How to Elope in Shenandoah National Park
Image via NPS
Welcome to Shenandoah National Park, friends! It really is an ideal place to say your vows, but before you’re ready to run off and say “I do!” in one of the east coast’s most beautiful natural landscapes, let’s talk about what makes Shenandoah so special! One of the most amazing things about the park is its resurgence: back in the early 1700s, much of what is now the park was used for lumbering and grazing for farmland but since being turned into NPS land, the forests have made a great comeback! Today, there are 197,411 acres of land in the park and over 1.4 million visitors flock to these mountains every year. Stretching for more than a hundred miles through western Virginia, you can see everything from waterfalls and windy mountain summits to pastoral landscapes and wooden hollows. If you’re looking for a great place to explore after your elopement, Shenandoah’s 500 miles of trails will be perfect! There are three main areas of the park — the north, middle, and south districts — and each one has something special to offer for you, and all about ninety miles from Washington D.C.!
AN OVERVIEW OF SHENANDOAH
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
One of the most important things to keep in mind with weather in the park is that it can vary greatly based on where you’re at. For example, the mountains are usually about ten degrees cooler than the hollows and valleys. On average, the fall (the most popular season in the park) temperatures range from 60-75 degrees, the winters range from 15-35 degrees, the spring ranges from 40-65, and the summer ranges from 60-75 degrees. When cold air makes its way to Virginia in the winter months, storms can bring extremely heavy snowfall to the park. Some parts of the park, like Big Meadows, can receive up to 37” of snow a year! As many east-coasters will tell you, with snow comes ice. Usually in the park, the ice tends to dissipate fairly quickly, but it can still pose a hazard for hiking and especially driving in the mountains. Always check with ranger stations before you head out for the day and remember to bring lots of layers (yes, even in the summer!) and read up on what to do if you’re caught in a thunderstorm — they’re very common in the summer and fall!
While Shenandoah is known for its fall foliage, the other seasons shouldn’t be discounted. The summer in Virginia can be sweltering, but the mountains are a nice respite from the heat and the trees are super lush. If you go in June, you’ll be rewarded with the mountains in bloom. Shenandoah is honestly pretty mild in the winter, too, since it calls a southern state home, and the frozen waterfalls aren’t to be missed. If you’re on the lookout for wildlife like foxes, bobcats, deer, and other species, the lack of tree cover in the winter is perfect for nature spotting. In the spring, 850 species of wildflowers bloom and the park is quiet compared to the rest of the year (keep in mind that the lodges in the mountains don’t take reservations or guests until mid-May, though).
PEAK SEASON
Because of all the elevation changes, “peak season” can vary a little bit based on where you’re going to be in the park. Generally the consensus is that October is your best bet to get the fall colors Shenandoah is best known for! Starting in the last week of September through the first week in October, the colors will begin to change at the highest elevations and will trickle down to the lower parts of the park by the middle and end of October. Keep in mind that the fall is Shenandoah’s busiest season all year, and large crowds come out especially on the weekends to see the fall foliage. Starting your elopement adventure in the early morning or on a less-traveled trail will be your best defense for having a private ceremony. For updates on what the foliage looks like in the park, Shenandoah’s Instagram account shares new photos from three different points in the park every week! You can also check out their Mountain View Webcam to check out how the park is looking in real time!
AIRPORTS, TRAVEL, AND GETTING AROUNUD
Unlike most other national parks, the Shenandoah Valley is hugely accessible for visitors! There’s four airports you can fly into: Washington Dulles International (IAD), Reagan National (DCA), Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD), and Charlottesville-Albermarle (CHO). You’ll need a car for this trip, since much of the park takes place off of Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway but have no fear — it’s super easy to get a rental car in the area from any of the airports you fly into. If you’re coming into the regional airport though, look into renting a car fairly far in advance since they go pretty fast.
There’s four entrances into the park at the three different park areas: The north district entrace is at Front Royal, the central district entrances are at Thornton Gap and Swift Run Gap, and the south district entrance is at Rockfish Gap. It’s fairly easy to pinpoint where you’re at on Skyline Drive, as the road is marked with mile posts starting with zero at Front Royal and ending with 105 at Rockfish Gap. The mile marker system is also really handy for finding trailheads!
