problems for everything parenting, scouting, dual language, and enjoying time outdoors. We are a family of 6 with 4 wonderful becoming bilingual children who loves scouting, camping, and hiking with their family. Mom is an educator and dad is a firefighter/paramedic.