I went on one of the monthly astronomy nights. The program was great and it was wonderful to see the stars at night I. This dark sky area. It was also exciting to look through the telescopes that many volunteers brought to share and see things like Jupiter and its moons, Venus in phase, and double stars! If you come for an astronomy nights, I recommend downloading an app about constellations and bringing a red light flashlight or using a red light app on your phone. read more

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We stumbled upon this gem after visiting a nearby orchard. Just a gorgeous autumn afternoon to take pictures. The Love sign is near the parking lot. We did not take advantage of the trails, but is definitely something to do in the future! read more

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Absolutely love this park. It is an area treasure. The trails all are amazing. I like that some are more laid back, while several are quite challenging. This is a gigantic place. Also it's parallel with the Appalachian Trail. That is an added bonus. What I love it for is astronomy. NOVAC does its telescope events here, because the light pollution is almost nothing. By all means I recommend going to one of these free events. The clear skies are a real treat. This is a family friendly park, and if in the area a must! read more

Drove over a hour to check out this State park for the First Hike of 2024. So glad we did, they really supported the event with extra parking staff for the overflow of expected visitors. Super friendly Staff at every event within the park we visited. It was a wee bit chilly & windy so we started with a Tour of the House- LOL Joe was our tour guide, very knowledgeable about the home & the history of the families that occupied it over the years. After the house tour we were directed over to the near-by cabin where they had a warm fire going with friendly Rangers serving hoppin' john. They explained the significance of its ingredients & how it came about. We stopped by the Visitors Center which had another friendly & helpful Ranger. Nice assortment of souvenirs from T-Shirts to Pins and a lot in-between. There were some cool exhibits with some live animals and taxidermy displays. Our only complaint was the bathrooms, only two and today the lines stayed long. Great experience and we will definitely be back to explore some of the longer trails. read more

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Almost a 2k acre park has scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and lots of hiking options. In total the park has 22 miles of hiking trails and Appalachian Trail access. Most of the trails are pretty easy. Trail guide available at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-skymeadows.pdf Near the Ashby Inn and Restaurant and several wineries (e.g. Arterra). Parking fee is $7 on weekdays and $10 on weekends. The line can be somewhat long on nice weekend days. This has a lot of offer for a state park and is worth a trip for sure. read more

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Beautiful wide open park with great mix of trails and historic stuff to look at. They have a star watching event Im going to soon really looking forward to. We did a hike that took us 3 hours through rocky terrain , stone bridges over babbling creeks , flowers lined the trails where it opened up to amazing views of the distant mountains and valley. read more

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[Coronavirus review] If you want distance, here's a good place. I was a bit surprised as this was the first park I've seen with an actual human in a booth collecting entrance fees in some time. And collect fees they do; the peak day admission fee is $10! And that's for having not a ton of parking spots before you're on the grass. Between the park fees and the tolls, Virginia clearly doesn't want anyone from north of the Potomac invading their territory. Sky Meadows is an ostentatious name, but the views live up to it. Different hues of green shimmer against each other for miles if you're willing to climb to the trails' upper reaches. Beyond the overlooks await quiet picnic spots and a small section of Appalachian Trail. I didn't see a ton of wildlife, but rabbits abounded. There were some agrarian elements to the place, but no tours or events during corona. Even given the limited parking, high cost, and the fact that your experience is really going to depend on the weather in such an open space, this was definitely worth visiting. read more

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Great state park! It was a chilly and sunny day when we went, so quite a few families and their dogs. Thankfully, the majority of folks were following mask and leash laws. Although most of the trails have short distances, they blend, so you can widen your loop or create greater distances. I was also happily surprised by how much elevation we got on the short routes! It was quick work to get to some amazing views and cooler temperatures (more snow the farther up we went). Will have to return. read more

Sky Meadows State Park - Really lovely views just a bit uphill - Parks Near Me - Delaplane, Virginia

