National Park Service Visitor Guide - Fall 2005 U.S. Department of the Interior Shenandoah National Park Shenandoah Overlook Beauty Comes Naturally Here Park Emergency Number: (800)732-0911 Imagine having to look through a hole in a In 1924, a commission searched to find an area fence to view a beautiful waterfall to create a western-like national park more accessible to the large eastern population. The Inside ... It happened at our first world-renowned Blue Ridge offered the solitude of wilderness, Things To Know While You're Here 2-3 natural wonder, Niagara Falls. Private the wonder of wildflowers, calming brooks Waterfalls of Shenandoah 4-5 landowners built commercial structures and and streams, the amazement of the stealth of a Visitor Services 6 barriers that blocked access. bobcat, or the inspiration of hawks in flight. Historically Speaking 7 Ranger Programs 8 Imagine sitting on the balcony of a hotel, Vacationers have been drawn to the natural viewing a majestic waterfall through a clear-cut wonders of the Blue Ridge, such as the six swath of trees. It happened at Yosemite Falls, waterfalls of rugged Whiteoak Canyon, for Leash Your Dog which was "turning into a great swindle like over 100 years. Early on, one entrepreneur | in Shenandoah! Niagara ... for fleecing the public." The built a changing house and swimming pool (see"Pets in the degradation of these areas helped spur the near the top of Whiteoak Falls to enhance the Park" on page 2) movement for scenic preservation in America. visitors' experience. Quick Facts about Shenandoah: Another waterfall led more directly to the Since Shenandoah National Park's establish­ creation of our first national park. Artist ment in 1935, visitors have enjoyed all of the • Skyline Drive - 105 miles long, 75 Overlooks Thomas Moran's painting of the lower falls park's natural features free of impediments or • Total Acreage - 197,438 acres of "The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone" spectacles. You won't be entertained by piped- • Designated Wilderness - 79,579 acres inspired awe of nature and desire for preserva­ in music or colored lights illuminating a water­ • Highest Peak - Hawksbill Mountain, 4,050 feet tion in the public and helped motivate fall, but you may be inspired by the pure, • Hiking Trails - 516 miles, including 101 miles Congress to establish Yellowstone in 1872. simple beauty of nature. of the Appalachian Trail • Highest Waterfall - Overall Run Falls, 90 feet • Plants - More than 1300 species • Birds - Over 200 species Visit Shenandoah Online www.nps.gov/shen in rugged grandeur, but first in beauty of woods, in thrilling fairyland glens, and in warmth of Mother Nature's welcome. m Commissioner William D. Gregg, :i 924 EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA Things To Know... Shenandoah Overtook is published for the park visitor by They're Wonderful-and Wild\ Pets in the Park Shenandoah National Park, Interpretation and Education Division, with funding from the Shenandoah National Park Pets are welcome in Association and ARAMARK. the park, if they are The following businesses have provided additional funding: kept on a six-foot Brookside Restaurant, Luray, VA Days Inn, Luray, VA lead at all times. Front Royal Visitor Center Luray-Page Co. Chamber of Commerce Pets are not permitted on guided Merck & Co., Inc., Elkton, VA programs because they can be Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, Luray, VA Respect Wildlife in Shenandoah! distracting to hike leaders and Editors: participants. In addition, to ensure Claire Comer, Media/Publications Manager Shenandoah National Park is home to many wild animals. You'll see some your pet's safety and the safety of while you're here. Be careful NOT to feed the deer or bears or any other Joanne Amberson, Park Volunteer others, pets are not permitted on animals, though—they're WILD. And don't approach them too closely. Help Layout and Design: the following trails: the park protect wild animals in their natural state so that your children and Neal Lewis, Visual Information Specialist grandchildren can enjoy them, too. Photographs: • Fox Hollow Trail (mile 4.6) John Mitchell, Park Volunteer • Traces Trail (mile 22.2) John Amberson, Park Volunteer The Air We Breathe Shenandoah National Park Archives • Stony Man Trail (mile 41.7) Contributors to this issue: The colorless gas called ozone exists naturally in the stratosphere, where it • Limberlost Trail (milepost 43) James Akerson, Joanne Amberson, Steve shields the earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. However, ozone is considered Bair, Robbie Brockwehl, Laura Buchheit, • Dark Hollow Falls Trail (mile 50.7) Wendy Cass, Claire Comer, Donna Cuttone, an air pollutant when close to ground level-where it is formed by a chemical Reed L. Engle, Penny Gray, Mara Meisel, reaction between volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen in the • Story of the Forest Trail