Shenandoah Adventures: Big Meadows
Located in the heart of beautiful Shenandoah National Park, The Big Meadows area is a hub for adventure and fun. Perched on top of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area is defined by its large expanse of rolling grasslands that provide an essential habitat for many plants and animals.
Big Meadows is an anomaly in the park. The area is an 134 acre grassland oasis, surrounded by the rocky crags and dense forests that are most common in Shenandoah National Park. This high elevation grassland ecosystem is filled with wild berries and colorful wildflowers. Bears can often be seen noshing on berries during the spring and summer months. Deer and small mammals also frequent the area.
While scientists aren’t 100% sure what caused this expansive meadowland in the middle of the dense forest, it has been speculated that it was caused by human activity centuries ago, when they burned this tract of land for crops and pasture.
In addition to the pristine meadow landscape, Big Meadows is one of the primary park hubs for education, recreation, lodging and amenities.
The Big Meadows Lodge is over 80 years old and features a variety of rooms and cabins for a cozy mountain stay. The lodge serves up delicious eats for visitors in the lodge dining room, as well as a basement pizza tavern. My favorite time to eat in the lodge restaurant is breakfast or lunch, when you can enjoy stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and valleys in the distance.
Big Meadows is home to The Byrd Visitors Center, where visitors can learn about park history, geology, ecology and participate in ranger-led activities.
One of my favorite pastimes at Big Meadows in the summer months is to go stargazing. The wide open meadows and dark skies provide amateur stargazers the chance to find The Little Dipper and other constellations.
There are several popular hikes within the area including Dark Hollow Falls. This spectacular waterfall tumbles 70 feet over rock outcroppings. The 1.4 mile trail isn’t long, but it can be steep on the way back up. Because this trail is so popular, the parking lot can get full in peak seasons. I recommend going early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid traffic jams.
Another popular hike at Big Meadows is the Black Rock Trail. This short, but steep trail starts near the Big Meadows Lodge and provides dramatic views of the rocky ridgeline.
Here is a link to trails in the Big Meadows area. https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/BigMeadows_RoadTrail.pdf
Where to stay:
Big Meadows Lodge has a variety of cabins and hotel accommodations in the historic lodge. You can book your stay here. I recommend calling if you have any mobility issues as some of the accommodations are hard to reach if you struggle with stairs/climbing.
Book your stay at Big Meadows Lodge here
Prefer camping? Big Meadows has over 200 campsites, conveniently located to the Big Meadows Wayside (general store). Click here for campground information. https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/BigMeadows_CampgroundMap_web.pdf
Big Meadows is a great basecamp for all things Shenandoah. Its central location (milepost 51) near the halfway point along The Skyline Drive makes it easy to navigate south or north for daily adventures.
Stay tuned to American Nomad blog for more posts about Shenandoah and other amazing travel destinations.
American Nomad is written by travel enthusiast, national park lover and singer-songwriter Adele Lassiter. Her EP, also entitled ‘American Nomad’ is out now on all streaming services. Listen on Spotify
