Spring with its restrictions sprang into oblivion quickly and the outlook for summer is not looking much less restrictive. Gym space and time is limited; running in the heat is not fun; and public swimming pools are closed. So, what is the best physical activity in the summer of 2020 in our beautiful Shenandoah Valley?

Riding a mountain bike on one of our scenic trails could be the answer!
 
Mountain biking is the ideal experience for anyone who wants to exercise and connect with nature. There are some skills that mountain bikers need to possess while acknowledging the difference in mountain bikes, biking styles, techniques, and terrains.
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Everyone knows any physical activity is good for you. We have all heard about the “runner’s high.” But when you do any activity that gets your blood flowing and triggers the release of endorphins.
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You never get bored with mountain biking as the trail is always changing. No route is ever the same. The texture of the dirt on the trail is different and there can be more rocks, fallen branches, or other unexpected obstacles.

Mountain biking gets you places much faster than hiking. In warm weather everything around is more beautiful. The stillness and majesty alone are worth it.
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Here are a few of them to get you started on your mountain biking journey:
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• Make sure your bike is well-maintained and serviced

Having your bike properly serviced and checked before any ride is the thing to do first. Being sure you have a bike tool/repair kit with your essentials, well ... is essential!

• Building a Strong Foundation

It is crucial to build a strong foundation before working on speed and intensity. This can be achieved through working on endurance, strength, and balance. An amateur should spend at least 1–2 months building this foundation base.

• Stay Healthy

Workouts and rides exhaust the body in the beginning. Be sure to take consistent breaks to give your body a rest. In addition to eating more fruits, veggies, and whole grains, do not forget to drink lots of water! (Plan ahead and pick up a great prepacked lunch and snacks at one of Front Royal’s great restaurants, like the Blue Wing Frog for a super healthy option to have along the way!)

• Break biking routine into two parts

Most of those who are new to mountain biking, likely to get tired every 15 mins. But do not stop practicing, just do not go overboard. Take turns between immense effort for 15 mins and taking it easy for 15 mins. This flow pushes the body.

• Braking correctly

The key to riding safely is to use brakes wisely. Practice riding a bike before going on any trails to determine how much braking power the tires have. Learning how much or how little to squeeze the brake levers, is what prevents falls over the bike on many dangerous hills!

• All eyes on the trail

It is vital to know exactly where to look while biking. Do not look directly down at the wheel or what is in front of it. Instead, use peripheral vision to keep track of the trail, to avoid any obstacles. Small rocks and roots are okay to ride over; make sure to adjust speed and position accordingly.

Special considerations on bicycling on the Skyline Drive
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Bicycling is permitted along Skyline Drive and on paved areas in the park. Bicycling (road and mountain bikes) is not permitted on trails, unpaved roads or in grassy areas.* Because Skyline Drive is a two-lane road with steep hills and numerous blind curves, cyclists are urged to use extreme caution.

Visitors should be prepared to operate their bicycles during periods of low visibility, or while traveling through a tunnel, or between sunset and sunrise, by exhibiting on the operator or bicycle a white light or reflector that is visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red light or reflector visible from at least 200 feet to the rear. During periods of fog, reflectors will not provide necessary safety for bicyclists. Lights on both the front and rear of the bicycle are required. Mountain areas can experience dramatically different weather than what is being experienced in the lowlands, so be prepared!

Donations were received by the Shenandoah National Bicycle Coalition and Planet Bike of 150 lights to be given to visitors at the entrances for safety of the bicyclists arriving without a rear light. Lights are supposed to be dropped off as the visitors exit.

*Bicycling from Skyline Drive is permitted on Rapidan Fire Road for approximately one mile. At the end of this mile, there is a sign indicating no bicycles are permitted beyond that point.

BIKE TRAILS AND BIKE PATHS

Local Trails & Greenways
414 E Main St Front Royal
 
Sherando Park Mountain Bike Trails
Address: 200 Landgrant Ln.
Stephens City, VA 22655
Phone: (540) 665-5600
 
Eastham Park
Address: Luray Ave.
Front Royal, VA 22630
Phone: (540) 636-4600
 
Elizabeth Furnace Recreational area
Address: Fort Valley, VA 22652
Phone: (540) 984-4101
 
Buzzard Rock Trailhead
Address: 3087 Mountain Rd.
Front Royal, VA 22630
 
Shenandoah River State Park
Address: 350 Daughter of Stars Dr.
Bentonville, VA 22610
Phone: (540) 622-6840
 
