G.A.S.P.

I rode the northern half of the Skyline Drive the following day (4-11) from Big Meadows to Front Royal, a marvelous journey of about 51 miles.

In 1926 Congress authorized creation of Shenandoah National Park with the stipulation that no federal funds be used to procure the land necessary to establish the park.  Over the next few years, the State of Virginia purchased the land and helped relocate hundreds of residents.  Virginia then donated nearly 280 square miles of land to the Federal Government and Shenandoah National Park was dedicated in 1936.

The park lies astride the Blue Ridge (part of the Appalachian Mountains) and is bordered on the east by rolling Piedmont and on the west by the Shenandoah River Valley.  The Skyline Drive, completed in 1939, runs the length of the park (105 miles) and offers numerous splendid views of both the Piedmont and the Valley. 

At the time that the park was created most of the land could best be described as “overused.”  In dedicating the park, President Roosevelt initiated a novel experiment in allowing the overused land to return to its natural state.  In just a few years, cropland became overgrown with shrubs, locust and pine.  As more years passed, these were replaced by oak, hickory and other trees that make up a mature forest.  Today, the scars of overuse are gone and the forests here have become home to many black bear, deer (I saw bunches) and other animal species.  In 1976, forty percent of the park was designated as wilderness.

I really enjoyed riding here.  The vistas were great and the road is “bicycle friendly” with numerous overlooks, mostly gentle hills and slow traffic (35 mph).  I would recommend waiting until May, however, when more of the trees are in bloom and all of the campgrounds and service areas are open.