Shenandoah National Park

Including New River Gorge National Park, Red River Gorge and Luray Caverns

Mary’s Rock
June 1st - June 22nd, 2024

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

Shenandoah is a classic national park full of old growth forests, cascading waterfalls and epic vistas. On our way to Shenandoah, we also stopped at Red River Gorge in Kentucky and New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia.

Our Airbnb was located at in Luray, Virginia which positioned us only 10 minutes away from Shenandoah National Park.

There are also a handful of really amazing caves in the area, including Luray Caverns which ended up being likely the most amazing cave we’ve ever been to.

Red River Gorge

Red River Gorge is a geologic area in northern Kentucky that we stopped at on our way driving from Kentucky to Virginia. It’s an epic destination for rock climbing and hiking.

Rock Climbing at Red River Gorge
Rock Climbing at Red River Gorge
Descending down stairs to a climbing crag in New River Gorge
Descending down stairs to a climbing crag in New River Gorge
Rock Climbing at Red River Gorge
Rock Climbing at Red River Gorge
Hensen’s Arch trail in Red River Gorge
Hensen’s Arch trail in Red River Gorge
Hensen’s Arch trail in Red River Gorge
Hensen’s Arch trail in Red River Gorge
Hensen’s Arch trail in Red River Gorge
Hensen’s Arch trail in Red River Gorge
The view from the hotel we stayed at in Red River Gorge
The view from the hotel we stayed at in Red River Gorge
We rode a chairlift up to the top of Natural Bridge in Red River Gorge which was beautiful
We rode a chairlift up to the top of Natural Bridge in Red River Gorge which was beautiful
Views from the chairlift to Natural Bridge
Views from the chairlift to Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge as seen from below
Natural Bridge as seen from below
Getting to below Natural Bridge requires going through a crack
Getting to below Natural Bridge requires going through a crack
Natural Bridge as seen from below
Natural Bridge as seen from below
Natural Bridge at Red River Gorge
Natural Bridge at Red River Gorge
Natural Bridge as seen from standing on the top
Natural Bridge as seen from standing on the top
The view looking out while standing on Natural Bridge
The view looking out while standing on Natural Bridge
A view of Natural Bridge from a far away vantage point
A view of Natural Bridge from a far away vantage point
The chairlift to Natural Bridge
The chairlift to Natural Bridge
We did a kayaking tour through a cave called the Gorge Underground that was awesome
We did a kayaking tour through a cave called the Gorge Underground that was awesome
The Gorge Underground kayaking tour
The Gorge Underground kayaking tour
The Gorge Underground kayaking tour
The Gorge Underground kayaking tour
Fish in the Gorge Underground Tour
Fish in the Gorge Underground Tour

New River Gorge National Park

New River Gorge is a small and new national park that we stopped at on our way from Kentucky to Virginia. The main feature of the park is the New River Gorge Bridge, surrounded by a beautiful valley.

The New River Gorge Bridge
The New River Gorge Bridge
New River Gorge
New River Gorge
New River Gorge
New River Gorge
The New River Gorge Bridge
The New River Gorge Bridge
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
Views from the New River Gorge Bridgewalk
Views from the New River Gorge Bridgewalk
Views from the New River Gorge Bridgewalk
Views from the New River Gorge Bridgewalk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The New River Gorge bridge walk
The old New River Gorge bridge before the new one was built
The old New River Gorge bridge before the new one was built
The New River Gorge Bridge
The New River Gorge Bridge
The New River Gorge Bridge in the background
The New River Gorge Bridge in the background
New River Gorge
New River Gorge
These ladders are meant to provide access to a rock climbing crag. We didn’t rock climb but we did explore the ladders!
These ladders are meant to provide access to a rock climbing crag. We didn’t rock climb but we did explore the ladders!
Exploring the climbing ladders at New River Gorge
Exploring the climbing ladders at New River Gorge
Exploring the climbing ladders at New River Gorge
Exploring the climbing ladders at New River Gorge
Exploring the climbing ladders at New River Gorge
Exploring the climbing ladders at New River Gorge
Exploring the climbing ladders at New River Gorge
Exploring the climbing ladders at New River Gorge

Lost World Caverns

Another stop on our way from Kentucky to Virginia, Lost World Caverns was a beautiful show cave with impressive columns.

Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns

Shenandoah Caverns

Shenandoah Caverns is a show cave near Luray that Trevor visited after work on a weekday.

Shenandoah Caverns
Shenandoah Caverns
Shenandoah Caverns
Shenandoah Caverns
Shenandoah Caverns
Shenandoah Caverns
Shenandoah Caverns
Shenandoah Caverns

Luray Caverns

Luray Caverns (obviously in Luray, Virginia) turned out to be probably the most amazing cave we’ve ever visited. The cave formations were unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
The Stalacpipe Organ at Luray Caverns
The Stalacpipe Organ Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah NP was the main attraction for our stop here. We went on numerous hikes here, all with amazing views or great waterfalls. Our favorite hikes were Old Rag Mountain and Rose River Trail.

Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain Trail
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain was a bit of a climb
Old Rag Mountain was a bit of a climb
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Old Rag Mountain
Hawksbill Summit trail
Hawksbill Summit trail
Dark Hollow Falls trail
Dark Hollow Falls trail
Dark Hollow Falls trail
Dark Hollow Falls trail
Dark Hollow Falls trail
Dark Hollow Falls trail
Dark Hollow Falls trail
Dark Hollow Falls trail
Stony Man summit
Stony Man summit
Mary’s Rock
Mary’s Rock
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop
Rose River Trail Loop

Skyline Caverns

Skyline Caverns is another show cave in the area. This one is special for its unique cave formation called Anthodites which are found in only a few places in the world.

Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
A very rare cave formation called an Anthodite
A very rare cave formation called an Anthodite

Shenandoah River

Shenandoah River is the river highlighted in John Denver’s song “Country Roads”. It was fun to see the river that helped inspire the song!

The Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River

Grand Caverns

Another great show cave in the area near Shenandoah National Park.

Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns

Highpoints Loop

Trevor took a day off to work to knock off a few highpoints on his quest to visit the tallest point in each state. This loop included Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. He also stopped at Endless Caverns on his way.

The Pennsylvania highpoint, Mt. Davis
The Pennsylvania highpoint, Mt. Davis
The tower at the Pennsylvania highpoint
The tower at the Pennsylvania highpoint
View from the Pennsylvania highpoint, Mt. Davis
View from the Pennsylvania highpoint, Mt. Davis
The Pennsylvania highpoint, Mt. Davis
The Pennsylvania highpoint, Mt. Davis
The Maryland Highpoint
The Maryland highpoint
The West Virginia highpoint, Spruce Knob.
The West Virginia highpoint, Spruce Knob.
View from the West Virginia highpoint, Spruce Knob
View from the West Virginia highpoint, Spruce Knob
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns

Airbnb

We enjoyed the aesthetic of our Airbnb, especially the patio where Natalie would spend a lot of time. Unfortunately though we had bug problems inside the Airbnb so it wasn’t our favorite.

The porch of our Airbnb, which Natalie loved.
The porch of our Airbnb, which Natalie loved.
The porch of our Airbnb, with a furry friend.
The porch of our Airbnb, with a furry friend.
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Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
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Mammoth Cave National Park

The waterfall seen on the Violet City Lantern Tour