The forest is rapidly returning to its original state, representative of the hardwood shield which once covered most of the northeastern United States. In the winter and early spring, before the leaves have returned to the deciduous trees, it is possible to see for miles across the returning forests. The land truly appears as a wilderness, without any clue of the centuries of human activity. The current forest contains a wide variety of species of trees, including hemlock, grey birch and balsam fir. A blight which occurred early in the century killed all of these trees, among the most useful to the original inhabitants of the land, and prevents the growth and development of any new chestnuts.
Fog frequently blankets both mountains and valleys, creating interesting views and vistas.
From the ridge line within the park the visitor can look to the west over the famous Shenandoah valley. Views from the heights of the park reveal fields, farms, and patches of woodlands in the valleys. A view to the south reveals the blue ridge itself shrouded in fog. Through the haze from the Blue Ridge it's possible to see just the shapes of neighboring ridges as they run in a north-south direction through western Virginia. The furthest visible ridge is usually the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia.