Shenandoah National Park

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

# The Greatest Single Feature

By 1929, more than 23 million passenger cars were registered in the U.S., making the automobile one of the most significant social changes ever. Early advocates proposed that Shenandoah National Park's main attraction be built for the motoring tourist. Skyline Drive would be for leisurely drives and picnics in the cool mountain air.

When the Great Depression stalled fund raising for park land acquisition, planners turned to a drought-relief appropriation and forged ahead with Skyline Drive. They purchased 100-foot rights-of-way, and hired local labor while the architects struggled to design the road along the narrow legal route. The first section opened temporarily in 1932 to rave reviews, but erosion problems gnawed at the roadsides and the architects.

Help arrived in 1933 when the first Civilian Conservation Corps "boys" came to the proposed park and set to work on trails and infrastructure. Once the government took ownership of the adjacent land in 1935, the CCC boys' work focused on stopping erosion, and installing the overlooks, plantings, and landscape details that make Skyline Drive so beautiful.

> "The greatest single feature is a possible
> sky-line drive along the mountain top...Few
> scenic drives in the world could surpass it."

—Southern Appalachian National
Park Committee Report, 1931

## Drive The Drive

Skyline Drive is your portal to Shenandoah's treasures. It is both a journey and a destination. Seventy-five scenic overlooks offer expansive views of the rolling hills to the east, and the valley to the west. The 35-mph speed limit brings back the pleasure drive! Relax, slow down, and enjoy every mile.

Mile markers along the west side of the Drive tell you where you are. They are numbered north to south: Mile 0 at Front Royal and mile 105 at Rockfish Gap. In publications and maps, their numbers are used to show locations of special points of interest along this scenic highway.

Shenandoah National Park

# Welcome to Shenandoah National Park

...for the recreation and the re-creation they shall find here.

-President Franklin Roosevelt, Shenandoah's Dedication

Shenandoah National Park was established in 1935 to bring the western national park experience to the urban east. Here, within a few hours' drive of millions, you will find "recreation and re-creation." Experience the wonder of nature, the power of shared heritage, and the inspiration that is the future of our national parks.

## Shenandoah Highlights

* **Skyline Drive** – 105 miles of beauty. Please observe the 35-mph speed limit to see it all safely.

* **75 Overlooks** – Spectacular views of the Shenandoah Valley and Virginia Piedmont.

* **500 Miles of Trails** – Beautiful waterfalls, quiet forests, and mountain summits are just a hike away.

* **Visitor Centers** – Films, exhibits, and Ranger-led walks and talks tell Shenandoah's stories.

## Legend

Red Dot Indicates Your Location

Park Emergency Number: (800) 732-0911

Shenandoah National Park

## Shenandoah Highlights

## Legend

Shenandoah National Park

Designated Wilderness

Appalachian Trail

Other Trail

Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive Milepost

Overlook

Ranger Station

Campground

Picnic Grounds

Food Service

Lodging

Recycling

Gas Station