Skyline Dr VA trip-info please

“My family is planning to visit caves and camp in the Skyline area near Front Royal, VA around the end of June. We'll be car camping. The kids want to do a cave tour or so. There seems to be a lot of caves and a lot of campgrounds in the area. I know that this isn't backpacking, but if someone could steer us to some quiet, uncrowded campground, I'd appreciate it. Primitive camping is fine. Unfortunately we'll be there on a weekend so quiet may be impossible, but let me know what you think.”

“There are four campgrounds for car camping along Skyline Drive as I recall. The best one for what you're looking for is Loft Mountain. It's (now this is just my bad memory here) about an hour south of Luray Caverns. BTW, your kids may love the tour of Luray, but the commercialism makes ken require a barf bag. Oh, the AT passes through Loft Mountain campground, so you can get in some dayhikes.”

“The campground at Natural Bridge is excellent if you get a site next to the river. It was the best campground I stayed at on my trip up the entire Blueridge Parkway/Skyline Drive. I forget how far it is from Front Royal but Natural Bridge is awesome anyway. That would be well worth a visit. Luray Caverns is a must see. There's a campground near there that's run by a woman from Germany and her husband. Nice couple but I forget their names. The AAA guidebook for Va. will give you campground info and telephone numbers. If you don't have access to AAA, I can dig mine up.”

“Thanks. Haven't found Loft Mountain in my book or the one in Luray; I'll try the web. The campground at Natural Bridge, on the James River, I have the phone number. Ken, I know what you mean. Why does everything have to be an amusement park? My Woodalls Tent book mentions a place called Skyline Caverns and not Luray. I have to check the website to see if they are different places.”

“Here goes my memory again...Luray Caverns are near Front Royal. They are touristy. Natural Bridge is not on Skyline Drive, but quite a bit south on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Probablly a day's drive on the Parkway, and a couple or three hours on I81. Highly recommended to see if you've got the time. The four Park Service run campgrounds on Skyline Drive are Big Meadows, Loft Mountain, Skyland (which also has a lodge) and Lewis Mountain. Based on your need for uncrowded and more primitive, I recommend Loft Mtn. With all due respect to arclite, I would be wary of Luray area privately run listed by the Three A's campgrounds. They tend to cater to RV tourists and are not generally well-liked by those who enjoy a more natural experience. Loft Mtn has what one would expect from a car camping site, like flush toilets, picnic tables, trach cans, etc. but your neighbor won't have his television set two feet from your tent which is not uncommon in a private campground.”

“Here's some more info. Somewhere on one of the threads there's directions on how to turn this into a fancy link, but I don't feel like looking it up, so you'll have to cut and paste. Good luck!

http://www.nps.gov/shen/home.htm”

“Luray and Skyline Caverns are two different places. Luray is good but commercialized. I drove the skyline oneway and took the vally road the other way. It runs along a riiver in the valley. Very pretty ride. There is a log cabin you can see for free, run by the DNR, and picnic areas. The road runs from Front Royal to the first main entrance to the skyline. I think it was in Luray. Get a AAA book.”

“Thanks, ken and Snowman.”

“young&creaky, ken is right about the distance between the caverns and Natural Bridge, it will take 2-3 hours on I-81. A long way but something to see. There is a place 12 miles south of Skyline Drive off the Blue Ridge Parkway called Sherando Lake Recreation Area. It is in the George Washington National Forest and by far our family's favorite car camping site. The bad part is you are looking at the northern end of Skyline Drive. If you don't mind heading west of Front Royal there is a place called Wolf Gap Recreation Area (I think within 1/2 hour of Luray Caverns). I have never been there but have heard it is nice. There is also a couple places west of Harrisonburg called North River Rec. Area and Todd Lake Rec. Area. I can help find you phone numbers if you need but will be out of town until Thursday night.”

“Hike to the bottom and back up Little Devil Stairs trail...you won't regret it!

If'n you go to Big Devil Stairs, only hike 1/4 way down to the overlook, after that its all in the woods (nothing to see) and the trail is closed at the bottom (private land).”

“Thank you. We are revising our trip to stay in Loft Mountain and visit George Wash St Pk. Then we have to go to Fl. to see the folks. We'll try to stop at Natural Bridge on the way back. I got a bunch of books from the library on Virginia and there seems to be weeks of hiking to do in the western part. I've driven through here a million times and had no idea. Any mentions of your favorite places is very welcome. I will store them for future visits if I can't get to them this time.”

