Posted by Greg Lessard on September 14, 2014 at 11:09 PM
I have April 18-26, 2015 available to travel. I am thinking of Shenandoah NP. On a typical year is this a good time for flowers or will it still be bare? I am particularly interested in dogwood and redbud. Any advice is truly appreciated!
Posted by Ed Fuhr on September 15, 2014 at 10:59 AM
Greg, if you are on facebook check out my page, Ed Fuhr Photography and scroll through the images back to late April - early May. That will give you a feel for the conditions there. This was a cold, snowy winter and cool spring but it looks like dogwoods hit peak, this year, about a week after you are planning. Shenandoah has very few redbuds compared, say, to the Smokies, and many of them are toward the northern entrance. As with the Smokies, elevation is everything but there is a good chance things will still be pretty bare along stretches of the Skyline Drive on the 3rd week of April. Wildflowers start earlier depending on what you are looking for. There is a wildflower weekend that I recall is around then. The waterfalls are usually very nice. Anyway, I spend a lot of time up there and hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. And glad to see another post on this site!
I agree with Ed on his post. I am on Skyline Drive all the time. The waterfalls at that time of the year should be excellent and you might see some bears too. Maybe some small cubs if you are lucky. Check the visitors center at Big Meadows as they have a wildlife sighting book that visitors log what they have seen and where. See what's listed and if it is within say 24-36 hours you might get lucky at the same spot. It has worked for me finding bears.
The flowering tress as well as fall foliage changes weekly depending on your elevation. You might have great fall foliage at the top while the trees on the bottom of the park are still green.
My favorite time in the park is June. You have wildflowers, the fawns are newly born, the Mountain Laurel is in bloom and you have plenty of bears moving around.
This regional forum is so rarely used it is sad. Maybe we need to try a NPN shoot some weekend in June.
Contact me with any other questions. One more thing, in the book stores at SNP they sell guides to peaks, waterfalls, etc for $2 a piece. Some great information in them if you are new to the park. Upper Hawksbill is a favorite for sunset or sunrise. Great view from up there and an easy hike.
Andrew
Posted by Greg Lessard on September 16, 2014 at 11:14 PM
Ed and Andrew,
Thank you very much for your replies. I truly appreciate it!
Greg
Discussion
3 repliesI agree with Ed on his post. I am on Skyline Drive all the time. The waterfalls at that time of the year should be excellent and you might see some bears too. Maybe some small cubs if you are lucky. Check the visitors center at Big Meadows as they have a wildlife sighting book that visitors log what they have seen and where. See what's listed and if it is within say 24-36 hours you might get lucky at the same spot. It has worked for me finding bears.
The flowering tress as well as fall foliage changes weekly depending on your elevation. You might have great fall foliage at the top while the trees on the bottom of the park are still green.
My favorite time in the park is June. You have wildflowers, the fawns are newly born, the Mountain Laurel is in bloom and you have plenty of bears moving around.
This regional forum is so rarely used it is sad. Maybe we need to try a NPN shoot some weekend in June.
Contact me with any other questions. One more thing, in the book stores at SNP they sell guides to peaks, waterfalls, etc for $2 a piece. Some great information in them if you are new to the park. Upper Hawksbill is a favorite for sunset or sunrise. Great view from up there and an easy hike.
Andrew
Thank you very much for your replies. I truly appreciate it!
Greg