There are plenty of opportunities to see wild animals and to enjoy the fragrant and beautiful flora that decorates the mountainsides. Skyline Drive offers bed and breakfast inns and other nearby lodging, as well as numerous camping opportunities, including backcountry camping in the Shenandoah National Forest and family campgrounds along Skyline Drive.

Whether you’re filling up the Coleman chest cooler for an afternoon picnic at one of the picnic areas along Skyline Drive or planning a backpacking trip through the more than 500 miles of hiking trails through the Shenandoah National Forest, there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy along the way, not to mention the beautiful vistas and many nearby attractions.

This guide to Skyline Drive will help you plan your visit to this popular scenic roadway. Skyline Drive’s northern end is in Front Royal, VA, off US 340 and just 500 feet above sea level. Both automobiles and bicyclists share the curvy mountain drive, so it is important to obey the 35 mph speed limit along the parkway.

Backcountry camping is allowed throughout the Shenandoah National Forest and a free camping permit can be obtained by mail in advance or at a ranger station after you arrive. A small entrance fee is charged for entrance to Skyline Drive and the pass is good for seven days. Shortly after entering Skyline Drive from the northern end, you will come to the Dickey Ridge visitor center and picnic area at MP 4. 6. The visitor center offers a variety of information as well as exhibits of the surrounding area.

The first campground on Skyline Drive, Mathews Arm, is located at MP 22. 1. Campers can enjoy hiking to Shenandoah National Forest’s tallest waterfall or stroll through a relaxing nature trail near the campground. Nearby, at MP 24. 1 is Elkwallow Wayside for groceries and camping supplies and the Elkwallow picnic area. The Wayside also features a grill serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to carry out to the picnic area or outdoor patio.

At MP 31. 5, you can exit Skyline Drive via Rt. 211 to visit beautiful Luray, VA in the peaceful Shenandoah valley. Luray is home to the amazing Luray Caverns where you can take a guided tour of the magnificent cave formations, including the famous singing rocks. Luray also offers a variety of bed and breakfast lodges, as well as secluded cabin rentals.

Just ahead, at MP 32, you will pass through Mary’s Rock Tunnel, the only tunnel on Skyline Drive. There is an overlook shortly after the tunnel that offers great picture opportunities of the structure.

The Pinnacles picnic area is located at MP 36. 7 on Skyline Drive and offers a peaceful, picturesque spot to enjoy a picnic lunch or cook on one of the available charcoal grills. Restrooms are available here as well.

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Bog Springs Campground

Bog Springs is the only campground in Madera Canyon – a world-class birding area with over 200 species of birds. Hawks, Quail, Doves, Road Runners, Owls, Woodpeckers, Hummingbirds, Jays, Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Thrashers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Bridled Titmice, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and many more bird species can all be seen in the Madera Canyon area.

The campground is at an elevation of 5,200 feet and is small (only 13 camp sites). Once the birds arrive in early spring, it fills up fast. Weekdays are best for finding a camp site during the peak bird watching season.

It’s also a great base camp for hiking, biking and stargazing. Three trails leave from the campground to nearby springs and the campground is just a short walk away from Madera Picnic Area, where there is access to a nature trail. Within driving distance are over 65 miles of Forest trails that lead into the Mt. Wrightson Wilderness, a mountain bike ride around spectacular Elephant Head Rock, and three scenic drives, one of which visits the Smithsonian’s Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory.

If you’re not a bird watcher and don’t like to hike, Bog Springs is still a great campground to visit with beautiful views of the Santa Rita Mountains and surrounding desert/arid landscape. The campground is open all year. We visited the campground in Late November (not many birds that time of year). The weather and scenery were gorgeous.

Most of the camp sites had beautiful views of the mountains and desert landscape. There were only 2 other campers in the campground at the time. Most of the camp sites are shaded and well spaced with boulders, trees and other vegetation providing good separation between sites. Some of the sites are terraced which also provides separation. The campground has a rustic feel but is very easy to get to with paved roads almost all the way to the entrance.

Getting to the campground is easy. From Tuscon, go toward Green Valley (about 25 miles). Off Interstate 19, take the Continental Road/Madera Canyon Exit. Turn east and follow the Madera Canyon signs 12. 5 miles to the campground.

For more information on this campground, call the District National Forest office at 520-281-2296.

Lakeview Campground

Lakeview campground is located on a hill overlooking Parker Canyon Lake. Many of the campsites are well shaded and are spread among a stand of oaks and junipers. Although the campground is just a short walk to the lakeshore, only the tent sites have views of the beautiful clear waters of Parker Canyon Lake.

Lakeview Campground is more remote and less accessible than other campgrounds which is a plus if you don’t like crowds. There is a five mile trail hugging the shoreline that leads around Parker Canyon Lake. The lake is great for watching ducks and other waterfowl as well as bald eagles, osprey and even hummingbirds in season. The trail has several viewing areas with benches and interpretive signs.
Parker Canyon Lake is also great for fishing. It offers both cold and warm water species, including stocked rainbow trout and resident bass, sunfish, and catfish. There is a fishing pier and a paved boat ramp at the lake. There is also a small concessionaire-operated store at the lakeshore for boating, fishing and other supplies.

Getting there from Tucson isn’t quite as easy as Bog Springs. A good bit of the access roads are not paved. From Tucson, travel east on Interstate 10 to State Route 83 (exit 281) and turn south 50 miles through Sonoita to Parker Canyon Lake.
For more information on Lakeview campground call the District National Forest office at 520-378-0311.

If you like bird watching, hiking, fishing or boating and appreciate beautiful views from your camp site, try Bog Springs or Lakeview campgrounds.

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