We visited Sky Meadows State Park to view the Perseids meteor shower because Sky Meadows is the closest dark sky park to Washington, DC. Dark sky parks are internationally sanctioned locations where light pollution is minimal from surrounding areas and tightly controlled within the park to enable enhanced viewing of the night sky. Unfortunately, contrary to the charter of the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA) which certified the park in 2021, this dark sky park is a club instead of a park. Here's text from the first criteria of eligibility for dark sky certification from the IDSA: "The Park must provide the opportunity for public nighttime access, with or without supervision. A portion of designated land may meet this require- ment, or access must be available for a fraction of the length of the night. In some cases, such as when working with areas that protect endangered wildlife, archeological sites, or other sensitive resources, this requirement may be adjusted. Public access to public or private lands may be subject to a nominal entry fee, but must not be contingent on the required paid use of any other product, service, program or facility available at the site." Here's what we learned from the park website and one of its rangers: 1) The park closes at dusk. 2) It is open at night to the general public if you pay $10 for parking and $30 for a campsite. Here's what the park wrote on its application to the IDSA: "The park provides year-round overnight public access through primitive, hike-in camping." 3) The park has monthly astronomy events: "There is also public access to the day-use area of the park a minimum of 12 nights per year with the monthly Astronomy for Everyone." 4) The park is supposed to be open for meteor showers: "The park has also provided the opportunity for the public to access the park during meteor showers with the help of the Friends of Sky Meadows, and hopes to continue offering these in the future, up to three events per year. These programs were suspended in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic." (Sitting in a field at night looking up at the night sky to watch a meteor shower has been suspended because of fears of Covid.) 5) The park is open all night, every night, for club members: "In addition, the park provides 365-day a year all-night access to members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club through our associated partnership, as well as to the park's Dark Sky Volunteers, for amateur astronomy activities." I'm sure it's a wonderful resource for the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club and the Dark Sky Volunteers. It doesn't appear to me that the Sky Meadows dark sky park has the accessibility that is outlined in the IDSA charter. In particular, Sky Meadows requires users to pay $40 for parking and use of a campsite if users cannot attend the one monthly, three hour, staffed, astronomy events. My experience at other dark sky parks is much different and was consistent with the ISDA's guidelines for parks. We enjoyed easier access to the parks, we could bring a lawn chair and binoculars and enjoy the night skies on any night we chose without paying for unwanted services. International Dark Sky Association - Find A Dark Sky Place website: https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/parks/ International Dark Sky Association - Sky Meadows State Park website: https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/parks/sky-meadows-state-park/ International Dark Sky Park Program Guidelines: https://www.darksky.org/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2021/05/IDSP-Final-May-2021.pdf Sky Meadows State Park International Dark Sky Park Application 2020: https://m.box.com/shared_item/https%3A%2F%2Fdarksky.box.com%2Fs%2Fctdndl0ti93mob75feygcvilw74x5dsi read more

Truly a northern Virginia gem, this is probably best known for the rolling, bucolic Delaplane Valley views from the top of Piedmont Overlook Trail. (In hot sun and lacking tree shade, it is one of the most punishing uphill trails you will experience). There are lots of hidden secrets around the trail system here. Enjoy forest-cover trails and a decent hilly elevation gain for northern Virginia. Enjoy authentically spooky ruins of civil-war-era settler homes. Be surprised by exquisite wildflowers in the summer. Listen for great bird calls and enjoy bird watching along the trails. This park lacks in water features, waterfalls, and streams because it's higher in elevation. Watch out for ticks in the stands of tall grass in the meadows. I've hiked trails here for years... We recommend going uphill using the South Ridge Trail, going around the Appalachian trail connector system, and then working your way down along the Piedmont Overlook trail. (This is about a 5 mile loop). You can add on an extra four miles to this loop if you want by using the "Old Trail" as a connector whilst up at high elevation. Or if you prefer to walk along more level ground, you can tack on other trails in the valley floor for extra mileage. (There are trail maps available at the parking lot by the historic mansion.) As a camping spot there are a few spots set back in the woods but fairly close to each other; its without water, so be prepared to backpack it all in. The historic mansion (it's not open inside) itself offers civil war celebration days where historic reenactments are held on the grounds. The house is a great spot to sit on the rockers on the porch and gaze into the Virginia countryside. There are picnic spots under the willow oak tree in the yard of the house. At night, once a month or so, the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club offers star gazing by setting up their powerful telescopes for the public to peek through. I've even seen the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) here at this park. Turns out this is the only public grounds at sufficient distance from the megalopolis of northern Virginia for you to be able to see the stars at night. Park facilities include gift shop and restrooms. read more