Karen Michaud, Greta Miller, Charlie presence of sunlight and heat. When these ozone levels are high, usually from (milepost 51) Newton, Gordon Olson May through September, some people develop inflammation of the respiratory • Bearfence Mountain Trail tract or other problems when exercising strenuously. Printed by: (mile 56.4) Shenandoah Publications, Inc., High ozone levels in Shenandoah National Park do occur, though not often. Woodstock, VA • Frazier Discovery Trail (mile 79.5) The National Park Service has provided an Ozone Advisory System to alert Shenandoah National Park people when high levels are detected, so they can adjust their outdoor activity • Old Rag Ridge Trail 3655 U.S. Highway 211 East as needed. Visit www.nps.gov/shen for additional information. Luray, Virginia 22835 • Old Rag Saddle Trail (540) 999-3500 Call (540) 999-3500 (May-Sept) to learn if ozone levels are high in the park. (above the Shelter) www.nps.gov/shen Park SNPA: Take Home a Lasting Memory . Accessibility Restrooms and Buildings - Most are The Shenandoah National Park Association (SNPA) has been a steward of the accessible or accessible with assistance. park for 55 years! And YOU help SNPA help the park every time you purchase something from a visitor center or from the SNPA website, because all profits from Lodging - Accessible overnight accommo­ dations are available at Lewis Mountain, sales go to the park. Skyland Resort, and Big Meadows Lodge. SNPA Publishes an Award-Winning (800)999-4714. Cultural History Series Picnic Grounds and Campgrounds - JOIN US! Accessible sites are available at all park Part of the history of Shenandoah National Park is picnic grounds and campgrounds (except now available in three books published by the If you want to do even more, Dundo). Accessible shower and laundry Shenandoah National Park Association. Everything SNPA invites you to become a facilities are available at Big Meadows, Was Wonderful: A Pictorial History of the Civilian member. You'll receive a 20% dis­ Lewis Mountain, and Loft Mountain camp­ count on purchases in park visitor grounds. Restrooms at picnic grounds are Conservation Corps in Shenandoah National Park by accessible or accessible with assistance. Reed L Engle won the Media Award from the centers and at visitor centers in National Association of Interpretation in 2000. In the many other national parks. As a Trails - The Limberlost Trail is an accessible member, you'll learn more about trail, a gently sloping 1.3-mile loop featuring Light of the Mountain Moon: An Illustrated History of a 5'-wide greenstone surface. The trail cir­ Skyland, also by Engle, won the same award in 2004. the park and have the satisfaction cles through forest and mountain laurel and In the Shadow of Ragged Mountain: Historical of knowing that you're doing includes a 65' bridge and 150' boardwalk. Archaeology of Nicholson, Corbin, & Weakley Hollows more to take care of it. Information or assistance may be obtained by Audrey Horning is the most recently published by telephoning the Virginia Relay Center at book in the series, telling the story of the mountain Shenandoah National Park (800) 828-1120 (TDD) or (800) 828-1140 residents in three hollows in what is now the park. Association (Voice) or by writing to the park: 3655 US Hwy 211 East Shenandoah National Park All three books are available at visitor centers, Luray, VA 22835 3655 US Hwy 211 East concession facilities, by phone at 540-999-3582, or (540) 999-3582 Luray, VA 22835 on the website, www.snpbooks.org www.snpbooks.org 2 Shenandoah Overlook 2005 ... While You're Here Backcountry Who Are They? Leave No Trace s you drive and hike through Scientists will be working at cliff sites AiShenandoa; h National Park this throughout the park, studying the nat­ year, you may come upon groups of ural resources at these sites and how busy people. Do you know who these best to protect them. This three-year workers are? project will involve scientists from the Virginia Department of Conservation Volunteers from the Potomac and Recreation, the U.S. Geological Stewardship in Action Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) main­ Survey, the National Park Service tain all 101 miles of the Appalachian Geological Resources Division, and Protecting the park is everyone's job. Trail in the park and many other trails Virginia Tech. Eventually, the park will Whether you're visiting the park for a as well. They clear the trail, build work with scientists and the public to week-long excursion into the back- waterbars, remove downed trees, develop a Cliff Management Plan. country or simply enjoying the views Most of Shenandoah National Park and in general keep an eye out for from Skyline Drive for the day, you is open to backcountry camping. your safety. Members of the Youth Conservation can protect Shenandoah by practicing Permits are required and are avail­ Corps (YCC) will be doing trail and the principles of Leave No Trace.