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Skyline Drive
Photograph by Scott Sroka
Skyline Drive, which runs for 105 miles (169 kilometers) along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is flanked by a rumpled panorama of forests and mountains. To many who travel the drive, the highway itself is a park, complete with numerous deer sightings along the way.
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Blue Ridge Mountains
Photograph by Raymond Gehman
Just 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Washington, D.C., visitors to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia can witness the majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley while driving along the 106-mile (170-kilometer) Skyline Drive. Hikers intent on exploring the more than 500 miles (800 kilometers) of trails should look for white signposts that indicate the legendary Appalachian Trail.
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Canoeing on the Shenandoah River
Photograph by Greg Dale
A couple canoes through the quiet waters of the Shenandoah River in Bentonville, Virginia, just outside the park. Although water is abundant throughout the park, there are no navigable waters where visitors can kayak, raft, or canoe.
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White-Tailed Deer
Photograph by Raymond Gehman
White-tailed deer are a familiar sight at clearings, meadows, and roads in and around Shenandoah National Park. The National Park Service warns drivers to stick to the speed limit and to keep an eye out for the deer.
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Fall Leaves
Photograph by Raymond Gehman
Shenandoah rivals New England every fall with dynamic bursts of color that draw many thousands of visitors to the park. Shenandoah's show doesn't end at autumn, however—come in the spring for wildflowers or the summer for vibrant greens.
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Mountain Biker
Photograph by Skip Brown
Shenandoah National Park offers more than 500 miles (804.7 kilometers) of hiking trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail, the legendary 2,175-mile (3,500.3-kilometer) footpath that takes hikers through 14 states. Bicycling is allowed on Skyline Drive and other paved areas but not permitted on trails or grassy areas.
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Big Meadows
Photograph by Greg Dale
Green ferns blanket the ground in Shenandoah National Park's Big Meadows. The area has trails, a campground, a lodge, facilities for visitors, and the Byrd Visitor Center, where renovated exhibits tell the stories of the park.
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Deer
Photograph by Getty Images
Early morning mist partially hides a deer in Shenandoah National Park. The park is also home to peregrine falcons, red-backed salamanders, and black bears, among other animals.