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WooHoo indeed, thank you Virginia State Parks for Sky Meadows! I like this park for the ease of access from NoVa and mi casa in Manassas, it's an EZ 45 minute drive. So many trail options with some great vistas from Piedmont Overlook. Many opportunities for bovine missteps so watch for the cowpies. The real bonus is that it ties into the Appalachian Trail, wow, how cool is that? I hope you like dogs, there will be dozens, little yappers to big snappers and everything thing in between. There are also horse trails and multiple mounted equestrian adventurers. So nice to breath in the pollution free mountain air and see earth and nature in harmony. Do yourself a favour, get out there and enjoy it! read more

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I've been to Sky Meadows State Park twice this year - once in January and once in June. Both times I had great experiences! Since it's a state park, there is a fee for entry for your car. The attendants at the entrance are very friendly. They will give you a map of the park with the trails and answer any questions you have. The signs on the road are easy to follow and there is overflow parking if needed. They have a cute little gift shop on site as well as two restrooms. The views, wildlife, and nature are definitely worth seeing. read more

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Was very nice hiking trails and camping slots but was a little confused and called the office for help was met with a very rude ranger Duncan who seemed annoyed to have to do his job I'm not sure if I will be returning but if I do I will not be interacting with the rangers considering it was so much of a hassle to come down and help people something I thought was part of a rangers job I guess I was wrong amazing hikes though read more

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Great day trip! Close-ish to DC (roughly an hour) and an easy drive. Admission is $7/week, $10/weekends and easy parking. Several trails to choose from and they're fairly easy. Only thing to strain yourself on are the inclines. Fun place for a picnic, great for families. read more

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Great park not too far from DC. The scenery is beautiful, the park is clean and well-maintained. Parking can be challenging, especially on nice days. read more

This is truly one of our favorite hikes around VA. We've been here before, during the strawberry festival and recently went back again to hike up the South Ridge Trail to see Piedmont Overlook. The views from the overlook are absolutely stunning, trees from afar with the colors changing due to the fall season, it reminded me of Bob Ross paintings where he would dab these red and yellow paint all over the mountains. Very dog friendly. There is a parking fee you will need to pay as you enter Sky Meadows State Park, but the admission fee is certainly worth it's price. read more

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This park has some beautiful views of farmland and mountains and amazing meadows. Great hiking for those interested in grabbing a piece of serenity outside of D.C. It's only about an hour away and you will find this oasis. The entry fee is only $4 per car. There are several trails you can hike and that includes about 3 miles of the Appalachian Trail which we got a chance to hike on as well. We tied that in with a route that followed South Ridge Trail to North Ridge Trail and Old Trail to comprise 6.7 miles. There are some steep inclines along the way but the views from the top are totally worth the effort. I am sort of a novice hiker moving into an intermediate hiker and I had a rough go at first, but I think that was mostly because of the humidity! Anyway, I recommend coming out to Sky Meadows and bring yourself a picnic. The trails have picnic tables and chairs at several scenic spots along the way that you can have your lunch and just enjoy the scenery. It's also quite romantic if you want it to be :) Get outdoors this summer D.C. and enjoy the nature that we are surrounded by! read more