“so, where are the folks in fl?”

“Right across the street in Shands!”

“Get out the backpacks and hike into the woods with the little rug rats, or should I say leaf litter rats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“I hate the SNP! You get on the AT and all you do is go into the woods, and out of the woods, into the woods and back out of the woods, and you never get away from the freakin cars and the skyline drive! ARGHHHHHH! IT DRIVES ME NUTSO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Forget your pill this morning?”

“YESSSYSSSYSYSYSYSYSYSYSYSYSSYEYSYEYSYEYSYEYYESYEYESYEYESYEYEYSYEYEYYSYEYESYEYEs!”

“I-am-OM, have folks in Spring Hill, New Port Ritchie, a brother in Miami (bro, stop lurking and join in) and cousins all over the state. I'm sure that I am related to at least half of the 'born there' Floridians.”

“My auntie?s in Spring Hill. There does seem to be propensity towards inbreeding amongst the natives.”

“Dude-
Wolf Gap is a groovy little Natl Forest camping place!!!
It sits in a gap right on the state line.
Two miles hike to the north from the camp is a rock formation called Big Schloss with a 360 view and an elevation just under 3,000.

One and a half miles to the south is Tibbet Knob at just over 3,000 and a view of Trout Run Valley to the north.
The camp site is FREE with nine sites on a circular drive.
It is quiet, except for YOUR kids, and rather unknown(not on all maps).
Take Route 42 west from the Woodstock exit about 12 miles.
At about 8-9 miles from I81 bear right at a church and cemetery. I can't remember the name of the road but it goes between the little white church on the right with part of the cemetery on the left.
As soon as you turn off Rt 42 there is a grave stone of a boy killed maybe twenty years ago at age 18(?).
It is unusual with a photo of the boy and hunting stuff carved to the right and the left of center(possibly a leaping deer and a rifle).
The white church is just beyond on the right.
Go to the bottom of the hill and turn right UP Stoney Creek.
Its a couple of miles more.
You will come to a fork just before the road narrows and climbs the last mile or so to Wolf Gap.
Go right at THAT fork--Wolf Gap Rd.

This place is REALLY in the middle of nowhere but not far from the roar of I81.


It was built by the CCC in the '30s and they replaced the sh!thouses just afew years ago.
Its free but with a registration card.
The road through the gap takes you to Wardensville WVa.

If you strike out at Wolf Gap the is another freebee site---CCC built---called Hawk just north of Rt 55 and just west of the state line.
Hawk is in a low place and not as groovy as Wolf Gap, but it ain't bad and has more sites.

Forget about SNP!”

“Decisions, decisions. I'm going to call the places mentioned here. I've found them all in my books except little devil stairs. I need to know if I need reservations, how to get permits, and availability during a summer Saturday and Sunday night. It'll be midweek on the way back. ken, did you see My Cousin Vinny?”

“Skyline Drive is pretty but has been overrun with two-legged critters for years.”

“I can't believe how many Nat'l parks, State parks, recreation areas etc. there are in the western part of Virginia. You all that live in this area are so lucky! It's deja vous. Last year I planned a week long trip to Maine and Nova Scotia. There was way too much to see, hike, and absorb. I have to go back, because the coast and countryside was so beautiful. This trip is going to be the same way, with so many trails, lakes and camping areas to try. Wash Nat'l Forest sounds like a good place to start backpacking when we are ready. Wolf Gap would be good too. An area called Grayson Highlands was recommended to me, what do you all think? Natural Bridge's caverns sound interesting for the kids. Thanks for all your help.”

“Didn't make Grayson Highlands, but Peaks of Otter was nice. It has plenty of hiking opportunities and nice views from the mountain tops. Again I'm not sure how far this is for you, but if your kids don't mind the drive, it's beautiful.

Tom's right. Skyline drive was loaded with people. I drove the entire length of the Blueridge Parkway/Skyline drive doing 35mph with the top down. It was fine until I got onto Skyline Drive in VA. The folks up there flew down the road, stopped at a turn-out for about 10 seconds to stare out the car windows at the scenery, then sped down to the next turn-out. They never left the air conditioned comfort of their cars. It was disgusting/funny. City folk!”