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Park geography

A detailed look at terrain, elevation ranges, and physical geography across the park landscape.

Comprehensive Geographic Profile and Mapped Boundaries of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia

Examine the technical geography and spatial dimensions of Shenandoah National Park, located within the state of Virginia. This structured profile maps the park across 811.176 square kilometers, featuring diverse mountain terrain, forested valleys, and peaks reaching a maximum elevation of 1235 meters. Explore recorded boundaries and primary physical features within this temperate forest ecosystem.

Illustration showing mountains, forest, waterfall, and river in a scenic landscape

Mountain wilderness along Virginia's Blue Ridge

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park preserves a dramatic stretch of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, protecting a long and narrow corridor of forested ridgeline that runs approximately 105 miles from Front Royal in the northeast to Waynesboro in the southwest. The park sits astride the drainage divide between the Shenandoah River basin to the west and the James and Rappahannock River basins to the east, with local relief exceeding 3,000 feet in some locations. Nearly 40 percent of the park's 200,000-acre expanse has been designated as wilderness, offering some of the most extensive backcountry hiking and solitude opportunities in the eastern United States. Established in 1935 after a contentious period of land acquisition that displaced numerous mountain communities, the park represents both a remarkable conservation achievement and a complex chapter in regional history.

Location
United States of America
Park type
National park
Established
1935
Area
811.2 km²
Highest point
1,235 m
Shenandoah National Park Protected Landscape
Location overview

Regional and national placement within the United States of America

Geographic Location and Regional Setting of Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park is situated within the state of Virginia in the United States of America. Recorded facts confirm the park is a non-transboundary interior reserve with no marine or coastal boundaries.
Countries
United States of America
Regions
Virginia
Primary location
Virginia
Geographic setting
Inland
Boundary and coordinates

Interactive boundary geometry and derived area metrics

Shenandoah National Park Boundary Map and Spatial Extent

Mapped park outlines provide immediate spatial context for territorial analysis. Accompanying boundary facts detail recorded area metrics, coordinate limits, and geographic spans without claiming legal-survey precision.
Pigeon | © OpenStreetMap contributors
Boundary area
783.9 km²
Boundary perimeter
604.7 km
Northernmost point
38.9103° N
Southernmost point
38.0336° N
Easternmost point
78.1501° W
Westernmost point
78.8595° W
Geographic centre
38.4934° N, 78.4673° W
North–south span
97.3 km
East–west span
61.9 km
Shenandoah National Park
Elevation and terrain

Explore recorded mountain relief and internal natural features.

Shenandoah National Park Elevation and Mountain Terrain Geography

Recorded park metrics show a mean elevation of 1071 meters alongside a maximum height of 1235 meters. Structured feature cards detail individual peaks, streams, and viewpoints located within the protected area.
Mean elevation
1,071 m
Maximum elevation
1,235 m
Highest point
1,235 m

Selected named natural features

Mountain saddles

Browns Gap

792 m

Viewpoints

Stony Man Lookout

Streams

Thornton River

Streams

Robinson River

Viewpoints

Tanners Ridge Overlook

Streams

Big Fill Hollow

Environmental setting

Interpreting forest cover, mountain relief, and major water features

Shenandoah National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Settings

Recorded landscape features and habitat types serve as interpretive categories for reading the physical setting of Shenandoah National Park. Connected atlas destinations link each classification directly to related protected-area records.
Relief
Mountain
Water
Major water bodies
Forest cover
Mostly forested
Seasonality
Seasonal

Landscape features

Mountains · Valleys · Hills · Forest · Rivers · Waterfalls · Volcano

Habitat types

Temperate broadleaf forest · Temperate coniferous forest · Riverine habitat

Park atlas

Mapped Protected Landscapes and Regional Context Around Shenandoah National Park

Explore Other National Parks and Protected Areas Near Shenandoah National Park

Browse other national parks and protected areas geographically near Shenandoah National Park, including additional Blue Ridge Mountain and Appalachian Trail preserves. Deepen your understanding of regional conservation by comparing the mapped geography and diverse protected landscapes surrounding Shenandoah.
Wildlife reserveNelson County
25 km away#1 closest

Southwest

Priest Wilderness: A Deep Dive Into Appalachian Mountain Geography and Protected Forest Boundaries

High elevation ridge terrain in Nelson County, Virginia.

Priest Wilderness stands as a signature protected area in the Blue Ridge Mountains, defined by a dramatic 3,000 foot vertical gain and dense, mature hardwood forests. This documentation maps the rugged ridge and hollow topography that characterizes one of the most significant wilderness sections along the central Appalachian trail corridor.

Area
23.17 km²
Established
2000
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Mountain
Watercolor illustration depicting a serene mountain landscape with a winding river, rolling hills, and scattered trees against a light background.
Protected landscapeVirginia
About 31 km away#2 closest

West

George Washington and Jefferson National Forests: Appalachian Protected Landscape Mapping

Explore mountain ridges, river valleys, and wilderness corridors in Virginia.