Unlike some parks like Yellowstone and Glacier that have shuttle services, Shenandoah is all about you taking yourself where you want to go. If you’re around for a few days though and want a relaxing way to see the park, there’s a shuttle that leaves Skyland Lodge on wine and whiskey tours to visit some local breweries, wineries, and distilleries in the area!
SAFETY INFORMATION
Let’s talk safety! It’s one of the most important things to be mindful of when you’re getting married outdoors. Besides the basics like the Ten Essentials (here’s a great link from REI about what those items are and why you need to always hike with them), Shenandoah has its own list of safety concerns they want visitors to be aware of to keep both you, the people around you, and the parks itself safe.
Cell phone service in the Shenandoah is notoriously unreliable, so don’t plan too rely too much on your phone or other electronics. If you want to hike with your pets, they’re more than welcome if they’re on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Shenandoah has many beautiful waterfalls, but please don’t walk around the top of them — the stones are always slippery, and many people have fallen. In the winter, Skyline Drive may close due to the weather but the park is still open to hiking! Hiking in the winter is a little bit of a different beast, so while I encourage you to get out there in the snow, please do so carefully! Many people often see wildlife on their hikes (one of the best parts of hiking, right?!), and while the encounters don’t usually pose a threat to you or the animal, know that sometimes there’s risk involved. Shenandoah has white-tailed deer, birds, snakes, foxes, and black bears that call the park home — know what to do if you find yourself sharing a trail with a bear, how to safely camp in bear country, and what to do if you happen to be bitten by a snake. There’s one more animal you might not have noticed on your hike, and that’s ticks. There are several species in the park, and it’s very important to both take extra precautions to avoid them on your hikes and to check for ticks on your body, clothing, and gear when you get home or to your camp.
No one is allowed to hunt within park boundaries, but there are a few trails and back roads that connect Shenandoah National Park to Rapidan Wildlife Management Area and other private property where hunting is allowed. If you’ll be out during hunting season, make sure to wear blaze orange or other bright colors just in case.
ENTRY FEES
When you enter the park, you can purchase a $30 pass that’s good for the park for seven days, or purchase a National Park Pass. The National Park Pass (it’s official name is The National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass) grants you access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites including national parks, wildlife refuges, some standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These passes are good for one vehicle.
The Annual Pass: $80; Available to everyone; Can purchase online from the USGS store or at most national parks.
The Military Pass: NO COST; Available to all current US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Gaurd, Space Force, and all Reserve and National Gaurd members, as well as US military veterans and Gold Star Family members; you’ll need to show a Common Access Card (CAC), or Military ID or exchange a Gold Star Voucher to get one of these.
Senior Pass: $80 for a Lifetime Pass, $20 for an Annual Pass; Available to US citizens or permanent residents 62 years or older, with valid proof of residency and age (a driver’s license will do); Can purchase in person, online from the USGS store, or by mail using an application form.
Access Pass: NO COST; Available to US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities with documentation of disability; Can purchase in person, online from the USGS store, or by mail using an application form.
Volunteer Pass: NO COST; Available to volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program; Can obtain this pass by contacting your volunteer coordinator for more information.
HOW TO ELOPE IN SHENANDOAH
OBTAINING A PERMIT
You need to have a special use permit for any wedding, gathering, or special ceremony involving more than 15 people in the park. For weddings and elopements specifically, you can contact the authorized concessions operator at Delaware North at Shenandoah National Park. You need to apply for a permit at least six weeks ahead of your date since they won’t consider anything before that. Wait to finalize any of your plans until you hear back about your permit, since plans may need to change. That’s the fun of eloping, being flexible! The park does have the right to come out and check out what you’re doing to make sure you’re obeying the rules of the permit. Since the park gets so busy during fall weekends, any ceremony taking place at an authorized overlook on a Saturday or Sunday during October and November must be finished by 10am. You can find the link to the permit here, and other info about the permit process on the NPS site.
As of August 31, 2021, if your simple ceremony has less than 16 people involved and does not involve set-up, you don’t need a permit. These rules can change at any time, and it’s best to reach out to the office anyway and let them know your plans.
