Discover the history and outdoor beauty that state and national parks offer throughout Shenandoah and Warren counties.

• Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive bring more visitors to Front Royal and Warren County than any other attraction. The park and drive extend 105 miles over mountaintops from Afton in the south to Front Royal in the north, and parallel a 101-mile segment of the Appalachian Trail.
  The park draws about 1.1 million visitors a year; last year about 375,000 of them entered at the Front Royal entrance on U.S. 340, about a quarter-mile south of town.
  The 197,000-acre park combines protected mountain land with lodging and trails and a wide variety of programs and activities throughout the year. The park's trails, varying from short walks to 12-hour hikes, intersect with waterfalls, streams, old home sites and scenic vistas. Wildflowers, more than 200 species of birds, white-tailed deer and black bears abound.
  Facilities along the drive include two lodges -- Big Meadows, at Mile 51, where one of the visitor centers is found, and Skyland at Mile 41.7. The Lewis Mountain cabins are at Mile 57.6 and the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is at Mile 4.6. There are also restaurants, campgrounds, camp stores, and picnic areas.
  Admission to the park from March to November is $15 per car, $10 per motorcycle, $8 per pedestrian or bicyclist. From December to February, admission is $10 per car or motorcycle and $5 per pedestrian or bicyclist. An annual park pass is available for $30, and the "America the Beautiful -- National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass -- Annual Pass," which allows entry into any federal recreation area for a year, is $80, or $10 for senior citizens. Other passes are also available. (540) 999-3500. www.nps.gov/shen


• Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park, on U.S. 340 about eight miles from Front Royal, has 1,604 acres with more than five miles of frontage on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. An ideal setting for camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking or just relaxing, the park is within view of Massanutten Mountain to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east.




• The park offers 10 primitive tent sites for campers and one group site that accommodates 30 individuals. Construction has begun on a new office/visitor center, which will house administrative offices and environmental education exhibits. A campground and cabin project is also under way that will add 34 water and electric campsites with a modern bath house and four camping cabins. Overnight cabins built with two, three and six bedroom facilities will also soon be available.




• Horseback riding trails are unavailable until contruction is completed.


• Admission is $3 on weekdays and $4 on weekends and holidays. 622-6840 or (800) 933-PARK. www.dcr.state.va.us/parks




• The Lee Ranger District, part of George Washington National Forest, is on historic land in Shenandoah and Warren counties that was originally surveyed by George Washington. The Lee Ranger district contains 190,000 acres and spans two states and seven counties. There are close to 400 trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders, as well as 36 miles of trails for off-highway vehicles.

984-4101. www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj

Town parks throughout the region offer the possibility of picnics, exercise and more.

Clarke County:

• Rose Hill Park, in downtown Berryville, offers a playground, basketball courts and a gazebo. 955-1099

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Jim Barnett Park, at Cork Street across from Daniel Morgan Middle School, offers picnic shelters, tables and equipment, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a fitness par course, hiking trails, a track for miniature radio-operated cars, a BMX racing track, an arboretum, miniature golf, a playground, lighted horseshoe pits, the Rolling Thunder POW-MIA Memorial, a lake and shuffleboard courts. 662-4946. www.winchesterva.gov/parks.

  There are also the following neighborhood parks: Elk Street Park, with a playground and picnic shelter, on Elk Street; Friendship Park, with basketball courts, a picnic shelter and soccer field, at 623 N. Pleasant Valley Road; Frederick Douglas Park, with a baseball field, basketball court, playground and picnic shelter, at 598 N. Kent St.; North-East-South-West Park, with an open area, climbing wall and swings, at 501 Darrview St.; Overlook Park, with a picnic shelter, at 50 Montague Circle; Park Place, with an open area, playground, soccer field and walking trail, at 2024 Harvest Drive; Rolling Hills Park, with an open area, at 702 Kennedy Drive; Shawnee Springs Preserve Park, with wetlands and an interpretive site, at 301 E. Pall Mall St.; Tevis Street Park, with an open area, at 2644 Stonegate Drive; Timbrook Park, with basketball courts, a playground, gazebo, swings and a volleyball court, at 132 East Lane; Weaver Park, with basketball courts, picnic shelters, soccer fields and swings, at 167 Bruce St.; Harvest Ridge Park, with an open area and soccer field, at 805 Crestview Terrace; Whittier Park, with basketball courts, playground, picnic shelter and soccer field, at 900 Whittier Ave.; Green Circle Park, with an open space, wetlands and a one-mile trail, at Jubal Early Drive and Handley Ave. 662-4946. www.winchesterva.gov/parks



• Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve, at 1643 Meadow Branch Ave., enables you to observe wetland birds, rare wildflowers and wildlife. You can schedule nature walks and walk or bike the first mile of the Winchester Green Circle pathway. Parking is available at the Abrams Crossing commercial center on West Jubal Early Drive, and walking and biking to the preserve is encouraged. 662-4946. www.winchesterva.gov/parks.


