Limberlost makes it easier to see nature

By Anne Causey Daily Progress correspondent
Published: October 12, 2008

The Shenandoah National Park has more than 500 miles of trails.

Luckily, it’s not far away — an hour or so drive. And the fall can be a good time for road trips.

While many of the trails can be difficult — hiking up steep inclines to a peak or down slippery slopes to a waterfall, there are a couple alternatives for those who like to get outdoors but may not be the most fit or maybe don’t have a lot of time and just want a peaceful walk through the woods.

The Limberlost Trail, at milepost 43, is different from most of the trails along the Syline Drive. It’s an ADA accessible trail (meaning a wheelchair can travel on it) with a crushed green walkway and a slight grade.

This circuit hike of 1.3

miles is good for any age. The trail passes through forest and mountain laurel. It’s lush, shady and you get to cross over several long wooden walkways.

The first time I hiked this trail, about eight years ago, I was thunderstruck by the humongous hemlock trees and the giant oaks that shaded the trail. Unfortunately, this time I was thunderstruck by a different sight.

Many of these giants lay on the ground or were chopped up. What in the world? Why would they do this?

Well, they didn’t do anything. It was nature at work.

Sometimes she does the strangest things.

Unfortunately, invasive insects, the wooly adelgid and the gypsy moth, have done in many of the trees, followed by storms, which knocked them down.

When I hiked Limberlost recently, I got to see animals galore – deer, squirrels even several chattering chipmunks dashing over cut tree trunks. So, this is a perfect trail if you have a couple of rowdy youngsters in the car who don’t necessarily have the skills to hike up a mountain.

Without the monster trees, it’s not quite the same, but it’s still a nice walk. There are other trees to admire — birches, maples, white pines. And, at this time year, you’ll see some color.

Visitors flock to the drive in October to see the colorful fall leaves. The park reports that it’s difficult to pick the “peak date” because of the varied elevations of hollows and summits in the 70-mile long park, which includes nearly 200,000 acres.

Usually the colors of fall are at their most brilliant in Shenandoah around the third week of October.

But don’t think you will drive up there one Saturday or Sunday and be all alone in your explorations. Others will be lined up right behind you. My advice is to go earlier than the anticipated “peak,” later than the “peak” or on a weekday.

If you go within the next week, you will get to enjoy purple dogwoods and red sumac on the lower elevations, as well as bright red Virginia creeper vines winding along trees and over the rock walls. You’ll even find wildflowers blooming along the drive, including the vibrant goldenrods and showy purple Asters. Cinnamon colored ferns decorate the forest floor and along the roadway.

Big Meadows, milepost 51, is arrayed with lots of colors including bright red blueberry and huckleberry bushes.

Most of the facilities shut down in November — Nov. 30 for the Harry Byrd Sr. center at Big Meadows. Big Meadows Lodge closes Nov. 2, while Skyland stays open until Nov. 30. You also can camp until Nov. 30 at Big Meadows.

Getting onto the Skyline Drive costs $15 for a one day vehicle pass ($10 from December to February), and $30 for an annual pass, good for up to four adults in a vehicle.  Also, when you visit, take a jacket and warm clothing. The temperature tends to be 10 to 15 degrees colder than at lower elevations.