Syria, Virginia
Top Spots in and near Syria
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Syria, Virginia
Fly Fish on the Robinson River
5.06 mi / 2000 ft gainThere are two sections that you can fish on the Robinson River. The first section is about 15 minutes away from the trailhead of White Oak Canyon. The river is on the right side of the road and you can see where it has bee stocked from the white diamonds on the trees on the side of the road. This...Read more -
Syria, Virginia
Hike Cedar Run Falls Trail
4.72.6 mi / 1000 ft gainCedar Run Falls is located in the central district of Shenandoah National Park. This is a pretty waterfall that flows into a deep swimming hole. There are two ways to get to the Cedar Run Waterfall: from the top of the mountain off of Skyline Drive and from the bottom of the mountain off of Wea...Read more -
Syria, Virginia
White Oak Canyon Cedar Run Loop
4.07.67 mi / 2257 ft gainThis route combines Cedar Run Falls and White Oak Canyon Trail (one of the more popular hikes in SNP, with separate adventures detailing those hikes). Parking is easy, but gets very crowded due to the popularity of White Oak Canyon (WOC). When starting from the parking area/Shenandoah ranger stat...Read more -
Madison, Virginia
Hike Bear Church Rock via the Graves Mill Trail
3.58.5 mi / 2250 ft gainStarting at the Graves Mill Parking area, head up the yellow blazed trail that is marked by a big cement marker. The trail will follow closely beside the gorgeous Rapidan River. Hike for half a mile until you come to the intersection of the Staunton River Trail. Turn left (do not cross the river)...Read more -
Madison, Virginia
Fly Fish on the Rapidan River
5.05 miPark at the Graves Mill Parking Area. From here you can easily follow the Rapidan River up the mountain. Fishing reports inform that the lowest concentration of brookies are at the lower boundaries of the park so take some time to enjoy the trail and hike up stream. At the lower boundaries you mi...Read more -
Luray, Virginia
Upper Hawksbill Trail
2.09 mi / 482 ft gainThe 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...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Hawksbill Mountain Summit
4.81.54 mi / 669 ft gainA 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...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Lower Hawksbill to Salamander to Appalachian Trail Loop
2.68 mi / 666 ft gainThis 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...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Hike to Rose River Falls
4.54 mi / 853 ft gainRose 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...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Dark Hollow Falls
4.61.32 mi / 440 ft gainCatch 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...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Hike the Rose River Falls to Dark Hollow Falls Loop
5.04 mi / 950 ft gainParking 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...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Backpack Rose River Loop
5.04 mi / 900 ft gainThe 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...Read more -
Etlan, Virginia
Old Rag Mountain Loop
4.78.95 mi / 2467 ft gainBe prepared to deal with crowds, especially on the rock scrambles, which tend to cause a bottle neck on this trail in Shenandoah National Park. I would recommend starting out early on this loop hike, around 6 or 7 am to avoid the crowds. Definitely arrive no later than 9:30am, as the parking lot ...Read more -
Etlan, Virginia
Hike to the Summit of Mt. Robertson in Shenandoah NP
9 mi / 2500 ft gainThis hike is one of the lesser known hikes in Shenandoah. While everyone else is headed to Old Rag, hikers will find themselves on a peaceful hike to the summit of Mt. Robertson. Hikers should park in the Old Rag Parking lot and make sure to pay the daily fee ($25). If you have a yearly pass, be ...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Photograph Spilter Knoll Overlook
5.0The 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...Read more -
Stanley, Virginia
Big Meadows Loop
4.71 mi / 30 ft gainBig 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...Read more
Top Activities
Camping and Lodging in Syria
Stanley, Virginia
Big Meadows
Overview
Secluded in the thick trees and rolling hills of Shenandoah National Park, the Big Meadows Campground is the ideal spot for an o...
Stanardsville
Getaway Shenandoah
Just a short distance from Shenandoah National Park, recharge at our Outpost near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Stanardsville, VA.
From $199 / night
Rileyville, Virginia
Mathews Arm Campground
Overview
Secluded in the thick trees and rolling hills of the Shenandoah National Park, Mathews Arm Campground is the ideal spot for a ca...
Broadway, Virginia
Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA Holiday
This KOA in the heart of Shenandoah Valley is a family campground - all families are welcome! It's an easy on/off I-81 Exit 257, 4 miles ...
Crozet, Virginia
Loft Mountain Campground
Overview
Perched on top of Big Flat Mountain, this is one of the largest campgrounds in the park. Loft Mountain is a popular destination ...
Grottoes, Virginia
Dundo Group Campground
Overview
Dundo Group Campground is a beautiful campground located at milepost 83.7 along the Skyline Drive with the Appalachian Trail pas...
