Shenandoah National Park Byrd Visitor Center open on weekends

The Harry F. Byrd Sr. Visitor Center at Big Meadows (mile 51 on Skyline Drive) in Shenandoah National Park will be open on winter weekends, weather permitting. Beginning Jan. 11, the visitor center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays when the skyline drive is open. Rangers will be available to answer questions and help plan visitor trip. Movies, exhibits, and the bookstore will be available. Backcountry camping permits may also be obtained during open hours.

Winter is a special time to visit Shenandoah National Park. Landforms are revealed in the absence of leaves; trails are less crowded and a special quiet fills the air; ice formations appear and disappear along shady springs and streams; and wildlife goes about its daily business of survival.

In addition to Byrd Visitor Center, the following picnic grounds will remain open year round, weather permitting: Elkwallow, Pinnacles, South River, and Dundo. All other facilities are closed for the season.

Winter weather can be drastically different in higher elevations and along skyline drive than in the surrounding valleys. Please use caution when driving skyline drive or hiking in the park. Be prepared to encounter winter driving conditions, including snow and ice, at any time. Winter visitors need to be self-reliant. Keep extra, warm clothing in your car and wear layers when hiking. Visitors should bring plenty of water and food, as well as a flashlight, map, and crampons or traction coils for hiking boots.

skyline drive is open year round; however, the Drive may be temporarily closed on short notice for indefinite periods due to winter weather conditions. For the most current skyline drive status, call (540) 999-3500, choose Option 1, and then Option 1. Park staff also post opening and closing information on Facebook and Twitter.

There is a $10-per-vehicle entrance fee to the park from December through February, good for seven days. Rates increase to $15-per-vehicle on March 1. For more information about planning a trip to Shenandoah National Park, please see the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/shen/ or call the park at (540) 999-3500.