Virginia’s Shenandoah Nationwide Park is undeniably a incredible vacation spot to get outdoors as a household. Right here you’ll discover miles and miles of mountain climbing trails plus scenic views, cascading waterfalls, historic websites, geological options and majestic summits.
This nationwide park is dwelling to a number of strenuous bucket listing hikes, like Previous Rag and Little Devils Stairs, but in addition various toddler-friendly hikes which might be certain to please your little ones. For these with the littlest legs in your loved ones, listed below are simple hikes in Shenandoah Nationwide Park they may completely love.
Finest Shenandoah Nationwide Park Hikes with a Toddler
1. Limberlost Path
Whereas there are many child pleasant hikes in Shenandoah NP, the Limberlost Path is a straightforward hike that toddlers will love too. What’s to like about this stroller-friendly path at milepost 43 on Skyline Drive is all of the benches. There are greater than 15 picket benches – roughly each .05 mile – so littles can sit all the way down to take a breather each from time to time.
This 1.3-mile loop path is made from crushed greenstone, not paved asphalt, so it feels extra like a hike by way of the forest moderately than a stroll in a metropolis park. Take it gradual to benefit from the inexperienced hemlocks and spruce bushes alongside the best way.
Toddlers will love climbing on a geological formation referred to as a columnar jointing. Look out for it when the path intersects the Whiteoak Canyon Path.
2. Fox Hole Path
The simple 1.2-mile Fox Hole Path at milepost 4.6 is a should for mountain climbing with toddlers in Shenandoah Nationwide Park. This leafy loop path originates throughout Skyline Drive from the Dickey Ridge Customer Middle.
Little ones will love climbing the rock piles and wandering the weathered tombstones on the Fox household cemetery, considered one of greater than 100 household cemeteries situated throughout Shenandoah nationwide park.
Earlier than you step foot on this toddler pleasant hike in Shenandoah, chat with a nature-loving park ranger or wander out to the west-facing overlook behind the Shenandoah customer middle. Usually you’ll see plein air painters on clear days when you possibly can see for miles. As a degree of be aware, canines will not be allowed on the Fox Hole Path in Shenandoah NP.
3. Little Stony Man Cliffs
For large views which might be simple to succeed in in Shenandoah, full the 1.3 mile out-and-back hike – principally alongside the Appalachian Path – to Little Stony Man Cliffs from the parking space at milepost 39.1. The elevation achieve is simply 190 ft and little ones shall be wowed by the awe-inspiring views on this quick hike in Shenandoah.
The rocky outcroppings are ample, so sit down and savor the completely beautiful surroundings. You’ll even discover a number of shallow swimming pools that replenish with rainwater. Toddlers (in addition to mothers and dads) might wish to take off their sneakers to splash round within the cool water.
4. Story of the Forest Hike
For a real stroll within the woods, information toddlers alongside the 1.9-mile out-and-back Story of the Forest hike. Park on the Byrd Customer Middle at milepost 51 then take the sidewalk to the trailhead to the proper of the customer middle.
Many Shenandoah Park hikes supply the chance to see native wildlife, so maintain your eyes open for white-tailed deer, barred owls and gray squirrels.
Pack a picnic lunch or decide up provisions at Huge Meadows Wayside, which is subsequent door to the Byrd Customer Middle. Right here you’ll discover made-to-order sandwiches, salads and to-go snacks. Plus, blackberry ice cream. This can be a should given Shenandoah Nationwide Park is understood for thickets of blackberries rising alongside the roads and trails.
5. Fort Windham Rocks Hike
For budding geologists (actually, what child doesn’t like rocks?), take your toddler to finish the .8-mile out-and-back hike alongside the Appalachian Path to Fort Windham Rocks at Carson Mountain. Take pleasure in a climb on the rocks that tower greater than 30 ft within the air then take within the sunshine with a snack.
Park within the Compton Hole lot at milepost 10.4 and in case you have time and vitality after the hike to the big rocks, comply with the Appalachian Path throughout Skyline Drive in the wrong way. In lower than one mile, you’ll attain an intersection. Flip proper for a scenic overlook at Compton Peak. Flip left for a geometrical geological characteristic. It’s a second columnar jointing.
6. South River Falls Path
A simple hike in Shenandoah Nationwide Park that results in a cascading waterfall is all the time a winner, particularly when mountain climbing with toddlers. For littles who can handle an out-and-back hike of almost three miles, make the trek to the 83-foot-tall South River Falls. It’s the third tallest waterfall within the park and it’s past dazzling.
In case your toddler struggles with that distance, a toddler service for mountain climbing is the proper answer for when little legs get drained.
Begin the hike from the South River Picnic Space at milepost 62.7. From right here, take the meandering South River Falls Path to the roaring waterfall. A rock ledge gives a protected place for toddlers to cease and watch the beautiful spectacle. For additional mileage, proceed on an additional .8-mile to the bottom of the falls (however don’t overlook you’ll must stroll again as much as the trailhead).
Our time in Shenandoah Nationwide Park was probably the greatest components of our household street journey within the Appalachian Mountains. See the place else we went in our full Appalachian street journey itinerary.
Come Be part of Us!
We love answering questions in our Child Can Journey Fb group. Come ask all of your child journey associated questions and share recommendation with different touring dad and mom!
Discovered this publish helpful? Share it with your folks!
Erin Gifford
Erin Gifford spends a lot of her time mountain climbing the paths throughout her dwelling state of Virginia and writing about them at Go Hike Virginia. Right here you may discover family-friendly hikes in all areas of the state, in addition to extra Shenandoah Nationwide Park hikes.
Celine Brewer is the proprietor of Child Can Journey. Not solely does she have years of expertise touring with infants & toddlers, however she’s helped hundreds of thousands of recent dad and mom journey with their infants and toddlers for over a decade. Along with writing on her child journey weblog, she has shared her experience on touring with a child or toddler by contributing to articles about touring with a child with the Washington Put up, USA At this time, the Lonely Planet journal and Being pregnant & New child journal.
Celine additionally writes about household journey on the positioning FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns together with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her ardour about her dwelling and journey to Banff Nationwide Park and space on their website TravelBanffCanada.com.
