Shenandoah Backpacking
Northern Virginia is a quintessential backpacking destination, showcasing the unmatched beauty and heritage of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Our adventure follows an extraordinary section of the storied Appalachian Trail which runs along the Virginia-West Virginia border. Along the way we'll hike through a remarkably diverse forest ecosystem home to hundreds of trees, flowers, shrubs, bird and mammal species. Our unique adventure also combines the beauty and tranquility of a backpacking experience with significant natural, cultural and historical components as we hike along Jeremy's Run, a short section of the Appalachian Trail, and finish along the famed Skyline Drive. Join us as we explore the hidden treasures and delights of this premiere East Coast backpacking destination!
Shenandoah Backpacking Itinerary:
Day 1 Enjoy views from Skyline Drive on the way to the trailhead at Elkwallow Wayside before hopping on the Appalachian Trail.
Day 2 We'll drop our heavy packs for the day allowing us to better explore the hidden nooks of the Shenandoah Mountains
Day 3 Summit Knob Mountain (2,865 feet) and Enter the lush valley of Jeremy's Run, with one of the most beautiful streams in the park's North District.
Day 4 We'll continue along Jeremy's Run, crossing the stream multiple times and keeping our eyes open for wildlife.
Although we do our very best to adhere to one of the schedules listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. There are numerous beautiful and suitable routes available to our guides, and these routes may be utilized instead of those published in this itinerary when circumstances or conditions warrant. This trip is operated rain or shine.
Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline ticket to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.
Professional instruction and guiding; all meals from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 4; 2-person tents (ideal for warmth and reducing pack weight); group cooking gear; group first aid kit, water treatment system; campsite and permit fees; shuttle between trailheads.
Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.
This trip is rated Moderate Plus (3-4). Participants will be carrying their own backpacks weighing 35-40 pounds distances of 4-6 miles daily over varied terrain. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we strongly encourage participants to be involved in a training regimen before the trip. Most important to your enjoyment of the trip is your overall fitness level.
Daytime temperatures usually range between 60° - 90° F with humidity. Evening temperatures drop into the 40s - 50s. You may encounter freezing temperatures at some of the higher elevations. Afternoon thunderstorms are a distinct possibility so adequate raingear is important.
Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, VA, 40 minutes.
This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.
Shenandoah Backpacking
The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To obtain maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you choose equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary - this will help you and the field staff.
Gear Checklist
- Tents (3 season, 2 person)
- Cooking gear
- Stoves and fuel
- Water treatment system
- Trip leader first aid kit
- Toilet paper and trowel
- Backpack: large internal frame or external frame (65–80 liters)
- Pack cover – waterproof
- Lightweight compressible daypack weighing less than 15 ounces
- Sleeping bag (rated at 20°-25°F), lightweight and compressible
- Sleeping pad, lightweight and compressible
- Trekking poles - highly recommended
- Rain jacket and pants, lightweight waterproof and breathable
- Midweight fleece or wool sweater
- Mid-weight thermal top and bottom made of synthetic or wool
- Hiking pants, quick-drying, lightweight (zip-off legs are great). No jeans!
- Hiking shorts, quick-drying, lightweight
- 1 T-shirt, synthetic
- 2 changes of underwear
- Hiking socks, 2 pairs of wool or synthetic
- Sock liners, 2 pairs of synthetic liners (optional)
- Sun hat with brim
- Wool or fleece hat
- Bandana
- Lightweight wool or fleece gloves
- Hiking boots: heavy duty, waterproof, and well broken-in, should rise above ankle
- Two 1-quart water bottle, Nalgene-type, or equivalent hydration system (bring a quart water bottle even if you have a hydration system)
- Headlamp with spare batteries and bulb
- Plastic bowl, spoon, fork, 16 oz. mug with lid
- Sunglasses and retainer strap
- Sunblock, small amount not the whole bottle, min SPF 25
- Lip balm (unscented)
- Personal medications
- Insect repellant (small)
- Toothbrush & trial-size paste
- Pack towel and/or washcloth
- Personal first aid kit, small and light with personal medication
- Hygiene System: Ziploc gallon size baggie, WetOnes, Feminine Wipes, Pantiliners for women
- 1 large plastic garbage bag
- Down vest or jacket (highly recommended)
- Gaiters
- Swim suit (for bathing and swimming)
- Compass: the guide usually teaches with a Sunto M-2
- Ear plugs
- Lightweight camp shoes/sandals
- Journal and pen
- Camera and film
- Hydration system (bring at least one Nalgene-type bottle, even if you do bring a hydration system)
Feel free to give us a call at (800) 622-2236 should you have any questions regarding the gear list. The staff at our stores and Direct Sales (800-426-4840) will also be happy to help you with gear questions. Or check out www.rei.com/learn. The Expert Advice section on our "Learn" page has great information to help you prepare for your trip.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
- Activity level (16)
- Group camaraderie (16)
- Guides (16)
- Food (13)
- Well organized itinerary (11)
Cons
Best Uses
- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual adventurer (13)
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Travel with like-minded outdoor enthusiasts (13), All the details planned for me (12), Destination (11), I liked the itinerary (8), Active adventures (7)
