Shenandoah Wilderness
The 197,000 acres of Shenandoah National Park stretch for 80 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains, which form the eastern boundary of the Appalachian Range. The valley to the west holds the Shenandoah River and lends its name to the park. Settlement began here in the early 1700s, and early settlers discovered rich soil in the region and outstanding vistas from the Blue Ridge. The Shenandoah Wilderness demonstrates the recuperative powers of natural processes in eastern deciduous Appalachian forest. All of the Wilderness was once cleared and inhabited, farmed, logged and burned.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Virginia |
| Size | 79,579 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 38.61° N, 78.31° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 8 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.2 miBlue Ridge Parkway ↗National Historic Landmark
- 7.2 miWashington Aqueduct ↗National Historic Landmark
- under 0.1 miCorbin, George T., Cabin ↗Nethers, VA
- 0.2 miBoyd Tavern ↗Boyd Tavern, VA
- 0.8 miPage County Bridge No. 1990 ↗Overall, VA
- 0.9 miCoates Barn ↗Etlan, VA
- 2.1 miWashington School ↗Washington, VA
- 2.3 miLong, A.j., Mill ↗Free Union, VA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Virginia
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Appalachian trail guide to Southwest VirginiaBill Prueschner and Mary Ann Prueschner, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Shenandoah Wilderness?
79,579 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Shenandoah Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Shenandoah Wilderness in?
Virginia.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Shenandoah Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Shenandoah Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Shenandoah Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.609° N, 78.312° W. Shenandoah National Park is 3 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Shenandoah Wilderness?
Shenandoah National Park (3 mi) and Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park (13 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Shenandoah Wilderness?
The National Register has 157 listings within 15 miles, including Blue Ridge Parkway and Washington Aqueduct.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.