Sky Meadows State Park - entrance - Parks Near Me - Delaplane, Virginia

Took a trip to Sky Meadows yesterday with my gf and dog. We heard about a particular trail on welovedc.com and would recommend it to anyone who wants to take part in a moderately difficult hike and take in some of the great views. The cost to park at the park is a mere $4. There are plenty of trails from 1 mile loops to equestrian trails that are much longer. There is also a portion of the appalachian trail that runs past the park (though not on the park grounds, of course). The trail that we chose was the Ambassador Whitehouse trail. The trail is mostly up hill for the first portion, maybe a third of a mile and isn't easy and I wouldn't recommend it for small children -- there are plenty of other easy trails for kids. The park offers maps and so I wont describe the whole trail here. But what you wont see on the map is that once you reach the end of the whitehouse trail, you make it to a meadow and a very scenic overlook. If you chose to not go back the way you came down the Whitehouse trail, you can take it (the trail is a mile) to the Appalachian trail. Its only a small portion, but being one of the most well known and famous trails in the country, its quite nice to take a stroll down it for about a mile or less. There are several ways to make your way back down to the parking lot, so you can take a map or follow the trails and signs posted along the way. I highly recommend this park if you want to get away from DC and really feel like you are somewhere else. Its about 55 miles from D.C. and well worth the trip. read more

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I love the great outdoors and this is no exception! This is the closest park to my family's home and it has become my "gym". There are short trails and long trails, hards trails and easy trails! The state park pass is 40 or so for the year and if you will be going any number of times it beats the $5 weekend entrance fee. The sights and views are amazing, the butterflies abound. Depending on the time of year the cows graze there. The rangers are very nice and very helpful and they seems to have many different types of events! read more

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To repeat what others have said, it's hard to believe that Sky Meadows State Park is so close to DC. The trail layout of the park offers lots of options and early outs, if you are so inclined. Myself every time I go here I prefer to make a big loop on the Old AT using the hike recommended on http://www.hikingupward.com. The park allows both a lot of covered forest and open mountain meadows, which allows for change of scenery in a 8 mile(or less) hike. If you're so inclined you can even take the AT north or south out of the park and make a longer day of it. Admission is $3 during the week and $4 during the weekend/holidays. It's a more than reasonable deal. read more

Sky Meadows State Park - Sky Meadows in December, looking northeast. - Parks Near Me - Delaplane, Virginia

I can't believe I've lived an hour away and just discovered Sky Meadows this weekend. The entry fee was $5/car and there was ample parking. In addition to hiking, they had fall activities this weekend: kids crafting, corn maze, pumpkin patch, animals, music and tours of the home and kitchen with yummy, Colonial-era samples. We hiked the Piedmont Trail and enjoyed phenomenal views. The weather was perfect and leaves were beginning to turn. The staff members were friendly and helpful. There are two restrooms in the visitors center. Many brought their dogs, too. read more

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This place seems like it is so far away from DC, but really..it is not. Sky Valley is only an hour and change drive. I recommend to take the scenic route all the way up 50. That's kind of the rule in our house, anyway. is to drive at least an hour so that H can get a good nap in. It makes everyone a little less cranky. We attended the Delaplane Strawberry Festival here Memorial Day weekend. The park itself is huge. There is a house on the site, called the Mount Bleak House.which is open for tours on weekends. For the festival, there were about a dozen craftspeople with booths on one part of what is typically the hiking trail. On the other end of the park they had a petting zoo set up, which thankfully was tented and had a few fans going. read more

Sky Meadows State Park - Parks Near Me - Delaplane, Virginia

1st time camping here over the weekend of June 25th&26th the weather was trying to cooperate at least no rain and lower 70s at night but mid 80s during the day. Staff were great and really appreciated Ranger Drew. However we regretted trying to use cart over the dirt trail from overnight parking and of course beware of the multitude of ticks at the campsite. We may try another overnight but never 2 again, that be said this is one of our favorite State parks just wished the had camping with car access read more

Sky Meadows State Park - Front tire sheared off during the trip from overnight parking to campground - Parks Near Me - Delaplane, Virginia

I was at Sky Meadows today with my students was greeted by the awesome Ms. Victoria. She was there for a demonstration to bake bread. She totally took her time with the children teaching them what happened in the day that "we traveled back in time". Not only did she do that, she also taught the children about the chicken coop and gave us a tour of the garden. She was very informative about Sky Meadows. Our children were enthralled with Ms. Victoria. I, for one loved her and am planning on another trip back. I hope to see you there Ms. Victoria. (One negative: not enough signage through the park.) read more