• Stephens City's Town Commons has a shelter and a stage. The town park, behind Locust Street, has baseball fields. 896-3087


• Middletown Community Park, off Senseny Road, has shelters, a playground, swings and a baseball field. 869-3814



Shenandoah County:




• Mt. Jackson's Town Park, at 326 Wunder St., features a pool, a basketball court, two tennis courts, picnic pavilions, a playground, a volleyball court, a baseball field and a walking trail. 477-2121


• New Market Community Park, at 9670 Cadet Road, includes five tennis courts, six picnic shelters, three jungle gyms with swings, two baseball fields, a soccer field, gravel walking path and barbecue pit. 740-3432


• Strasburg Community Park, on Queen Street, features a pool, picnic shelters, tennis and basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, beach volleyball, a playground and a boat landing with access to the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. 465-9197


• Woodstock's W.O. Riley Park, at 540 Park Avenue, offers tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic shelters, a playground, walking trail, beach volleyball, soccer fields and a pool. 459-3621


• Edinburg's Madison District Park, at 100 Park Road, has three picnic shelters, two tennis courts, two playgrounds, basketball court, softball field and a pool. 984-8521


• Warren County:
• Bowman's Park, on Luray Avenue in Front Royal, offers picnic tables and a botanical garden. 635-7819
• Happy Creek Trail, adjacent to Commerce Avenue in Front Royal, is designed for walkers, runners, bicyclists and hikers. It runs from Front Street on the north side of town to East Main Street on the southern end. 635-7819

If you're looking for something to do outside, the area's county parks are a great place to start.

Clarke County:

• Clarke County Park is off Old Business Va. 7, west of Berryville. The 107-acre facility features tennis courts, baseball/softball and soccer fields, a recreation center, a swimming pool, picnic shelters and a two-mile fitness trail. The recreation center includes a multipurpose room, a fitness room, a gymnasium and a kitchen/arts and crafts room. 955-5140. www.co.clarke.va.us/parks

Frederick County:

• Clearbrook Park is on U.S. 11, five miles north of Winchester. The 55-acre facility features a swimming pool, an athletic complex with ball fields, horseshoe pits, a playground, a volleyball court, picnic shelters, a three-acre stocked trout lake suitable for paddleboating, and a vintage red caboose for children to play in. Paved paths wind through the park and around the lake, offering an ideal site for exercise walking.


• Sherando Park is on Va. 277 in Stephens City, about two miles from Interstate 81. The 330-acre park features a playground, ball fields, soccer fields, an 18-hole disc golf course, tennis courts, an outdoor basketball court, horseshoe pits, hiking trails, volleyball courts and picnic shelters. A five-acre lake suitable for fishing and paddleboating is also on-site, as well as a 2.45-mile biking/walking path that begins and ends at Sherando High School, traveling through the park and surrounding neighborhoods.


• The Frederick County Community Center is nearby, adjacent to Sherando High School, and includes two racquetball courts and a fitness room.


• Neighborhood parks offering playground equipment are in Frederick Heights, on Milam Drive off Senseny Road; Gainesboro, off Va. 684; Reynolds Store, on Northwestern Grade in Cross Junction; and Round Hill, off Va. 803. 665-5678. www.co.frederick.va.us

Shenandoah County:

• Shenandoah County Park is situated along U.S. 11 between Maurertown and Toms Brook. The 67.5-acre facility features a baseball field, softball fields, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, a basketball court, picnic shelters, a walking trail, a playground and a nine-hole disc golf course. Picnic shelters may be rented, and fees range from $25 to $50. Baseball and softball fields, and the volleyball courts, may also be rented. 984-3030. www.shenandoahcountyva.us/parks_new

Warren County:

• Burrell Brooks Jr. Community Park, on Criser Road, features a large picnic shelter, a playground, picnic tables, a lighted basketball court, a sand volleyball court and horseshoe pits.


• Chimney Field Park, on Commonwealth Avenue, includes a picnic shelter, tennis courts, two youth softball fields and a basketball court, as well as Warren County's Senior Center.


• Dr. Seide Memorial Botanical Garden, behind the Raymond E. Santmyers Youth Center on Eighth Street, features benches and a lighted water fountain.


• Gertrude E. Miller Community Park, on Bing Crosby Road, has a swimming pool, one playground, tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, a lighted basketball court and picnic shelters, as well as Bing Crosby Stadium, the home of the Valley Baseball League's Front Royal Cardinals.


• Lion's Park, at the corner of Commerce and Warren avenues, boasts the Fantasyland Playground, a picnic shelter, benches and horseshoe pits.


• Miss Florence Smith Memorial Playground, between Short and Front streets, features a picnic shelter, playground and quarter-mile walking and biking trail.


• Peter Lehew Park, on Commonwealth Avenue, has a picnic shelter and a playground.


• Riverton Park, on Riverton Drive, overlooks the Shenandoah River and offers opportunities to fish or picnic.


• Skyline Soccerplex, off of Kerfoot Avenue, features four soccer fields. Picnic shelters may be rented at several parks between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Fees range from $30 to $85 and reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. 635-7750. www.warrencountyva.net/parks_and_recreation.asp