Shenandoah National Park straddles the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains as they run north and south for over 100 miles. Embracing rolling hills, quiet hollows, abrupt hillsides, and verdant forests, the Park contains over 450 miles of hiking trails - all absolutely gorgeous in every season. We spend our days hiking this beautiful park and 'come home' to warm beds and hot food at the end of every day. The human history of the park is also very interesting, and we'll learn about the people who inhabited this area for years as we hike through Shenandoah. Maximum group size: 12
May 18 to May 23, 2025 |
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June 01 to June 06, 2025 |
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September 28 to October 03, 2025 |
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October 05 to October 10, 2025 |
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October 12 to October 17, 2025 |
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This trip is suitable for any woman who either enjoys hiking or is new to hiking and wants to learn in a safe and fun environment. As in any mountainous area, trails will be up and down but because the Shenandoah National Park is on the ridge, these ups and downs are very manageable. A rating of 3 requires aerobic conditioning, such as walking vigorously up hills, jogging, cross country skiing or stair stepping for 30 - 45 minutes at least 3 - 4 times a week. Rating: 1 2 (3) 4 5 Rating:1 2[3] 4 5
This is a hiking trip through the Shenandoah National Park trails. You will have the chance to hike anywhere from about 3 miles to upwards of 8 miles per day. The trails include a few tricky ups and downs, exhilarating rocky scrambles, and many nature viewing opportunities. These hiking adventures will test the limits of the title Level 3, so be prepared for a beautiful, naturistic challenge within each day.
We'll be spending our nights at the Shenandoah National Park Lodges. The two lodges have standard rooms with 2 beds and a bathroom in each room. There are 4 single supplements available for this trip.
Big Meadows: Built in 1939 with stones hewn from the Massanutten Mountains and native wormy chestnut, Big Meadows Lodge has an easy, natural feeling and is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Skyland Lodge: The legacy of Skyland Lodge begins in 1888, when George Freeman Pollock Jr. makes it his mission to find the perfect spot for a summer retreat. He calls the property's breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley "beauty beyond description."
Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.
Although just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. There's much to explore with over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are a haven for deer, songbirds, and black bears! The best way to explore this park is on foot, and we’ll be covering as much of the park as possible during our week in the Shenandoah Mountains! If you are flying in, plan to arrive at Dulles Airport (IAD) by 1 PM. We will pick you up at the airport and make the hour-and-a-half drive to the park. If you are driving, you can meet us at our first lodging – the Big Meadows Lodge in Shenandoah at 3:30 PM. We will gather to introduce ourselves and start getting to know each other before a trip orientation and dinner.
Included Meals:
Dinner
Accommodations:
Big Meadows Lodge
After a hearty breakfast we’ll pack our day packs and head for the South River Falls Picnic Area. Our hike today is a lovely 6-mile section of the famous Appalachian trail. This trail has a beautiful overhead canopy and lush fern fields. It is one of the easier parts of the trail, fairly level with just enough up and down to be interesting, giving us the perfect beginning to stretch our legs. Along the way we may see deer, peregrine falcons soaring overhead, or notice brightly colored salamanders scurrying underfoot. We end today’s hike at Lewis Mountain Campground and Cabins where we can admire the rustic cabins and visit the camp store for a well-deserved treat! Tonight, we'll enjoy dinner in the Big Meadows Dining Room before retiring to our comfortable rooms.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations:
Big Meadows Lodge
Daily Activities:
Hiking (~6 miles)
After breakfast at the lodge, we’ll begin our day with a short shuttle to the Rose River Falls trailhead. This 4-mile circuit takes you through a federally designated Wilderness area, where you’ll marvel at a dazzling 67-foot waterfall and serene forest cascades. With an elevation gain of 910 feet, you’ll experience a mix of peaceful trails, rocky climbs, and beautiful scenery, including an optional detour to Dark Hollow Falls. We will have lunch at the falls, or at Big Meadows in case of inclement weather.
After lunch, we’ll set out on our second hike: a 3-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail from Bootens Gap to Milam Gap. This section starts with a steady ascent, climbing 1 mile to Hazeltop's summit at 3,812 feet. This section of trail provides a rewarding challenge. From there, the trail becomes more forgiving, with short switchbacks easing the climb. The descent from Hazeltop covers 1.9 miles, leading us to the Mill Prong Trail junction and Milam Gap, where our van will be waiting. We’ll wrap up the day with dinner and a relaxing evening back at the lodge.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations:
Big Meadows Lodge
Daily Activities:
Hiking (~7 miles)
After breakfast at the lodge, meet at the vans with your luggage packed and ready—today, we’re heading to Skyland Lodge! We’ll start the day with a short drive to Milam Gap where we begin our 4.5 mile hike on the Rapidan Trail, which will take us to Rapidan Camp, the summer retreat of President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. We’ll have a chance to explore and learn about the history of the camp, and if lucky a volunteer will be on site to answer any questions. We’ll enjoy a scenic lunch on the trail before we return to the vans.
