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Shenandoah National Park prepares for fall travel season

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shen national parkShorter days and cooler nights signal the arrival of fall in Shenandoah National Park. Every autumn is different, and park staff is looking forward to a wonderful fall season.  Some of the trees and other plants are already putting on their autumn colors.

Fall means it’s also time for the weekly Fall Color Report which provides some observations from around the park.  Visitors can now find these reports on the park’s website at: http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/fall-color.htm or listen to them on the park’s main phone line in English or Spanish at 540-999-3500 option 6.  The Fall Color Report is updated each Friday through the end of October.  If you can’t visit but want to see the fall color progression check-out the park’s Mountain View webcam:http://www.nps.gov/shen/photosmultimedia/view_webcam.htm.

The mountains are a particularly good place to view fall colors because the steep slopes afford visitors an opportunity to view the kaleidoscope of color that moves down from the peaks to the Shenandoah Valley or Virginia Piedmont below.  Superintendent Jim Northup said, “We look forward to the many visitors who come from around the world to experience the incredible fall color show while stopping at overlooks along Skyline Drive, hiking through the park’s wilderness, or just relaxing with friends and family.”   October is the park’s most heavily visited month of the year.

As night falls more quickly toward the end of October, park facilities will begin closing for the season.

A complete list of seasonal closures follows:

2014 Fall/Winter Facility Schedule

Facility Skyline
Drive Mile
2014 Closing
Dates
Visitor Centers
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center 4.6 Sunday 11/30/14
Byrd Visitor Center 51 Change to weekend hours only:12/01/14
Campgrounds
Mathews Arm Campground 22.2 Sunday 10/26/14
Big Meadows Campground, Showers/Laundry 51.2 Sunday 11/16/14
Lewis Mountain Campground 57.5 Sunday 11/02/14
Loft Mountain Campground, Showers/Laundry 79.5 Sunday 10/26/14
Picnic Grounds
Dickey Ridge Picnic Grounds 4.7 Sunday 11/23/14
Elkwallow Picnic Grounds 24.1 Open year round
Pinnacles Picnic Grounds 36.7 Open year round
Big Meadows Picnic Grounds 51.2 Sunday 11/16/14
Lewis Mountain Picnic Grounds 57.5 Sunday 11/02/14
South River Picnic Grounds 62.8 Open year round
Dundo Picnic Grounds 83.7 Open year round
Concessions Facilities
Elkwallow Wayside 24 Sunday 11/09/14
Skyland Resort 41.7 and 42.5 Sunday 11/30/14
Big Meadows Lodge 51.2 Sunday 11/02/14
Big Meadows Wayside 51.2 Sunday 11/30/14
Lewis Mountain Cabins and Campstore 57.5 Sunday 11/02/14
Loft Mountain Campstore 79.5 Sunday 10/26/14
Loft Mountain Wayside 79.5 Sunday 11/09/14

 

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