Outbound Collective logo

Explore Skyline Drive In Winter

Front Royal, Virginia

4.5/5
based on 2 reviews

Description

Added by Christin Healey

No cars and totally peaceful walks complete with overlook after overlook on one of America's most scenic roads. Great for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing after a snowfall as well.

Skyline Drive is a winding highway that cuts straight through Shenandoah National Park. Being that we are in the south, you will find that the road is closed for the majority of the winter, and usually at the very mention of snow. The first few years of living here it was incredibly frustrating, then I realized that walking the road is one of the most scenic, peaceful hikes around. It's totally legal, and aside from a few other adventurous souls, you will have the entire park to yourself. Make sure to call ahead to find out about snow levels, as it can be much higher accumulation in the wintertime and you may need snowshoes or skis. You can park at any of these entry points: nps.gov/shen.

Read More

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Photography
Snowshoeing
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Romantic
Scenic

Reviews

Did some winter hiking up here this past year. I'm crossing my fingers for a big snowfall this winter so I can finally do some snowshoeing along skyline drive. When the road is closed, it truly feels like whole park is yours!

I visit Skyline year round but recently started coming in the winter. It's not uncommon to see frozen natural runoff along the side of the drive. Beautiful!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike Lewis Falls

Explore Skyline Caverns

Hike the Shenandoah River State Park Loop

Hike to Compton Peak

Hike North Mount Marshall in Shenandoah NP

Photograph Range View Overlook