A great hike that I would rate as intermediately challenging. No rock scrambling or anything like…read morethat, but it is quite steep for a while, one must be prepared. It's a popular spot at the top (stunning vistas of the park). I definitely recommend getting there early. We arrived in the afternoon and it was super crowded. Parking only on the side of Skyline Drive and then a 5-10 minute walk just to the trailhead. From the southern entrance to the park, it was about a 20 minute drive along Skyline Drive just to get here, so it does take some prep time before you even start hiking. As mentioned, it's a steep incline for most of the first half. What I loved the most was how many people coming down from the top would encourage you going up, saying "you're over halfway there," or "it's worth it; keep going!" and was nice to return the favor on our way down. Fast hikers can get to the top in 30 minutes, but most will need more. The views at the top are definitely worth the hike. Beautiful view of the Shenandoah Valley. There is a small shelter if it's raining, and a lovely little stone balcony overlook. There are enough outcroppings that you could have a small picnic. Word to the wise, make sure you have a plan for relieving yourself before the hike. There are no facilities. If you like beautiful views, hiking, or being out in nature, come check out the Hawksbill Trail.

We visited Hawksbill Trail via the trailhead off Skyline Drive. There is 860ft of elevation and…read more600ft happen in the first .5 mile. A bit of a doozy. If you go this way, make it to the top, and turn right, it's only another .1 mile to the summit. Beautiful views and very peaceful. Good place to stop for a lunch break. We got a little turned around though and ended up walking to another part of the trail when we were trying to do the loop. Overall, we like the part of the trail that we hiked.

The park is absolutely gorgeous and deserves a nice leisurly visit. There are many hiking trails…read morefor all technical levels. A lovely drive with scenic over looks. I recommend a few days stay but you can see it in a day if you are pressed for time. End to end the drive is around three hours plus stops. There are a number of 'cabins' for rent with gorgeous views. A full service restaurant is near by as well as a coffee shop. There are a few 'comfort stations' (restrooms) available along the driving route and picnic areas. Be sure to close the bear proof garbage bins securely! A ranger station and gift shop are located near the north entrance. A cafe, small convenience store and gift shop is located near camping. A gas station is near the south entrance. Check the NPS website for reservation and trail information and do make a plan to visit.

An amazing National Park, especially if you love hiking, camping, and/or amazing views of mountains…read moreand valleys. The main vein through the park is the Skyline Drive, accessible from any of the 4 (paid) park entrances. It's much longer than we anticipated. According to the National Park Service's website, on clear days, it takes about 3 hours to drive the whole thing! All along the Skyline Drive are spots to pull over and take in the stunning vistas. It really is beautiful on both sides of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A few of the spots are extra large and have bathrooms. I recommend looking up some maps of the different trails to plan your trip. We went with the Hawksbill Trail because it reaches the highest point and the views are not to be missed! My oldest friend goes every year with her family and they still are seeing new stuff, so don't be too hard on yourself if you don't see everything, but enjoy what you do; it's gorgeous.

I found the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway after a quick lunch and before checking into my camping lodge…read more I did a short stop and turned into the commuter parking area after seeing a walkway by the creek. I only walked the loop which was probably a little less than a mile, however the Greenway itself is 2 miles long. The paved path runs alongside the Hawksbill creek and I was happy that was the case. The sounds of the creek water was relaxing. Calling it a creek can be deceiving but it's not a river! It's pretty nice size, specially after all our rain. A super great resource for the town! A great way to bring the community together. -One thing that worried me was the electric farm fence. Please note it's quite close to the pavement.

Beautiful spot to get your exercise in Great walking trail…read morewith fantastic views. Very interesting in what you might see. Don't worry it's not to strenuous. I even saw a lot of seniors handling it. Love the water view. Definitely plan on returning.

Fun experience for floating down the river! Great service, chill vibes, great staff... I'd go back!read more

Tubing Review: We had an amazing time. Was is exhausting,…read moreyes. Worth it, yes! Owen was great. He was a great driving the stick shift bus back to the outfitters. It was nice being dropped off and picked up. We did have issues with our card online, but when I called in to book, Nancy was helpful. She got us all situated and sent an email to confirm. We filled out waivers online which was a breeze. We watched a quick safety video, picked up our lifevest and were on our way. The water was the perfect temp, and it was clear. Tips: bring snacks and water. You are out there 4-5 or longer hours. Especially if the water is low, which ours was. We used a waterproof bag and had no issues. We used a tube with a cup holder which was nice. I wore my life vest out of precaution even though I can swim, plus it made it comfortable for my to use it as a neck rest. I've noticed people mention in previous reviews that the bus was dirty ect. Um, you're in the woods. If you get picked up after many other groups the bus will be dirty as everyone is wet coming out of the water no matter what activity you choose. I would not own a brand spanking new vehicle for this type of environment and job. Used is best and saves money I'm sure. Wear a hat and sunglasses, put in that sunscreen. Bring a waterproof phone case/bag. You will have no service out there so put it on airplane mode and use it as a camera.

