Shenandoah National Park

[lifein2x3]

I'm going to Shenandoah National Park in a few weekends for a camping trip, but we haven't nailed down specifically where we're going yet. Anybody have any suggestions for good photography in the park? I've never been there.

 

[Travis Nunn]

Well, I go to Shenandoah usually 2-3 times a month. Is there anything specific you're interested in? There are so many photo opportunities, waterfalls, mountain streams, cemeteries, interesting rock formations, old ruins, wildlife, flowers (even this time of year there are still some flowers left).

How much hiking are you willing to do? Most of what I find interesting requires a bit of hiking, although you can certainly burn a lot of film and never go more than 50 yards off of Skyline Drive.

 

[copake_ham]

You might want to try a search here. I think there have been a couple of Shenandoah NP query threads.

 

[Bill Mitchell]

I was there last month. Good luck on finding anything that isn't too postcardy. Lots of good stuff in the little towns along I-80, though.
It's worth a special trip down to Roanoke for the O. Winston Link Museum.

 

[Travis Nunn]

...Good luck on finding anything that isn't too postcardy. Lots of good stuff in the little towns along I-80, though...

I'll assume you meant to say I-81...

You obviously haven't hiked much in the park if you think everything is "postcardy" looking.

 

[shinjuku]

If you get beyond the marked turnouts on skyline, the park is anything but "postcardy". There are many things to photograph but you have to spend time looking for them as it is not a grand landscape like out west. As t_nunn said if you tell us what you are interested in photographing someone will be able to put you on the path.

 

[lifein2x3]

Well, I go to Shenandoah usually 2-3 times a month. Is there anything specific you're interested in? There are so many photo opportunities, waterfalls, mountain streams, cemeteries, interesting rock formations, old ruins, wildlife, flowers (even this time of year there are still some flowers left).

How much hiking are you willing to do? Most of what I find interesting requires a bit of hiking, although you can certainly burn a lot of film and never go more than 50 yards off of Skyline Drive.

Ideally I'd like to find waterfalls, I have a major jones for them; also if there were any ruins left in the park from the previous inhabitants, abandoned farmhouses, the like. I'm also looking for places to possibly go to shoot the foliage once October gets here.

I just plunked down for a LowePro Photo Trekker, so I've got a pretty comfortable way to get everything out for a fair hike; I don't think I'd be looking to do anything over 10 miles at a stretch, though.

To be honest, though, I have no clue where to start, having not been in the area for at least 10-15 years. I'll be using the Mamiya RB67 w/ either a 50 or 90mm lens, so wildlife or anything requiring a telephoto/snap shot combination isn't really going to work.

Also, I apologize if this is repetitive, I did a search for "Shenandoah National Park" and came up with nothing.

 

[Travis Nunn]

There aren't too many ruins left in the park. The Pocosin Mission is where an Episcopal Minister setup a shack and a church. The shack is mostly there and the stone foundation and steps of the church remain. The old Snead Farmhouse is located near the top of Skyline Drive. There is an old cabin in Corbin Hollow. Rose River Loop passes the site of an old abandoned copper mine. About the only thing left is a huge concrete slab at the bottom near the stream. Anywhere you see apple trees is where a homesite used to be.

There are plenty of waterfalls in the area. Opinions vary on the nicest. My personal favorites are the Upper Doyles River Falls, Jones Run Falls and Whiteoak Canyon Falls #2. If you go to Dark Hollow Falls, be prepared to share the trail with hundreds of others (it is the most popular trail in the park).

The best thing I can tell you is to get a couple of hiking books (at least one) and read through it and find what interests you. The two I use are:
http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Shenan...0309707?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186022894&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Overnight-Hik...0309707?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186022942&sr=8-4

Both are cheap enough and you can find them at the local book store chains.

PM me if you want if you have any other specific questions