After the hike, you have the option to relax at the lodge for a peaceful afternoon on your own, or keep the adventure going with a hike on the Bearfence Rock Scramble or Bearfence Loop Trail. The Bearfence Scramble is an exhilarating 1.5-mile hike that includes a challenging rock scramble, leading to a stunning 360-degree view of the Virginia Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley. Though it might push your hiking boundaries, the incredible views and sense of accomplishment make the challenge worth it. (Note: This section is for experienced hikers—if you have a fear of heights, it’s best to skip it). For those not up for the scramble, you can still join the adventure by hiking the loop section of the trail, avoiding the rock scramble but still enjoying the beautiful scenery. Both trails are relatively short (around 1.5 miles round trip) but require effort, with plenty of steps to navigate.
Finally we’ll head to our new accommodation at the Skyland Lodge. Tonight's dinner will be in the dining room at Skyland which has a lovely panoramic view overlooking the valley below.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations:
Skyland Lodge
Daily Activities:
Hiking (~6 miles)
After breakfast, we’ll set out for the Hawksbill Trailhead, starting our day with a hike to the park’s highest peak. The 3.5 mile loop trail ascends to the Hawksbill summit, offering sweeping panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley. At the summit, we’ll pause to soak in the scenery before continuing to the nearby Appalachian Trail Shelter, where we’ll enjoy a well-earned lunch in the heart of nature. Following lunch, we’ll complete the Hawksbill loop and return to Skyland Lodge for a brief break.
In the afternoon, you'll have the option to relax or we will hike the Stony Man loop. This 1.6-mile loop leads us to the Stony Man summit, which boasts another incredible vista and is a perfect way to round out the day’s adventures. Tonight, we’ll gather for dinner in Skyland’s dining room.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations:
Skyland Lodge
Daily Activities:
Hiking (~ 5 miles)
But wait, there's more! If you grew up on the East Coast, you have undoubtedly heard of the Luray Caverns, which are advertised by countless attention-grabbing billboards. So, you know it is a tourist trap but with good reason! The Caverns are intriguing and definitely merit a visit so we will leave the Shenandoah’s and head to the caverns for an hour-long tour of this underground spectacle. After enjoying the cool temperatures and amazing sights we will begin the 2-hour drive to the Dulles Airport. We will have you back to the Washington Dulles (IAD) airport by 1:00PM and you can plan to fly out any time after 2:30PM. If you drove, you can plan to be on the road from the Luray Caverns by 11AM.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
I loved seeing this part of the US. I was pumped to hike on parts of the AT. I really liked all of my fellow travelers and enjoyed sharing the hikes, our lives, and the special bonfire we shared the last evening. The hike to Rapid Dan and learning about President Hoover and wife was memorable. I was amazed by the Luray Cavern I so enjoy the small group size. The guides were amazing and as with my 2 previous trips, I will always remember them. Thank you so much
Great hikes, guides and location! Such a sense of joy and laughter and beauty is how I will remember this trip.
I am making a return to hiking, and the trip was perfect for someone with more limited experience. I felt well-cared for. The most special part was all of the women in the group, and how we got along and shared the experience. Our guides were excellent, I made new friends, and the park was beautiful.
As always, the camaraderie among a group of women who didn't know one another at the beginning of the trip, and would up friends by the end, is the hallmark of AGC trips. This trip was no exception. Our group was extremely cohesive, and Shenandoah National Park is a must-do. It's an underrated national park that deserves more kudos.
I loved having Lainie as a leader again. The group of women were very congenial.
This trip was one of the best AGC trips I've completed. The combination of great guides, beautiful scenery, and the comradery of the group made this trip very special for me. We lucked out with the weather, having rain only one day. The fall colors were at peak. The hikes were scenic and just the right amount of challenge. We had beautiful sunrises and a full moon! The fire and "witches" party on the last night was a special treat. I highly recommend this trip in the fall as the temps are perfect for hiking and the views are lovely.
The group of ladies was very cohesive and enjoyable. The leaders were accessible and adaptive. The hikes were beautiful and well suited to the group’s abilities.
Great group of people and guides
Our guides Anne & Sarah were great! Fun group! Safe and clean van for transportation. I appreciate the food accommodation for lunch and my black pepper allergy. Anne & Sarah made sure we were informed about what was going on each day and kept to our schedule while giving us time to enjoy our surroundings.
The hiking, the camaraderie of the group, the weather cooperated, and the National Park was spectacular.
The guides and other participants.
A great trip! The guides were amazing and so knowledgeable, and I very much enjoyed the company of the other participants. The scenery was amazing-there were beautiful views on every hike. Looking forward to my next trip with AGC!
Liked the fellow travelers, loved the lodges, food was great, loved all the hikes and the option to sit some out when I needed to.
The camaraderie between the hikers was wonderful. The offering of short and longer hikes was really nice! The guides were superb.
The hiking was wonderful and the scenery gorgeous and the trip very well organized but the guides and participants (of which I knew no one prior to the trip) made it extraordinary.
The scenery, lodging, food, and camaraderie!
Seeing part of the Appalachian Trail - and the beautiful vistas!
The guides were excellent. The other women on the trip were extremely nice. I loved being in nature and the difficulty of the hikes was just right.
It was good for all level hikers.
I had always wanted to hike on the AT and we did a little of that each day to get to the trail. Plus the guides were great!!
The views of the mountains in Shanandoah National Park were spectacular! It was a pleasure meeting all of the women on our tour. Our guides were excellent. They quickly assessed our strengths and shortcomings and helped us to overcome those shortcomings (physical and emotional, i.e., fear of heights)!!
First hiking trip.
Beautiful scenery, challenging hikes, good company, well organized plans and schedules