The destination for over 1.14 million visitors each year, the Shenandoah National Park is the common attraction for people visiting the state of Virginia. Located just 75 miles from Washington D.C., this national park stretches for almost 200,000 acres, (196,466.19 acres to be exact)!
Shenandoah was established as a park on December 26th, 1935, as it is home to 50 species of mammals, 20 species of reptiles, and over 200 species of birds. About 79,579 acres of the total land area was preserved as part of the Wilderness Act on September 3rd, 1964. This act preserved over 100 million acres of wildlife across the nation, stating that "man could visit there but not remain."
The Shenandoah could be called one of the most beautiful parks in the nation, with its gentle mountains and rushing waterfalls. These rolling mountains do soar into the sky, though, with a highest elevation of 4,051 feet at Hawksbill Peak. The lowest elevation is at the North Entrance of the park, only 561 feet above sea level.