Skyline Drive and waterfall hikes in Shenandoah

Shenandoah National Park, VA

If you were considering Pigeon Forge, this is a different kind of trip.

How many days

Adults

Kids

Who it suits: Families with little kids, families with teens, couples and friends
How long: 3, 4 or 5 days
Getting there: Drive. A drive from Cincinnati, Columbus, Louisville, Charlotte (about 8 hours or less by car).
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall

Why it works

Skyline Drive runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with over 75 scenic overlooks.
Shenandoah offers over 500 miles of hiking trails, from short, easy walks to long, rugged rock scrambles.
Deer, black bear, wild turkey and other woodland animals regularly cross Skyline Drive.
Kids can be sworn in as official Junior Rangers, hike kid-friendly trails and learn from a ranger during a ranger program.

Most facilities in Shenandoah begin opening in March and close by late November, and portions of Skyline Drive are periodically closed during bad weather.
No waterfalls are visible from Skyline Drive, so you must hike to see them, and the rocks around waterfalls are extremely slippery.

Skyline Drive runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with over 75 scenic overlooks. source (checked 2026-11-14)
Shenandoah offers over 500 miles of hiking trails, from short, easy walks to long, rugged rock scrambles. source (checked 2026-11-14)
Deer, black bear, wild turkey and other woodland animals regularly cross Skyline Drive. source (checked 2026-11-14)
Kids can be sworn in as official Junior Rangers, hike kid-friendly trails and learn from a ranger during a ranger program. source (checked 2026-11-14)
Most facilities in Shenandoah begin opening in March and close by late November, and portions of Skyline Drive are periodically closed during bad weather. source (checked 2026-11-14)
No waterfalls are visible from Skyline Drive, so you must hike to see them, and the rocks around waterfalls are extremely slippery. source (checked 2026-11-14)