Rockland Park
Address: 250 Rockland Park Way
Front Royal, VA 22630
Phone: (540) 635-7750
 
Sherando Park
255 Lakeview Circle
Stephens City, VA 22655
Phone: (540) 665-5678
 
Low Water Bridge Campgrounds
Address: 192 Panhandle Rd.
Bentonville, VA 22610
Phone: (540) 635-7277
 
Sky Meadows State Park
11012 Edmonds Ln.
Delaplane, VA 20144
Phone: 540-592-3556
 
Shenandoah River State Park
350 Daughter of Stars Dr.
Bentonville, VA 22610
Phone: 540-622-6840;
 
Whitney State Forest
Address: Lee, Morton Ridge
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (804) 492-4121
 
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove
Address: Middletown, VA 22645
Phone: (540) 869-3051
 
Shenandoah National Park
17157 Skyline Dr.
Front Royal, VA 22630
540-999-3500
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Shopping for Bicycle or Bicycle Repair
 
Do you need a new bike or maintenance/repairs done on your bike? Here are some bike sales and repair shops to check out.
 
Mountain Trails Front Royal
120 E Main St.
​Front Royal, VA 22630
540-749-2470

Blue Ridge Bicycles
2228 Papermill Rd # G
Winchester, VA 22601
540-662-1510
 
Shenandoah Bicycle Company is open and operating, ready to assist you!
135 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-437-9000
 
Wyse Cycles
540-383-4119
ben@wysecycles.com
 
Haymarket Bicycles
4414 Costello Way
Haymarket, VA 20169
703-754-1911

​Some final, yet important considerations:

Remain on open forest roads

• Get tips and learn about the area from locals if you can.
• The intent of road closures is to balance popular public use with the sustainability of natural resources.
• Closed roads will be posted. Not all bicycle trails are open to off-highway vehicle use.
• Wilderness areas are off-limits to all vehicles, including bicycles.
• Comply with signs and barriers and leave gates as you found them.
• Some trails cross private property and are subject to deed restrictions, which prohibit vehicular travel of any kind.
• Respect public and private property by practicing minimum impact cycling.

Watch over the environment

• Stay on trails and roads designated for use.
• Minimize erosion by staying on trails and not cutting switchbacks.
• Avoid wet, muddy areas as they are more susceptible to erosion.
• Do not ride on snow-covered roads!
• Do not disturb wildlife or livestock.
• Teach new riders trail etiquette—lead by example.
• Don’t litter.

Ride carefully, remain in control

• The forest is for everyone. Be considerate of hikers and equestrians.
• Always wear a protective helmet and other gear. 
• Ride single file in the middle of the trail to avoid widening the trail.
• Yield right-of-way to other trail users. Horses spook when they see an unfamiliar object, especially one that moves quickly and quietly.
• Slow down and use caution when passing others. If necessary, dismount your vehicle or bicycle on the downhill side and wait for horses and hikers to pass.
• Control speed always. Approach turns in anticipation of someone around the bend.

ALWAYS be prepared

• Be prepared for sudden changes in weather.
• Don’t ride alone. Tell someone where you plan to ride and then stick to your plans.
• Don’t take unnecessary chances—help for emergencies may be miles away.
• Make sure you have a first aid kit and other safety gear with you when riding in the forest.

 
Remember: You are responsible for your own safety
and for the safety of those around you.

Celebrating Spring has not been the same here in Front Royal this year. Locals and tourists alike anticipated meandering through the glorious Shenandoah National Park, taking in the spectacular scenery and enduring rugged outdoor adventures. As a popular destination for weekenders in Warren County and nearby regions, drivers can ostensibly travel the 105-mile road in about three hours. But those three hours do not account for the enticement to stop, look, picnic, play or simply explore so much of what is Skyline Drive.
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But all was changed on April 4, the day it was closed to motorists due to the coronavirus.

We missed the sounds of rumbling motorcycles coming in from I-66 transporting cruise riders, the Harley riders, and young-at-heart senior riders (good for them!). We missed the cars parked on the side while waiting for an order from Spelunker’s. We missed viewing the magnificent landscape dotted with flowering dogwood, redbud, and wild plum trees. We missed the trails artfully displaying colorful azaleas, pink-and-white mountain laurel, and hundreds of wildflowers carpeting the forest’s floor.
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After many weeks and confusing federal and state guidelines, Shenandoah National Park will begin Phase Two of its phased reopening plan.