Reviewed by 18 customers
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Pros
- Activity Level
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
I will not soon forget the four days I spent in Shenandoah with my new friends. The scenery was beautiful, and each day's hike gave me a great sense of accomplishment. The meals were delicious, and the shared company was wonderful.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- All the Details Planned for Me, Destination, I Liked the Itinerary, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- I have visited and backpacked in Shenandoah on a number of occasions, and was looking forward to learning more about the park from professional guides.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- Our group was terrific: Everyone was good-humored, particularly a trio of exceptionally funny New Yorkers. The group's members came from diverse backgrounds, and I very much enjoyed learning about their different life experiences. John and Blythe were excellent guides and taught us a good deal about the park and backpacking.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- I wish I had spent more time integrating climbs into my training. I had done a lot of shakedowns and running to prepare; but in retrospect, I really had not trained enough for the elevation gains. That said, John and Blythe set a great pace and were not the least bit impatient.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by WTAllenII
The Path Home
Images shared by WTAllenII
View from the Ridge
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
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Pros
- Activity Level
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Once in a Lifetime Experience
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
If you're interested in a challenge, this might be it! I wanted a trip that would leave me with a sense that I had really accomplished something and this hike did that for me. Never in my wildest dreams could I have created an adventure so beautiful and challenging as this hike. I was also happy to meet Gina, Ted, Pam and Ed and hear about their other many adventures. Absolutely fascinating! Thank you to our leaders, Wendy and Ryan for a great experience in the Shenandoah Valley. Chad, you don't know what you missed!!!
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- All the Details Planned for Me, Destination, I Liked the Itinerary
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- Each year I like to plan something to look forward to in the Fall that will encourage me to stay active during the summer. I thought the backpacking trip was just the ticket!!
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- Sleeping in the tent and waking up at night to the sounds of the valley - especially the owls!
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Pay attention to the gear list and follow it to the letter. I'm glad I did. I didn't want for a single thing during the excursion.
Pros
- Accommodations
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Quality Equipment Provided
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
The sites were beautiful, the people were great, and to make it even more memorable, I got engaged on this trip!
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- All the Details Planned for Me, Destination
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Practice hiking at least 6 miles with a 35lb backpack on trails with varying elevation- the trails we took were were pretty intense, but we did take plenty of breaks.
Pros
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
Every part of the trip truly exceeded my expectations. Booking the trip was easy and the person that I spoke with on the telephone was extremely helpful. The guides - Mike and Jenn (THEY WERE AWESOME!!!) - were very inviting, helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, eager to do anything to make the trip more enjoyable, and always went over and above. Mike taught me how to use a map and compass and even taught me about features on my camera that I didn't know how to use. The trails were challenging with just the right balance between elevation changes, distance, and backpack weight on the different days. The scenery was beautiful and it was fun to cross all of the streams. I was not expecting to eat really good meals every day. I was truly surprised - Mike and Jenn are both great cooks - and I left with many good and easy meal ideas. Lastly, I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to experience the trip with. We were ten people (two guides and eight adventurers) who would otherwise not have mixed, but for our common desire to experience this trip. Backpacking obviously brings out the best in people. I truly enjoyed this trip and already have another one booked. Thanks REI!!
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, Destination, I Liked the Itinerary, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- I wanted to learn the ins and outs of backpacking and wanted to learn in a safe environment. The REI trip to Shenandoah National Park seemed like a good way to accomplish my goal in a beautiful place.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- It's hard to pick out just one highlight. However, The last day of hiking - up Neighbor Mountain Trail - offered a long ascending trek to the mountain peak. It was "Challenge Day" where we all pushed ourselves. I felt very accomplished!
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- I packed EVERYTHING on the gear list. I was clearly overpacked. You really need to consider the weather for the trip given the time of year you are going when finalizing your our packing list. That being said, if in doubt, bring it. The guides will provide a place for you to safely leave extra gear, if need be, before departing on the trip and you can get it back at the end.
