We absolutely loved visiting Shenandoah National Park with our kids this summer.
There are so many things to do in Shenandoah with kids, from chasing waterfalls to hikes to eating delicious blackberry ice cream pie.
Here are all our favorite things to do in Shenandoah with kids.
Chase waterfalls in Shenandoah with kids
Shenandoah National Park has so many waterfalls that are a blast to explore with kids!
We only stayed in the park for two nights, so we only had time to visit Dark Hollow Falls. It was a great waterfall to visit with kids!
We’re already itching to get back to Shenandoah and spend more time there! Next on our list for waterfalls to visit in Shenandoah with kids are:
Favorite Hikes in Shenandoah with kids
Dark Hollow Falls (two routes)
Darko Hollow Falls is a great trail to hike in Shenandoah with kids.
The main Dark Hollow Falls Trail is a 1.8-mile moderate trail that’s very popular with families.
Unfortunately, the Dark Hollow Falls Trail doesn’t allow dogs, and we were visiting with our senior dog. So we took a different dog-friendly route instead!
We hiked to the falls via the Rose River Fire Road. It’s a great route to hike with kids!
The path down to the falls follows a fire road. It has a gentle slope and wide path that’s great for families.
The trail also passes the small Cave Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place for dozens of people, including many members of the Cave family buried in the 1800s to early 1900s. A sign at the cemetery lists the names of another 37 people buried here before 1940 without headstones.
You could hike the entire 4-mile Rose River Trail, but we only hiked about a mile down to the falls and a mile back. (We went counterclockwise.)
Drive Skyline Drive in Shenandoah
Shendoah’s only park road, Skyline Drive, stretches 105 scenic miles along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We drove Skyline Drive in sections (because kids), and it was stunning!
We stopped wherever caught our eye and enjoyed the lovely views.
You could drive the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way down to Great Smoky Mountains!
Pro tip: If you have toddlers who sleep well in cars, this could be a great nap time activity.
Compton Peak & Columnar Jointing (2.8 miles, moderate)
For a beautiful view and a neat rock feature, hike the Compton Peak Trail.
The moderate 2.8 mile hike leads to a lovely overlook over the Shenandoah Valley.
The hike travels along the Appalachian Trail (so cool!), so dogs are allowed too!
Park in the Compton Gap Parking Area, then cross the street to the trailhead. Watch for cars coming around the curve!
The trail goes uphill, then reaches an intersection at about 0.8 miles in.
Take a right turn and hike about a quarter-mile to a beautiful overlook.
Then, head back to that intersection and hike south this time. This part of the trail can be difficult to navigate, so look for the blue blazes that indicate the way.
After a quarter-mile, you’ll reach an awesome geological feature called the columnar jointing! The neat rock shapes reminded me of Devil’s Tower in Wyoming and Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland!
Head back to the trail intersection and back down the trail the way you came to the parking lot.
Attend a ranger program & become a Junior Ranger
A great way to learn about Shenandoah with kids is to attend a ranger program.
We lucked out and a ranger program about the bears of Shenandoah started soon after we got to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center.
Ranger Programs are a great chance for kids to ask questions and for everyone to learn something new about the park!
Plus, don’t forget to pick up a free Junior Ranger activity book at a visitor center. Complete the activities and turn it in for a Junior Ranger badge!
Eat Shenandoah’s famous blackberry ice cream pie
You can’t visit Shenandoah with kids without eating the park’s famous blackberry ice cream pie!
We grabbed slices at the Big Meadows Lodge and enjoyed them on tables outside with a beautiful view of the mountains!
Where to stay in Shenandoah with kids
When we visited Shenandoah with kids, we stayed in the Big Meadows campground. It was great!
We visited mid-week and shared the campground with only a few other families. So, there was lots of space for the kids to play!
Mama and baby deer visited the campground multiple times a day. And the Appalachian Trail ran right past our campground!
Where to eat in Shenandoah with kids
Because we camped in Shenandoah, we primarily cooked and ate our own food.
That said, we had blackberry pie at the Big Meadows Lodge and the restaurant menu looked great. Snag an outside table for a lovely view if you can.
For more delicious treats, stop by Melania’s Gourmet just outside the northern entrance of the park, in Front Royal, Virginia.
We ate delicious quiche, pastries, pies, and cookies. Yum!
I hope you have a great trip to Shenandoah with kids!
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