Covering one of the largest public forest blocks in the eastern United States, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests offer a unique look at the central Appalachian mountain terrain. The area includes extensive wilderness tracts, the Appalachian Trail corridor, and significant geological landmarks like the Breaks gorge. Analyze the protected landscape boundaries and topographic features that define this major regional watershed and forest network.

Area
7,247.65 km²
Established
1995
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Temperate
A soft watercolor illustration depicting a stream flowing through a forested valley with mountain ridgelines in the background.
Wildlife reserveUnited States of America
About 48 km away#3 closest

West

Ramseys Draft Wilderness: Appalachian Ridge and Valley Protected Landscape and Map Atlas

Examining wilderness boundaries and mountain stream geography in Virginia

Located in western Virginia, Ramseys Draft Wilderness is a federal protected area characterized by its extreme vertical relief and rugged Appalachian topography. Spanning from the main crest of Shenandoah Mountain to the valley floor, this wilderness serves as a vital corridor for high-elevation forest ecosystems, native brook trout, and neotropical migrant birds.

Area
26.38 km²
Established
1984
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Temperate
Wildlife reserveVirginia
66 km away#4 closest

Southwest

Rich Hole Wilderness: Appalachian Wildlife Reserve and Forest Geography

Protected cove hardwood forest in western Virginia

Rich Hole Wilderness represents a protected high quality forest landscape located within the James River Ranger District. This area spans steep, narrow hollows and high ridge crests, providing critical habitat and showcasing old growth timber specimens. Use this resource to understand the park terrain, drainage patterns, and its position within the broader Appalachian forest network of western Virginia.

Area
26.1 km²
Established
1988
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Mountain
A wide watercolor illustration showing rolling mountains in pastel shades of pink, purple, and green, with a line of trees and a reflective body of water in the foreground, framed by bare tree branches on the sides.
Protected areaVirginia
67 km away#5 closest

Southwest

James River Face Wilderness: Mapping the Topography of Virginia's Blue Ridge Protected Landscapes

Geographic overview of mountain wildlands and boulder fields

Spanning over 8,900 acres, James River Face Wilderness serves as a vital protected area within the Appalachian mountain chain. The landscape contains steep creek drainages, vertical ridgelines, and significant geological formations such as the Devils Marbleyard, offering a comprehensive study of central Virginia's complex forest ecosystems and rugged mountain terrain.

Area
36.05 km²
Established
1975
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Mountain
Watercolor painting showing layers of soft green hills and mountain ridges fading into a light hazy background.
Protected landscapeWest Virginia
67 km away#6 closest

West

Monongahela National Forest: Protected Appalachian Landscapes and Regional Geography

Mapping West Virginia wilderness and mountain terrain

Monongahela National Forest protects nearly one million acres of the central Appalachian Mountains. This massive federally managed landscape is defined by the Allegheny Front, the highest peak in the Allegheny range at Spruce Knob, and iconic geological formations like Seneca Rocks. The region represents a vital intersection of climate, hydrology, and biodiversity in the eastern United States, housing eight distinct wilderness areas and complex high-altitude ecosystems.

Area
3,727.8 km²
Established
1920
Visitors
3M annual
Relief
Mountain
Wildlife reserveVirginia
70 km away#7 closest

Southwest

Rough Mountain Wilderness: Mapping Appalachian Ridges and Protected Terrain

Remote wildlife reserve in western Virginia

Spanning over 9,000 acres, Rough Mountain Wilderness provides a rare example of undisturbed Appalachian forest. The area is characterized by consistently steep slopes, sharp ridgeline topography, and a deep sense of isolation within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia.

Area
38 km²
Established
1987
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Mountain
Watercolor painting of a mountain landscape with soft green ridges and a pale pink sky above a light tan foreground.
Protected landscapeWest Virginia
About 77 km away#8 closest

West

Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area: West Virginia Mountain Landscapes

Mapped terrain of summits, cliffs, and river corridors

Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area stands as a unique protected landscape in eastern West Virginia. This area connects the high-elevation spruce forests of Spruce Knob with the vertical quartzite cliffs of Seneca Rocks and the remote depths of Smoke Hole Canyon. It remains a primary example of Appalachian high-country geography, offering a dense concentration of distinct natural features within the Monongahela National Forest.

Area
400 km²
Established
1965
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Temperate
MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring Shenandoah National Park's Mapped Geography and Protected Boundaries

Delve deeper into the atlas context of Shenandoah National Park by examining its specific protected-area boundaries and regional geographic setting. Understanding this park's landscape and its place within Virginia's natural terrain provides valuable insight for structured geographic discovery. Continue your exploration of this significant US national park's mapped features.