INTRODUCTION AND LOGISTICS
Shenandoah River State Park is located an hour and 20 minutes west of GWG and offers over 5 miles of shoreline along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. The day use entry fee is $10 (as of 2025), or free with an annual pass. Camping, cabins, yurts, and a six-bedroom lodge are available year-round and can be reserved online. The park offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and a hand-carried boat launch, plus there are 4.6 miles of trails accessible with all-terrain wheelchairs. The bluebells are impressive in spring. Cell phone service was generally good for me on Verizon.
This park offers good accessible amenities, including an all-terrain wheelchair trail, accessible cabin and yurt rentals. Call the park at 540-622-6840 48 hours ahead to reserve the all-terrain wheelchair.
Here are some recommendations for hiking and car camping, along with a stop to treat yourself before, after, or even during your trip.
HIKES
Shenandoah River State Park offers a pleasant 25-mile network of very well-marked trails for hiking and mountain biking. The views are not quite as impressive as Big Schloss or Signal Knob, but neither are the climbs as steep. The flat riverside Bluebell Trail offers delightful wildflower displays in spring and provides river access for fishing, where I caught a bunch of pretty redbreast sunfish last spring. The Wildcat Ledge Trail is a 1.2-mile round trip from the River Right Campground and climbs 200 feet for a nice view. The Allen's Mountain Trail and the Bear Bottom Trail make convenient loops.
CAR CAMPING
Shenandoah River State Park has two campgrounds, both of which are open year-round and have hot showers. The park is an excellent choice when we have mild winter weather because few local campgrounds offer year-round heated bathhouses with showers. The sites can be reserved online, and photos of individual sites are available online to help you choose.
The RV-focused EW Campground features 31 sites with electricity and water, plus yurts and cabins for your glamping needs. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Hot showers are available. The fee is $40 per night as of 2025.
The smaller River Right Campground, also called Primitive Campground, has 12 spacious walk-in/paddle-in sites for tents only, and it would be my choice because the sites offer more privacy than the EW Campground, especially when the plants have leafed out. Each site has a picnic table, grill, and fire ring. There is also a group site and two yurts in a fantastic riverside location. Drinking water and vault toilets are available, and there is also a year-round heated bathhouse with showers. Firewood is available for sale at the visitor center. Site 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 would be my choice, knowing there's a wagon to make it easier to carry gear to the site. The fee is $25 per night as of 2025.
BACKPACKING
Check out Elizabeth Furnace or Sky Meadows for backpacking nearby, because there is no backpacking at Shenandoah River State Park.
FUN FACT
The name of the entrance road, Daughter of Stars Drive, is a nod by the state of Virginia to the Native American legend describing the creation of the Shenandoah River and Valley as the place where “the morning stars placed the brightest jewels from their crowns in the river.”
"WORTH A STOP"
Spelunkers in Front Royal is worth a stop on the way there, on the way home, or even for dinner while you are camping, because it's only a 10-minute drive away. They do a lot of drive-through business, but they also offer seating inside and a couple tables outside. You can add jalapenos to your mouth-watering cavern burger and enjoy delicious shakes, malts, and ice cream, but the fries might be the star of your meal.
Please stop by the store if you have any questions about the trails, camping, or gear you'll need. We love helping our neighbors get outside!
LINKS
Park, Hiking, and Camping Information
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/shenandoah-river
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vastateparksstaff/albums/72157690807375636/
Places to Eat
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100041454048012