Gorgeous park, amazing visitor center/farm and the trail system is well maintained & marked. Spectacular views and well worth the trip if you're thinking of making the trek from anywhere in the DMV area. The trails are rocky so dress accordingly. :) read more

Beautiful views and gorgeous green grass, but HOLY TICKS BATMAN! I found about 40 ticks on my clothes throughout the hike, and a few on my son as well (one had even made it to his underwear)! They were in the grasses and seemed to be falling out of the trees. Next time I will take a bath in DEET or other tick repellent before we go. read more

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Nice parks with picturesque views of the meadow and valleys below. Just be sure you hike the trail in the right direction. We did one backwards and didn't realize it until half way up. We realized everyone was coming down the brutal hill we were hiking up They have trails for all tastes. Flat meadow trails, to wooded trails and trails up the mountain out in the open. Where lots of tick spray as there are a bunch. Totally worth the trip out to this park. read more

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Loved everything about the monthly star night last night - the NASA JPL person and the knowledgeable ranger had people gasping and applauding as they pointed out the stars, galaxies, and a SpaceX rocket launch. Go for the Milky Way, stay for the new knowledge. read more

Ticks ticks ticks! So many ticks! Please be careful when camping. Ticks were not an issue around the visitor center. Beautiful views and the wineberries were fruiting like crazy. But ticks. read more

The Sky Meadows State Park is about 1,864-acres that has park trails for hiking, hike-in camping sites for overnight stays, nature and history programs that one can attend all year round, picnic and fishing options, as well as being a host-site for local festivals and events (just make sure you know how much you'll pay for the entrance and certain activity fees when you arrive). The hubs and I were able to attend the Delaplane Strawberry Festival, in which there was a $25 entrance fee (this is a donation to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church). Definitely a family-friendly event, there were hayrides, field games (such as milk bottle toss, corn hole toss, tug of war, etc.), live music, magic shows, storytelling, craft stations (such as making your own sand art), face painting, a petting farm (they have baby calves, goats, chickens, tortoises, and miniature horses), as well as food vendors and freshly-picked strawberries for sale. While the festival itself was a bit mediocre, the scenic view of the rolling hills and the big blue sky was terrific! +site for the Delaplane Strawberry Festival +hiking trails and camping sites +fishing options +picnic sites +nature and history programs offered read more

Set on an old farm, Sky Meadows is one of my favorite parks. Camping, hiking and horseback riding, oh my! Coupled with the fact that Sky Meadows usually gets passed over by people on their way to Skyline Drive, Sky Meadows seems to be relatively untouched. I love this. A word of advice: Make sure that when you do the Gap Run loop, you are going the right direction and NOT going UP the hill. The first time I came to Sky Meadows was during a 101 degree day in August, 2005, and I stupidly tackled the hill (and you'll know which one I'm talking about if you've been there) at the beginning of the hike. I think you can tell where I'm going with this- I made it to the top, all right, but I promptly flopped right down on the hot grass to catch my breath. Beautiful sight at the top though, but wind your way through the loop the proper way and you'll be rewarded with a glorious view of the Blue Ridge. Come for the astronomy nights, too! read more

Sky Meadows is like a hidden gem for DC people - about an hour away (well, without traffic - it took us nearly three to get there last weekend) it's a quiet rural oasis. What's more, the camping there is wonderful! There are only a handful of sites and you have to hike 1-1.5 miles to get to them, which means NO RVs!!! Perfect for tent camping, and very quiet and verdant. The trails are very well marked and clear. If you do the whole outer loop, it's close to 10 miles I believe, but it's way less traveled so very nice to get away from people. That trail gives you great views, meadows, and forested paths, so it's got the best of all worlds. Your pooch will love it there! The biggest downside is the massive amount of ticks you will deal with afterwards. We found two on us, and so far 11 on the dog (and counting now that we've been back two days). The check-in process for camping leaves something to be desired if you arrive after 4pm. The directions are enough to confuse anyone, and if you have no clue where you're going, good luck! We were lucky to find another person staying there that could tell us where to go. Once you know the set up, it's no problem... but for first timers, it's a bit nerve racking. Virtually all of the sites in the Red area (individual campsites versus group sites) are great. Some are a bit better than others, but you can't go wrong. You can buy $5 of logs there which will be more than enough, and the pit latrines are clean enough. No potable water is here, so you must pack it all in. No showers, either. read more

