1. ABRAMS CREEK WETLANDS PRESERVE 5. SHENANDOAH VALLEY DISCOVERY MUSEUM 9. FOSSIL SITES 13. LAKE FREDERICK This natural area offers a pleasant Experience nature indoors through In western Frederick County, This 117-acre lake offers good mile-long stroll or bicycle ride. A thechildren’s museum’s programs fossils date back to the Devonian bird-watching opportunities as paved path crosses wetlands that and interactive hands-on exhibits and Silurian periods of the well as fishing for bass, crappie, are home to over 100 bird species about the Potomac River water- Paleozoic Era, about 400 million northern pike, and channel catfish. and more than 15 plants on shed, native animals, astronomy years ago. Jon boat and kayak rentals are Virginia’s Rare Plants List. Watch available on-site. A public boat and other subjects; visit the A good collecting site is located alongside for green herons, great blue herons, kingfishers, red-winged Route 50, beginning 0.1 miles west of the Hebron Baptist Church and 11 miles west launch is provided, but gasoline-powered boats and sailboats rooftop garden. Open daily, year-round. Admission charged. blackbirds, muskrats, mink, painted turtles and other marsh residents. of Winchester. Information on other sites near Hayfield and Gore is available at the are prohibited. Located in Old Town Winchester at 19 W. Cork St. From Route 11 a mile south of downtown Winchester, turn right (west) onto Jubal Discovery Museum. From Winchester, take Route 522 south. About 1.4 miles past Route 340, turn Early Drive. In 0.3 miles, park at the Abrams Crossing commercial center on the right on Lake Frederick Dr. Follow Lake Frederick signs to the public fishing site. left. Follow paved path beside the swamp. 6. MUSEUM OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY 10. TUSCARORA TRAIL 14. SHERANDO PARK 2. VISITORS CENTER AND SHENANDOAH This history complex interprets This blue-blazed trail provides UNIVERSITY The 330-acre Sherando Park art, history, culture and the natural challenging hiking and several features wooded walking trails, Open daily, the Winchester- views. A 13.5-mile section crosses riches that attracted the area’s first an outdoor pool, playgrounds, Frederick County Visitors Center Route 55 and follows Great North settlers. It features a large regional mountain biking trails, disc golf, provides maps, changing exhibits, museum and Glen Burnie, the Mountain northward to the town an orientation video and views and a 4.5-acre fishing lake (no home of Winchester’s founder, of Gore and Route 50. The trail of nearby Rouss Spring ponds. At swimming). Open all year. Colonel James Wood. Six acres of formal gardens contain continues north towards Shockey’s Knob on county roads. Shenandoah University’s Main Further details appear in the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Take I-81 south 6 miles from Winchester to Exit 307 (Stephens City). Follow Campus, enjoy the landscaped grounds of Sarah’s Glen and headwaters of Town Run and large native trees. Museum open Route 277 east 1.8 miles to the park. year-round, Tuesday-Sunday. Admission charged. guide to the Tuscarora Trail and Maps F and L. native plantings on the Main Quadrangle, or watch birds along 15. THIRD WINCHESTER BATTLEFIELD From downtown Winchester, take Amherst Street (Route 50 west) to the museum Access points include Route 55 (15 miles west of Strasburg), County Roads 751 Abrams Creek. The Green Circle walking-cycling path connects and 853 in Gore (west of Winchester) and Shockey’s Knob (directions below). entrance on the left just before James Wood Middle School. A 5-mile system of bicycling and to Shawnee Springs Preserve and downtown Winchester. walking trails meanders through From I-81, take Exit 313 toward Winchester. Follow signs to Shenandoah University 11. SHOCKEY’S KNOB 7. VANCE’S COVE sunny fields and forests where (0.4 miles). Turn right just beyond onto Pleasant Valley Rd. for the Visitors Center. Shockey’s Knob offers views the Third Battle of Winchester 3. JIM BARNETT PARK AND WILKINS LAKE Situated between Paddy and Great and a moderate hike through an occurred in 1864. The main path Jim Barnett Park has playgrounds, North mountains, the Vance’s Cove oak-hickory-pine forest to a rocky from Redbud Road crosses a fitness trail, walking-biking area offers hiking, mountain biking ridgeline. A 6-mile round trip, Redbud Run Marsh in about a mile. paths, picnic tables, dog park, mini and trout fishing in a scenic setting Shockey’s Knob is on the blue- Redbud Road access: take I-81 north from Winchester to Exit 317. Turn right golf, and both indoor and outdoor along Paddy Run. From the parking blazed Tuscarora Trail. onto Redbud Road; follow for 0.8 miles to parking lot on