Phase Two: What You Need to Know

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on June 11, 2020, Shenandoah National Park will reopen access to:
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• The entire park will be open 24 hours a day.
• The backcountry, including shelters and huts, will be open for overnight camping. Backcountry campers should be self-reliant and review camping regulations online or at kiosks to self-register their backcountry permits. Kiosks are located at: Entrance Stations, Loft Mountain Wayside, North and South entry points of the Appalachian Trail, and the Old Rag Trailhead parking area. Backcountry cabins will be available for weekend rental by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club at patc.net. More information on backcountry camping can be found on the park's website.
• Campgrounds will open at 12:00 p.m. noon at a limited capacity to meet the Forward Virginia guidelines of a 20-foot separation between campsites to encourage distancing. There will be limited first come-first served sites at this time. No new reservations can be made but we will honor reservations previously made.
• Old Rag and Whiteoak Canyon/Cedar Run circuit trails will reopen from both Skyline Drive and the boundary. Entrance fees will be collected at the boundary trailheads, unless you have a current pass, and parking will be limited to available parking spots in designated parking areas only. Vehicles parked along the roadside will be ticketed and towed.
• All boundary trailheads will reopen. Vehicles parked illegally may be ticketed and towed.
• Picnic Grounds will reopen at 12:00 p.m. noon. Dickey Ridge Picnic Grounds (mile 4.7) is currently closed and will reopen when construction activities are completed.

Concession-operated services will open as follows:

• June 11, 2020: Elkwallow Wayside (mile 24), Skyland Lodge (mile 41.7 or 42.5), Big Meadows Showers and Woodyard (mile 51), Lewis Mountain Cabins and Campstore (mile 57.2), Loft Mountain Campstore (mile 79.5). Masks are required for entry into facilities.
• June 25, 2020: Big Meadows Lodge (mile 51)
• June 26, 2020: Loft Mountain Wayside (mile 79.5)

Beginning June 12, 2020, the Park will reopen access to:

• The Park Store at Byrd Visitor Center (mile 51) will open. It will operate 5 days a week (Thursday through Monday) from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. A limited number of patrons will be allowed at one time and masks will be required.

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:

• The picnic pavilion within Pinnacles Picnic Grounds (mile 36.6)
• Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (mile 4.6) and the information desk and exhibit in Byrd Visitor Center (mile 51)
• Massanutten Lodge, and Rapidan Camp historic structures

Planning ahead is important.
Keep yourself and others safe by planning before coming to Shenandoah.

• Please plan to pay your entrance fee with a debit or credit card to minimize use of cash.
• Plan your activities so that you can maintain social distancing and look for less popular hikes and overlooks.
• Since facilities are closed, bring everything that you'll need with you: water, snacks, hand sanitizer, and a face mask.
• We cannot give out park maps or hiking maps so be sure to download them and bring them with you!!
  • Park map here
  • Suggested hikes and trail maps here
  • Purchase a topographic map
• Download the park app, as well as the offline content, before arriving in the park to help you find your way around.

 
A few simple things can help ensure a safe visit.

• Most importantly if you feel sick...stay home!
• Once in the park, practice social distancing by maintaining at least six feet between yourself and others and wear a face mask when social distancing cannot be maintained.
• Practice good hygiene: wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (use hand sanitizer out on the trail), cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, and avoid touching your face.

Hike responsibly.

• Do not attempt to access areas that are closed. They are closed for your safety.
• Use this opportunity to explore less popular areas that you've never been to! If the parking area is full, don't park in the grass or along the road...move on to another area.
• Finally, make sure to choose hikes that you are physically capable of doing, and don't take chances.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Shenandoah National Park, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.

While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/prevention-tips/, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website www.nps.gov/shen and social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/shenandoahnps/, https://twitter.com/ShenandoahNPS, and https://www.instagram.com/shenandoahnps/. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please visit www.goshenandoah.com for updates about park concessioner, Delaware North’s operations.
 
​As the weather gets warmer and the dangers of the coronavirus are lessened, grab that picnic basket filled with your favorite foods. Do not forget the blanket, insect repellant, and a few rain ponchos. Your day to cruise Skyline Drive awaits. 

And as the summer passes by so swiftly, the annuals in your garden will start to fade, the fireflies will take their final bow and the leaf peepers will back up traffic at the corner of South Royal Avenue and South Street. 

It may have been a silent spring, but the roar of leather-clad motorcyclists and carloads of nature lovers won’t miss the must-take road trip this Fall.