Pros
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Quality Equipment Provided
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
The difficulty and itinerary were accurately described in the trip information. The leaders were really good at handling the group and being diplomatic. Even though I'm an experienced backpacker, I still learned a few things about camping and gear.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, All the Details Planned for Me, Commitment to Sustainability, Destination, Good Value, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- Worked well with other travel plans, beautiful scenery
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- Beautiful fall foliage. I also enjoyed having someone else plan the itinerary and figure out the food.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Don't fly in on Day 1 or out on Day 4 -- one member of our group really cut it fine. You can leave things on the bus, so don't worry about bringing items you're not sure about. BYO coffee if you don't want instant.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Gwen S
Fall leaves near Bolen Cemetery
Images shared by Gwen S
Jeremys Run Trail
(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
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Pros
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Scenery
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
Had a great time- everyone got along great. The guides, Steve and Alicia, were just fantastic. Exactly what I had hoped for! My friend and I were both new at this sort of activity but never once did anyone act impatient or annoyed with our questions or occassional slowness. If I did this trip again, I'd probably still choose to do it in the fall, the colors were just brilliant. However, one thing that was kind of a bummer, we never had much time to hang out at camp. Because the sun set on the early side, by the time we finished our hike for the day, set up camp, and ate dinner, it was dark. Campfires aren't allowed in the park so once dark hit we all pretty much just went to our tents. I would have liked to have more time to visit and talk about our day.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- All the Details Planned for Me, Destination, Good Value, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- My best friend and I wanted a "Girl's Weekend" and I have always wanted to try an overnight backpacking trip. When I suggested it, she was very enthusiastic about it!
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- The scenery was amazing, we seemed to hit right at the peak time for Fall colors. I loved how isolated it all felt too. We would come across other hikers every once in a while, but not too often. It felt like it was just our group and we had the run of the park. :-)
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Be prepared- the fist day is a little slow. This is great if you're new to adventuring because much of the day is spent with instruction on packing and equipment use, etc. Still, I would have liked to have a little more time on the trail and a little less hanging around the store getting ready to go.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by BeachBum32
Images shared by BeachBum32
Group shot at the picinic grounds
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
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Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
This was a good 3-4 day trip. Challenging but not miserable. Did it in late September. Would not do it in the hottest months of the summer. Guides were wonderful.
Pros
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Once in a Lifetime Experience
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
- Humidity Temperature
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
This trip was amazing! And our guides, Sam and Julie, were incredible and related well to every person on our trip; age range for Adventurers on this trip was from 13 to 60 and I was the 60 year old. The guides were very informative and prepared great meals for us each day. The humidity, temperature and rain were the only things the guides couldn't improve on…but that just added to the adventure.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, Good Value, I Liked the Itinerary, Time with my son, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- To send time with my son and have an enjoyable outdoor adventure.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- All four days were enjoyable, especially the time spent with my son.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- I would advise potential travelers to spend at least a month of hiking 3-8 miles a couple of days per week with a full 70L backpack with 25#-35#. The hiking should include steep evaluation changes.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by East Coast Day Tripper
RNE
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Pros
- Activity Level
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
- Horse Flies
- Humidity
- Mosquitos
- Ticks
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
Great - GUIDES, food, park, trails, serenity
Not so - Humidity, temperature, rain (though it made for a better group bonding experience), TICKS, Mosquitos, horse flies.
Overall Experience - AWESOME! But, if the not so is something you don't want to deal with, then find a cooler time of the year to experience this trip. However, it is still a great experience!
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- All the Details Planned for Me, Destination, Father's Birthday
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- Backcountry experience with my father.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- Getting to know everyone on the trip and spending quality backcountry time with my father.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- This trip was amazing! Our guides, Sam and Julie, were incredible and related well to every person on our trip; age range for Adventurers on this trip was from 13 to 60. The guides were very informative and prepared great meals for us each day. The only thing that could have been better would be if the guides could somehow reduce the humidity and temperature in central Virginia during the summer.
Pros
- Accommodations
- Activity Level
- Group Camaraderie
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Shenandoah Backpacking:
Overall, the hiking was better than I expected it to be. I enjoyed the litle devil's staircase and the cemetery on the 2nd day, the stream crossings were fun on the third day as well as that being a long hike so although not "challenging" it was still a good work out, then the third day I enjoyed hiking up the mountain hill. Seeing the wildlife was a real highlight too. I really would have rather used the first day (since we already had met up at 9am) to get into he woods earlier. Seems like a lot of wasted time at the store. At times I felt like I had signed up for a "class" but if that bothers you, just ignore it, I still had a great time. One guide knew a lot about "edibles" and that was cool to hear about.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, All the Details Planned for Me, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- I chose this trip to hike with and get to know other "like minded" people. Also to get more familiar with camping/hiking in areas with bears, which turned out to be not as big of a deal as I thought.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- I enjoyed camping near the streams, especially the third night. I thought that was the better campsite and there were more places to hang out. I liked how there was a mix of hiking difficulties throughout the days.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Pack light of course. Bring a day pack for the second day, you will definitely want it. If you want to hike more, just ask the guides, they can come up with more hiking for you. Also, expect the first day to be very slow. Everything took way too long, I would have rather just got out there and started hiking, but I did expect that from not only the description of day 1 but also the reviews. If you are the type that eats a lot or gets hungry, bring snacks! They did however provide us with TONS of snacks to pick from and take which I thought was really nice.
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