Traipsing through yet another meadow offering spectacular views of farmland and mountains in the distance, it could not have been clearer how this state park came by its name. Sky Meadows State Park is a great place for easy, scenic hiking about an hour's drive from D.C. While the park itself is a bit on the small side, it does play home to about 3 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and one can cobble together a rather nice 6.7 mile hike inside the park with a nice mix of views. Indeed, we did just that. Our route followed the South Ridge Trail to the North Ridge Trail all the way out to the Old Trail by way of the Appalachian Trail. Coming back, we followed the Appalachian Trail again before taking the Ambassador Whitehouse Trail to the Piedmont Overlook Trail which ultimately returned us to the Visitor's parking lot. How busy the trails was directly correlated with how far they were from the parking lot. The South Ridge Trail had a lot of people going for a short hike to take in a quick view before picnicking and heading home. This trail boasts the Snowden Manor Ruins and an easily accessible overlook. The Old Trail, by contrast, had no one on it the entire time we were on it. It's a great place for some solitude and reflection. Even though it's only early May, we did see no less than 4 thru-hikers on the Appalachian trail. This is pretty impressive given that Sky Meadows is pretty close to the half-way point for that journey. On the Piedmont Overlook Trail, there is a very nice overlook with a view of Paris (Paris, VA not the other one). Obviously, one can opt for a much shorter hike if they like, but they may have have trouble cobbling together anything longer. All the paths are pretty free of rocks and water, so there is nothing technical to be concerned about. It is pretty buggy though, so you may want to double down on the insect repellant. And if hiking doesn't interest you, they have a great new picnic area in the park. You really can't go wrong with a picnic in a mountainside park on a warm day. Admission is $4 per car. read more

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Sky Meadows is a great park in terms of size and ability to go on long hikes away from any roads. They really could use more bathrooms though and not port-a-potties. The port-a-potty on Jan. 1 near the Bridle Trail was quite clean though. oh, and since horses use some of the trails, you need to watch your step. I like that the trails are kept considerable clean of litter unlike the county parks of Northern Virginia. read more

This is some of the best hiking in the DC area. It's an hour and a half from DC (with some light traffic) and the pass for parking is only $4. This park contains a sizable network of hiking trails and the map available through their website is great for planning your ideal route. There are even short loops that are around a mile in length for folks who just want a little nature walk. The trails are very well maintained, the signs are easy to find, the park staff are helpful and courteous, and trails are clearly marked with different color blazes. It is super easy to find your way around this park. And the overlooks are glorious - bring a camera! read more

IMPRESSIVE! Super Stoked about this Virginia State Park. It could have also been that the late evening finally brought some cool weather in as well which helped to make this hike one of my favs. I took about a 5 mile hike today that was amazing. The view is great. Fact. But the hike itself was beautifully maintained and well marked. I started on the Piedmont Overlook. Straight uphill in a cowfield. Don't forget to stop and look back. Beautiful view of Fauquier County. The plains/fields/mountains. Made my heart happy. I extended the hike by taking the Ambassador Whitehouse trail to the top. One more final view from there. Nice places to sit and look at the view. The trail flattens out into a field of wildflowers. Perfect for deer and bear alike. After about a mile, I connected to the Appalachian Trail. Great, clean and clear trail through here. I was on it for 2.5 miles before cutting onto teh North Ridge Trail and then the Gap Run trail which takes you back to start basically. Noth Ridge was rocky and fun. Gap Run was nice with a stream on the right following you down. I really enjoyed myself here and I'll be back with the kids I'm sure. Many trails. Many views. Lots of parking. Places to picnic. Camping....and it's walk in camping at that. (Hike to the campsite). Though I did not schedule time enough for it, they also had a Civil War staging going on today..would be nice to go back and see that too. In October they also have a corn maze and pumpkin patch with fun things to do. $5 entry fee on a weekend. $4 weekdays. read more

