Shenandoah Fall Color Hike

Here's one way to enjoy the legendary fall colors in Shenandoah National Park without having to endure the equally-legendary traffic jams on Skyline Drive during peak color season. We'll start at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains outside of Washington, VA (a.k.a. "Little Washington"). We'll climb steadily but not too steeply on an old road to follow the Bluff Trail to the Big Devils Stairs overlook where we'll lunch and Dynamically Lollygag(tm) in all of fall's glory.

Total length of our moderately strenuous round-trip hike should be about 9 miles, with 2000 feet of cumulative elevation gain. A moderately strenuous hike will generally be challenging for an unconditioned person.

Bring beverages, lunch, bug spray and about $23 for transportation and trip fees. ($5 for the Adventuring trip fee, $10 for mileage reimbursement, and a shared portion of the $30/car SNP admission fee. (We can usually cover the Park’s admission fee with those hikers who hold annual park passes.)

We'll meet at the East Falls Church Metro Station Kiss & Ride lot at the usually early time of 8:30 am in hopes of getting a jump on leaf-peeping traffic. On the way, we'll make our standard pit stop at a Sheetz to stock up on lunch and/or snacks before heading to the trailhead. There may be an optional dinner stop on the way home.

**Please click here to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.

[Update: 10/8/2025: This trip will continue as scheduled; However, it is subject to change due to the ongoing government shutdown. A substitute fall color hike will be scheduled on 10/19, if necessary.]
[RSVPs for this hike will close at 7PM the day before the event.]