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Stanley, Virginia

Top Spots in and near Stanley

  • Stanley, Virginia

    Three Falls Hike

    8.3 mi / 2200 ft gain
    The Three Falls Hike in Shenandoah National Park will take you past three beautiful waterfalls all found within the central district of the park: Lewis Spring Falls, Dark Hollow Falls, and Rose River Falls. You are able to start the loop from any of the waterfalls’ trailheads, but I prefer to sta...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Camp at Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park

    4.4
    Visiting Shenandoah National Park for the first time can be quite overwhelming. The 109 mile long Skyline Drive, combined with over 500 miles of hiking trails, makes camping is a necessity if you truly want to experience Shenandoah.From the Appalachian thru-hiker to the RV'er, Big Meadows is perf...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Photograph Spilter Knoll Overlook

    5.0
    The Spitler Knoll is one of 72 overlooks for people to enjoy as they travel through Shenandoah National Park along Skyline Drive.  Skyline Drive is the road that winds through the heart of Shenandoah National Park, starting at Front Royal in the north and ending at Rockfish Gap in the south. This...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Hike the Rose River Falls to Dark Hollow Falls Loop

    5.0
    4 mi / 950 ft gain
    Parking at the trailhead is a few miles north of Big Meadows at the Fisher's Gap Overlook parking area. You will find much more solitude along this loop trail than if you were to park at the Dark Hollow Falls trailhead as the Dark Hollow Falls is much more popular. That makes being able to fin...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Backpack Rose River Loop

    5.0
    4 mi / 900 ft gain
    The trail can be found on Skyline Drive.  Though it is a little challenging to locate, you should park at  Fisher’s Gap Overlook (mile marker 49.4), and then walk over across the road and find the trail. You'll spot it by looking over the side of the road and then hiking down.  The Rose River Loo...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Lewis Falls via Lewis Spring

    3.0
    1.71 mi / 607 ft gain
    Lewis Spring is the source of Hawksbill Creek which forms Lewis Falls (also known as Lewis Spring Falls) and eventually flows through the town of Luray and joins the Shenandoah River. The waterfall starts with 2 streams before hitting rock halfway down and fanning out. During dry seasons and summ...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Hike to Rose River Falls

    4.5
    4 mi / 853 ft gain
    Rose River Falls is often overshadowed by it's more popular cousin, Dark Hollow Falls, as both hikes begin at the same trail head. But because Dark Hollow Falls is such a short and well known hike, it can get extremely crowded. It is also one of the few trails in Shenandoah where dogs are not al...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Big Meadows Loop

    4.7
    1 mi / 30 ft gain
    Big Meadows is home to many types of wildlife and is a great location to photograph many different types of animals. The best time to see the wildlife in the meadow is near dawn and dusk. White-tailed deer and a variety of local birds are the most common animals seen in the meadow, and because o...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Dark Hollow Falls

    4.6
    1.32 mi / 440 ft gain
    Catch the trailhead to these falls at mile 50.7 on Skyline Drive, just north of Big Meadows Lodge and Campground and the trailhead is just to the left of the parking lot. This is an easy 1.4 mile roundtrip hike, straight down to get to the falls, and straight up to arrive back at your car. Many...
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  • Rapidan, Virginia

    Hike to Historical Rapidan Camp in Shenandoah National Park

    5.0
    4.5 mi / 890 ft gain
    For this hike park at the Milam Gap parking lot located at mile 52.8 on Skyline Drive. Once parked you will cross Skyline Drive to reach the trail.  Hikers will follow the blue blazes along the trail and creek. After you have crossed the creek twice you will come to a larger waterfall. At this po...
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  • Luray, Virginia

    Explore the Luray Caverns

    4.8
    The caverns are located in the town of Luray, which is in the Shenandoah Valley of northwest Virginia. They can only be explored by tour, and at first I was hesitant to pay the $26 entrance fee, but after an hour-long tour that blew my mind, I had absolutely no regrets. The tour includes about 30...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Hike to Naked Creek Falls

    3.0
    1 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Please note that there is no trail leading to these falls.  This hike is for advanced hikers.Park your car at Naked Creek Overlook in Shenandoah National Park and walk through the field staying to the left. As you start to enter the woods you will hear the creek running on your left. Make your wa...
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  • Luray, Virginia

    Upper Hawksbill Trail

    2.09 mi / 482 ft gain
    The trailhead has a small parking area at mile marker 46.7 on Skyline Drive, just past the Old Rag overlook (on the opposite side of the road) if you're driving south. The hike is a 2-mile out-and-back that takes you right to the summit. The first ~2/3 of it is relatively flat and very easy walk...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Hawksbill Mountain Summit

    4.8
    1.54 mi / 669 ft gain
    A hike to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain will not only put you at the highest point in Shenandoah National Park (4050'), but you'll have a 270 degree view perfect for a sunset. This moderate hike is located at MP 45.6 on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, so you'll have to pay a $2...
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  • Stanley, Virginia

    Lower Hawksbill to Salamander to Appalachian Trail Loop

    2.68 mi / 666 ft gain
    This is one of 2 trails that will take you to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain. The other is the Upper Hawksbill Trail (which I also wrote an adventure about!). This trail is a combination of the Lower Hawksbill Trail, the AT, and the Salamander Trail. The parking are area for this hike is at mi...
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  • Luray, Virginia

    White Oak Canyon to Upper Falls

    4.8
    4.28 mi / 866 ft gain
    Between mile 42 and 43 of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park is the trailhead for WhiteOak Canyon. Begin at the trailhead from the parking lot and cross the Limberlost Trail in .3 miles. Continue on and you will cross your first footbridge shortly. After another mile you will cross the s...
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Camping and Lodging in Stanley

Big Meadows
Stanley, Virginia

Big Meadows

Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA Holiday
Broadway, Virginia

Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA Holiday

Mathews Arm Campground
Rileyville, Virginia

Mathews Arm Campground

Getaway Shenandoah
Stanardsville

Getaway Shenandoah

From $199 / night

Loft Mountain Campground
Crozet, Virginia

Loft Mountain Campground

Dundo Group Campground
Grottoes, Virginia

Dundo Group Campground

Guides, Insights and Stories from Stanley

4 Reasons Why You Should Photograph the Winter Night Sky

4 Reasons Why You Should Photograph the Winter Night Sky

Nick Palastro

Chasing Fall Colors in Shenandoah National Park

Chasing Fall Colors in Shenandoah National Park

Brandon Dewey

A Sunset You Won't Forget: Hawksbill Summit in Shenandoah National Park

A Sunset You Won't Forget: Hawksbill Summit in Shenandoah National Park

Demetrios Varoumas

5 Gorgeous Spring Hikes in Shenandoah National Park

5 Gorgeous Spring Hikes in Shenandoah National Park

Jess Fischer

A Gorgeous Summer Adventure at Doyles River Falls

A Gorgeous Summer Adventure at Doyles River Falls

Jeremy Meek