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I love the outdoors, Virginia history, hiking, quietude, state parks, and- well, you know the story. Read the reviews and you will find that most folks come here for a day hike. If that is your intent then you will be well served by the beauty and convenience. If, however, Sky Meadows was billed as a user-friendly place to hold an event or camp for multiple days with, say, Boy Scouts... then I would recommend you seriously research the amenities and layout. We showed up on a Friday night at 7:30 after having arranged to be let in by the Ranger. No one was there and everything was locked. No one would answer any of the "Help Lines" that were offered. Parking lot was a muddy mess. So, after hiking in all our gear (about 1.5 miles on moderately maintained trails), we set about finding potable water. No dice. The "no freeze" spigot was frozen and broken. Bathrooms were locked. Next morning at 8 we found the gate open but no occupancy in any facility. No phone contact. Visitor center should open at 10 says the sign. Not this weekend. Finally see a ranger in his SUV and stop him. We explain who we are and our situation. "That's really awful and too bad. I don't know who told you that you could use this facility for Scouts and Highland games. We decided not to allow equipment to be dropped at any of the grounds except the picnic area and that's day use only. As for the water- you are welcome to drive to any of the local restaurants to get some. Better luck next time and stay warm!" We paid $100 dollars a night for a flat place to sleep, expensive firewood, and a crap attitude from a paid public servant. The scenery is beautiful (but litter strewn from naughty day hikers) and the historical nature of the grounds impressive. Stick with a day visit, though. If you want worthwhile longer term camping around the Shenandoah I would recommend Harper's Ferry, Bull Run, Luray, or Front Royal. read more

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Love this park! I had been before, but went for the first time with my puppy over the weekend to enjoy the fall foliage. I like to take him hiking places where he can accompany me off leash...it gives him the chance to get a little more exercise than if he were attached to me, as well as to be a dog for a while! There were signs indicating dogs must be kept on leash at all times, but us dog-owners know that can basically just be lip service at many places. Once we got past the entry area which was more crowded, I let him off on the trail and had no problems--with fellow hikers or park police (I didn't actually run into any park police). I encountered 3 or 4 other groups/couples who also had their dogs off leash, and advised me that past the more crowded area at the start of the trail, it is generally fine to have your dogs off leash here. So, for that reason alone it is a win for me! Aside from the dog-friendliness of the park, I find it to be beautiful, removed from the hustle and bustle which I appreciate, well-marked and well-maintained, and easy to navigate. When you pay the $4 entry fee (for the day), you get a map that details all of the trails. I didn't even use my map because I found it so easy to just sort of keep heading in one direction, and on the way back, just keep going downhill (the hike up to the wooded part of the trails is basically up one big hill, so be prepared for a little work-out!). The scenery is obviously beautiful, and the views from the top of the above-mentioned hill of the sloping hills and horse-country are breathtaking (and perfect for photo ops!). All in all a beautiful, easy to find, easy to get-around hike in a gorgeous part of the state that can be an awesome spot to get some good exercise/do hill training and just get away from it all! read more

This park was really disappointing after a long drive. While there was a vague trail map there is no signs showing what street you're on or how to even get to the trails, you park and are at a loss at where to find the trails. There is a unnamed road that goes up to the parking lot but not enough signage to get your bearings at all. We looked around but couldn't find any trail head markers. Apparently you have to walk down a unmarked gravel road to get to the trails WHY is there NO SIGNAGE??? After finally finding someone to ask it was time to go. Very frustrating. I recommend just driving the extra 6 miles to the AP, it's a much better hike and FREE. read more

What a hidden gem! Can't believe I have lived in DC for so long and never knew about this park. Sky Meadows is gorgeous and less than an hour from DC. My husband and I went with our dog and had such a nice time hiking, the paths are very well marked. The park had stunning views and was well maintained. We went on a beautiful September Sunday and the park was not at all crowded. I strongly recommend this park to anyone in the area! We will definitely be going often no that we have discovered it. read more

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