Shenandoah National Park (Episode 3)

Send us Fan MailJust 75 miles from the nation's capital, Shenandoah National Park stretches 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains — home to Skyline Drive, 516 miles of hiking trails, and a creation story most visitors never hear.The forest people fall in love with today was planted by Depression-era young men from the Civilian Conservation Corps. And before the park was established in 1935, approximately 500 families were displaced from the land to make way for it — a history the National Park Service is finally telling fully.Interpretive Ranger Carl Rand joins The Parks Podcast to explore all of it: the park's complicated origin, the wildlife most visitors miss, why there's no bad time of year to visit, and everything you need to know to plan your trip — whether you're coming for a few hours or a few weeks.In this episode: — Why Shenandoah was so important as one of the first eastern national parks — The CCC boys who literally planted the forest you're walking through today — The 500 families displaced to create the park — and the sociologists who distorted their story — Skyline Drive and why fall foliage season is unlike anything else — Wildlife you're probably missing: bobcats, bears, rattlesnakes, and the veery's two-toned call — Big Meadows, the Artists in Residence program, and the annual Night Sky Festival — Dogs at Shenandoah — what's allowed and what to know — How to plan your visit, where to enter, and what to packLinks mentioned: - Plan your visit: nps.gov/shen - Four entrance station GPS addresses: nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/directions.htm- Ranger programs calendar: nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/ranger-programs.htm- Night Sky Festival: August annuallySupport the show