A moderate 5-6 mile hike with a rock scramble and nice views at the summit. Located in the…read moreMassanutten Mountains in the GWNF, the trailhead to Scothorn Gap Trail can be easily found off of Crisman Hollow Road. Due to time constraints we were only able to hike out to Duncan Knob and back rather than do the entire loop including Strickler Knob but it was still a pleasant hike. The climb early on reminded me I need to hit the Stairmaster more often at the gym. Parts of the trail are quite overgrown so make sure to check yourselves quite thoroughly during tick season. We found PLENTY on our legs. The climb up the rocks to the summit was a LOT of fun, though maybe not so for those with balance problems or fear of heights. (I have to admit it was kind of intimidating looking up from the bottom - we have to go up THERE??) But once you climb, the view you are greeted with is wonderful and there is a nice flat, albeit small, area on the summit to hang out. Ran into only one group of hikers who patiently waited for us to descend from the rocks for their turn at the summit. Look forward to doing this again in the fall and also taking on Strickler Knob. For more info and a map go here: http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/DuncanKnob/index.asp

Lands Run Falls is a quick down and back up hike. Probs 2 miles round trip at most. MilePost 9.1…read more Northern District of Shenandoah National Park. It's has a rather large off road parking area for the small hike it is. (Head scratching) maybe I missed something. There's a fire road that's roped off with yellow blaze. Yellow blaze is a horse trail. (Humans allowed). Gravel. Wide. Easy traveling. The waterfall is beautiful and you can even sit on rocks and rest your feet in it. :) So it's not like Lewis Falls where you can't touch it. Great place to cool off on a hot day. Just always remember how slippery the rocks are even when they're *not wet. Give this hike an hour of your time.

It's a nice NOT crowded place to enjoy beautiful scenery. I had a celebration of life party for my…read moremom who loved the luray area. It was easy to reserve the pavilion and the cost was not to much.

What an incredibly beautiful gem! Revenue the ride out here is great! Beautiful lake surrounded by…read moremountains & trees. Nice pretty easy trail that loops around the lake (some parts are thin & steep, but made it through with the dog) . Absolutely loved this place on our vacation. Quite peaceful. I counted 6 shelters too so I imagine in spring /summer it gets used a lot. They have porta potties and a 2-stall bathroom for women & a bathroom for men too. Hand washing station outside. We came during the week of October 13th & the foliage was beautiful.

Greatest Family Adventure! We came up to the area to honor…read moreand celebrate a family member's life. In the process, our family decided to try out the Bear Mountain Ziplines. This became the highlight of our trip. The staff made everyone feel safe with their great instruction, professionalism, and patience with us first-timers. We soared over the tree tops, screaming, cheering and laughing all the way through. The views were incredible, and the course was well maintained. We all loved it. It was the perfect mix of adrenaline and family bonding. I would love to give this 100 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who is in the area, or even to make the trek just to come here, you will not be disappointed.

A fantastic small-business gem! The zip lining experience was both thrilling and welcoming. They…read moreprioritized safety without sacrificing fun, making even first-timers feel comfortable. The views were amazing, and the personal attention really set this apart. My husband and I came to Luray for a quiet weekend away. Katie and Jacob were our treetop guides. To say they were the best would be an understatement. Both of them were well versed in zip lining and made the experience so much fun. It was hard to be uncomfortable for long with them at the helm. Almost polar opposites - Katie was a burst of energy with an infection personality and Jacob was laid back, calming presence with an unexpected jokes that would catch you off guard. The pair made the zip lining experience that much more memorable. Highly recommended if you want a little thrill in the Luray area. If you are going in the summer, I would definitely take the earlier time slots - it gets hot up there.

Very nice fields. Am impressed by their condition. This is a bit odd pulling into. Large fences…read morewith barbed wire is unusual. Best guess is someone or a group of people, screwed it for the rest of us. Could enjoy more without that view. Parks and Recreation is, supposed to be a little more relaxing. That being said good picnic tables. Also if you have little ones, they will like the playground area. It should get them plenty tired. Luray definitely cares about its citizens, and this park is stellar for a town of its size. Well done. If you're in the area, you can play sports or watch them.

My children miss the old playground, thiers not many wood structures left, so to see it torn down…read morewas disappointing. The new playground is not bad and my kids love the zip line. However, I wish they would have made it more inclusive for children with disabilities.

More like 3.5 stars. Tubing on the river was fun and our family of 5 enjoyed it. Our kids are 5-9…read moreyears old so we had to keep an extra eye on them and help them a little. We used the strap that came with the cooler tube to strap my youngest child's tube to another one. One employee told us we could purchase another strap to tether them together but then the employee in the shop kind of scoffed and said it wouldn't necessary. It was definitely necessary! We had to paddle after all the kids cause their arms and legs are too short to even reach the water and paddle themselves. The employees really didn't do a whole lot of customer service so I'm not really sure the tip (which was paid in advance) was worth it. We even had to carry all our tubes all the way back up the hill after we finished. The river itself is mostly calm and it is a beautiful area. But there was quite a bit of algae/scum in the slower moving water which grossed out the kids lol. And the island where we stopped to each lunch had some trash on it. Overall tubing was a good experience but the $200+ price felt like a lot for what it was.

Our float was nice despite the river being low and getting stuck a few times. However, the guy…read moreworking the front desk (the owner? I don't know, I see what I assume to be the same guy mentioned in several other reviews) was *incredibly* rude. I can't understand this; I own a business and if I ever spoke to a client like that, they would never hire me again. So I guess he doesn't count on repeat business? The guy driving the shuttle was nice enough but I also don't understand this whole tip jar thing for boating companies. All the guys do is drive us a few minutes down the road and unload gear. Is that not their literal job? Why isn't the company paying them a living wage? I'd definitely scope out other places given the customer service at this place