right. Millbrook access: swimming pools. You can catch area, a grassy hiking route leads From Route 522 in Gainesboro (7 miles northwest of Route 37 in Winchester), take I-81 Exit 315 for Route 7 east (Berryville). After about 1 mile, turn left onto trout and bass in Wilkins Lake. In left. A hiking-biking route – its lower section is suitable for turn right onto Route 600 (Siler Rd.). Follow 600 north for 5.8 miles to County Millbrook Drive; trail entrance signs posted behind Millbrook High School. winter, the lake attracts migrating birds including buffleheads, street bikes – begins as a gravel road and heads uphill to the right. Road 690 (Howard’s Chapel Rd.). Take 690 for 1.6 miles to County Road 671 16. REDBUD RUN WILDLIFE (Shockeysville Rd.) and turn left. Trailhead is 1.6 miles ahead on the right. mergansers, red-headed ducks and an occasional tundra swan. Take Exit 296 off I-81 near Strasburg. Follow Route 55 west for 13.6 miles to MANAGEMENT AREA Open all year. Forest Road 93 on the left. (Look for the small brown “93” sign about 0.9 miles past 12. CEDAR CREEK & BELLE GROVE NATIONAL Redbud Run supports brook and From I-81, take Exit 313 toward Winchester. Turn right (north) onto Pleasant County Road 609). This gravel road leads about 2.5 miles to the Cove’s parking HISTORICAL PARK rainbow trout, wildflowers, birds, Valley Rd. in 0.5 miles. Watch for park entrance on right. area and trailheads. The “Morning Attack Trails” consist and wildlife. Wooded paths traverse 4. SHAWNEE SPRINGS PRESERVE of three individual trails, that, when the tree-covered ravine’s slopes. 8. EAGLE ROCK Located between downtown combined, total 1.7 miles in length. From I-81 Exit 315, take Route 7 east for 2.1 Winchester and Jim Barnett Park, A 3.5-mile round trip hike, Eagle miles to Wood’s Mill Rd. (left ramp). Parking The trails cover an area where part lot is on the right in 0.2 miles. the 14-acre site protects springs, Rock provides commanding views of a surprise Confederate attack wetlands and forests. It also contains of the Shenandoah Valley and NPS during the Battle of Cedar Creek 17. ROSE HILL PARK part of the Civil War’s largest Allegheny Mountains. The trail occurred on the morning of October 19, 1864. This trail pro- The site of the Civil War’s 1862 Union field hospital. The Shawnee climbs an easy grade for about vides expansive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east, First Battle of Kernstown, the park Springs Trail offers an unpaved footpath through shady forests, a mile to a junction. Turn right, the Massanutten Mountains to the south, and the Allegheny is open free of charge, 8am to dusk. It while the paved Green Circle path here connects to downtown more steeply uphill, to reach the rocky viewpoints. Mountains to the west. Open year-round from dawn to dusk. features a walking trail, valley views, Winchester and Jim Barnett Park. From I-81 Exit 296 near Strasburg, follow Route 55 west for 12.3 miles to County The park is 15 miles south of Winchester via Route 11 or I-81 (Exit 302). The restrooms, interpretive signage, and From I-81, take Exit 313 toward Winchester. In 0.5 miles, turn right onto Pleasant Road 609 (Capon Springs Grade) on the right. In 1 mile, 609 reaches the trailhead National Park Service’s Visitor Contact Station is on Route 11 at the north end Valley Rd. At the first light, turn left onto Hollingsworth Dr.; turn left again at stop picnic shelter. at Dry Gap. Trail is to the right. of Middletown (7712 Main St.). 1.5 miles south are the Cedar Creek Battlefield sign. Preserve is at the bottom of the hill, on the right. From Route 37 west of Winchester, take Cedar Creek Grade west, and turn left on Foundation Visitors Center on the left and Belle Grove on the right. Jones Road. Park is 0.4 miles on the right. Northern Shenandoah - Naturally! MAP & GUIDE to PROTECTING PLACES matters to our hearts, ourWild souls, and our physical well-being. Perhaps more importantly, NaturalPLACES our will to preserve these places says something about our relationship to the future. Discovering Nature in -Michael Lipford, Virginia State Director, The Nature Conservancy Winchester, Frederick County, and Clarke County WELCOME TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, a region rich in nature, culture, and history. There is much that makes this area special, from apple orchards and limestone houses to mountaintop views and a storied, peaceful river. This brochure will lead you to nearby locations that can bring you closer to our forests, wildlife, wetlands, and parks. Some places are well known as recreational or historic sites, while several areas with distinctive natural features may allow new discoveries for even longtime Shenandoah Valley residents.