The Shenandoah National Park is located in the eastern part of the Blue Ridge, nested in the Appalachian Mountains between Georgia and Pennsylvania. The Shenandoah River can be found to the west in a valley, which is where the name “Shenandoah” is derived. Then to the north and south sits the Massanutten, which is an impressive mountain stretching more than 40 miles long. To the east, you would find Piedmont country, lush and beautiful with rolling hills.
This particular national park has a long, rich history that actually begins with people living in the Ice Age. These individuals gathered nuts and berries, hunted the wildlife, and lived off the land. Although they had set up villages throughout the region, they never settled permanently. As this era faded and temperatures on the earth warmed, wildlife from the south began to migrate to the now Shenandoah National Park. Although different areas of the park offer different things, they are all magnificent. The Appalachian Trail is another famous area of this park. This trail runs 2,100 miles long and is a footpath that literally runs from Main to Georgia.
Hikers from around the world have walked part of this trail, agreeing that the entire trip is absolutely, gorgeous. The mountain peaks are by far the most majestic of all features. Many top geologists that make up the Shenandoah National Park are among the oldest in the world, having formed around one billion years ago. Although they were as tall as the Himalayas and Rocky Mountains at one time, through years of erosion, the tallest peak today is at 4,049 feet. The two oldest are called Old Rag Mountain and Mary’s Rock Tunnel although there are many different peaks and rock types in this park. Most are granitic while you will also find basalt from lava flow, phyllite, quartzite, and sandstone. If you enjoy the study of rocks, as you make your way along Skyline Drive, you can see many of them up close.