You cannot have a ceremony at or near any of the visitor centers since it detracts from people needing the resources there, so say no to any weddings at or around Dickey Ridge or the Byrd center. Also, to protect the native plants in the Big Meadows area, there’s only one area immediately below Tanner’s Ridge Overlook that’s authorized for weddings in that area. There’s limited parking, so this isn’t a great place for a bigger ceremony.
There’s a lot of rules about what you can and can’t have in this park involving music, decor, plant material (flowers like bouquets and boutonnieres), and other items, so make sure you thoroughly read through the NPS permit link!
OBTAINING A MARRIAGE LICENSE
You’ll need to apply for your marriage license at any any county clerk’s office, and it will be valid for anywhere in the state for the next 60 days. Both you and your partner have to be present when applying for your license, and you’ll need to have a valid government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport, etc) to get your license. If one of you has been divorced, you’ll need to know the date and jurisdiction of the divorce (if you’re getting your license in Arlington, you’ll have to have a copy of your divorce papers). It’s $30 for the license (most places only take cash!), and there’s no waiting period for Virginia so you should be able to leave the office with your papers the same day! A few counties (Arlington, Fairfax, and Manassas) will let you walk your license back within five business days of your wedding, but all other counties need your officiant to mail your license back.
A NOTE ON OFFICIANTS
Virginia has some strict rules about who can perform a wedding in their state. Your officiant will need to be a member of the clergy, a minister, other some other person who has been authorized by a Circuit Court of the Commonwealth to perform marriage ceremonies. If you know of someone who wants to be authorized to perform your wedding in Virginia, they’ll need a completed Petition and Order, proof or ordination or a local minister’s license (online ordinations don’t count to Virginia), and a payment of $13. Virginia does allow Civil Celebrants to be your officiant — one list of options can be found here, but reach out to me if you’re looking for something specific and I’ll help you find someone!
SHENANDOAH VENDORS
FLORISTS
HAIR + MAKEUP
BEST LOCATIONS IN SHENANDOAH
These four areas are certainly not the only areas you can get married in at the park, but they are some of the most popular with eloping couples! There’s so many places to explore. I really encourage you to get out there if you can and find a perfect place for yourself, or let me help you find a custom location!
HAWKSBILL TRAIL
This hike is anywhere from 2-3 miles, depending on if you just want to do the summit or make it a loop, and takes over an hour to get to the top. Hawksbill Mountain is the highest peak in the Shenandoah Valley, standing at 4,051 feet! There’s a large number of snakes in this area, so be on the lookout but don’t let it take you away from one of the most iconic vistas in the park!
CREDIT: SNOWSOUTWEST
LITTLE STONY MAN TRAIL
At one of the easier hikes on this list, it’s easy to see why this trail is a favorite! It’s only a 1.6-mile loop with an easy difficulty scale. You start on the iconic Appalachian Trail and make a turn for this view according to the signs. You’ll end up at Shenandoah’s second-highest mountain and some of the most beautiful views in the park. No dogs on this one!
CREDIT: MEN’S JOURNAL
RAVEN’S ROOST
Ravens Roost is perfect for the couple that wants a beautiful overlook without all the hiking, or someone who has trouble with all the elevation! This is just a pull-off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it’s heavily regarded as one of the best places to catch the sunset in the entire national park, and the mountains in general. It’s a popular place for photographers and tourists alike though, so plan accordingly!
CREDIT: THE OUTBOUND
MARY’S ROCK
Summiting Mary’s Rock is a bit of an endeavour, but so worth it! It should take you around three hours to reach the top of the 4-mile hike, or if you have some extra time and want to really hike it out, take the Hazel River Falls hike for 5.3 miles to see some waterfalls and enjoy the view! This is a moderately difficult hike, but so incredibly beautiful.
CREDIT: NORTHERN VIRGINIA MAGAZINE
ENJOYING SHENANDOAH
WHAT TO PACK
While this is hugely dependent on the season you’re traveling in, a few things remain the same about the park year-round! Sturdy hiking boots or sandals with strong grips (like Tevas or Chacos) are important, as well as bringing a few layers to change into! In the summer, you might be able to go swimming in the heat but could get cold in the wind at dusk. During cooler months, you can keep yourself toasty with fleece, vests, gloves, and hats. Remember that your packing list varies depending on what you want to do in the area — do you want to snowshoe, or swim on a private beach? Two very different activities, with two totally different sets of clothing needs. Pack lots of layers, and don’t forget rain gear!
Always bring a map! While apps like AllTrails are great, your phone could die or you could drop it in a puddle and poof — there go your maps. Paper maps are still a thing, I promise. Any outdoor store will be able to hook you up with some great weather-proof paper maps and guides.
Be prepared with the bug trifecta: the right clothes, bug repellant, and something to treat bug bites. If you can stand it in the summer, pants will help shield you from ticks, black flies, and mosquitos. The same goes for long-sleeved shirts (you can even find some with SPF!).
Remember that sunburns can happen even on cloudy days, and especially on snowy (but sunny) days. Protect that beautiful skin of yours.
ELOPEMENT PACKING LIST
You wouldn’t forget your dress or your suit (hopefully), but what about all the other little things? Here’s a short list of extras you might be forgetting:
A way to transport your ceremony clothing (whether by wearing it on a hike, packing it in a backpack, or just using garment bags)
Your rings! (A pretty important part, tbh.)
Vow books, clothing accessories (ties, cufflinks, belts, safety pins, stain remover), jewelry, perfume and deodorant, letters to each other, small trinkets, and anything else you plan on including during your elopement.
All of your legal documents, including park entrance passes, park wedding permits, IDs, and your marriage license (you’ll also need your passports if you’re coming from out of the country).
WHERE TO STAY
There’s a lot of options for hotels and unique stays in Shenandoah, but my two favorites are the Big Meadows Lodge and Skyland. Big Meadows Lodge has been in operation since 1939 and it’s a classic favorite with visitors for good reason — it’s listed ono the National Register of Historic Places, has a ton of different room options including everything from a basic room to suite with a wood-burning fireplace or private cabin, it has ADA-accessible room options, a taproom, formal dining room, and you’re right in the heart of it all just off Skyline Drive. If you’re into night sky viewing, Big Meadows Lodge is famous for their unobstructed views of the undisturbed sky. Skyland offers much of the same in a slightly more modern setting but with just a beautiful views of the 16-acre property.
As far as AirBnb options go, there’s no shortage of beautiful cabins and chalets in the mountains of Shenandoah! This two bedroom cottage is updated with enough amenities (including a hot tub!) to make it feel like a great getaway while still being rustic. It’s nestled on the Shenandoah River and guests can walk right up to the shore. There’s also a garden pup on the grounds that’s super cute! Then, there’s this perfect historic cabin great for an intimate wedding party (or just the two of you, if you want to go all-out). The walls are made of hand-hewn logs from the 1800s, paintings done by the original owner, a piano, and 16 acres of idllyc beauty. Plus, there’s a firepit, a pier, access for canoeing and kayaking, and the cutest farm setting!
WHAT ELSE TO SEE IN THE AREA
Shenandoah isn’t lacking in activities! Ranging from backcountry camping to browsing for antiques in the local towns, there’s something for everyone here! Did you know Shenandoah National Park has one of the densest populations of black bears in the country? It’s the perfect place to (safely!)do some wildlife spotting! Hike any of the 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail that wind through Virginia including the 101 miles that run parallel to Skyline Drive with the almost 10-mile Old Rag Mountain Loop trail or take it a bit easier with the 1.1-mile Black Rock Summit trail; explore Rapidan Camp, the predecessor to Camp David used by Herbert Hoover during the Great Depression; take a guided ranger tour for an in-depth look at the park; and eat all the blackberries you can in the area! Blackberries grow wild on the mountains and can be found in nearly restaurant or shop in the Shenandoah Valley in the form of pies and milkshakes, to ice creams and lemonades.
To take a break from the park, visit the cutest little town in the area! Winchester hosts the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival every May, which is the perfect start to summer activities if I say so myself. Close by, Berryville has a host of cute shops as well as the Holy Cross Abbey where monks sell fruitcakes, honey, and chocolate truffles (basically my dream). In Luray, you can visit the Luray Caverns, home to one of the largest cavern systems in the eastern United States! In Dayton lies a community of Old Order Mennonite (a community that I grew up around back in Ohio and care for very much) who often sell farm goods and furniture at the local markets. If you’ve never had Amish produce, you’re missing out.
