Stay 'In The Know' with Shenandoah National Park Alerts and Webcams
LURAY Va. – To help keep neighbors and visitors informed, Shenandoah National Park offers up-to-the-minute message-based alerts and live webcams.
Consisting of 80,000 acres, Shenandoah National Park encompasses parts of eight counties. Each year, millions visit the area, which includes the 105-mile Skyline Drive, and 75 designated scenic overlooks.
Weather conditions in the park can vary greatly from those in the valley. After enjoying a bright sunny day in Luray, visitors are sometimes surprised to encounter thick fog and near-zero visibility upon venturing just a few miles to the park.
Occasionally, certain trails may be inaccessible for a number of reasons. And like any public recreation area, Shenandoah National Park has its share of fender benders and emergency incidents.
Subscribers to SHENALERTS can receive important texts related to hazardous conditions, road closures, important alerts and other events that might affect a visitor's experience.
To subscribe to this alert channel, text SHENALERTS to 888777. Users will receive a confirmation text immediately upon sign-up.
A separate information channel, SHENCAMP, allows visitors to track campground availability on weekends.
The five campgrounds throughout the park offer sites that are a combination of “reservations suggested” to “first come, first served.” For campgrounds accepting reservations, they can be made up to 6 months in advance of a planned stay. On weekends, the remainder of available sites are quickly occupied, but sometimes, last-minute cancellations create unexpected availability.
Subscribers to SHENCAMP alerts receive an early-afternoon notification indicating the approximate number of sites available at each campground. Subscribers receive an additional notification if and when a campground reaches capacity.
To subscribe to this alert channel, text SHENCAMP to 888777. As with SHENALERTS, users will receive a confirmation text immediately upon sign-up.
Subscribers to both messaging systems can also opt to receive alerts via email. Text and email content will be specific to the channel they choose. Subscribers can opt out of either or both alert systems at any time. No subscriber information is retained.
As always, when planning trips, visitors may also call the main Shenandoah National Park information line at 540-999-3500 to check the status of Skyline Drive.
Fans of the park can view live camera feeds from Big Meadows (Skyline Drive milepost 51) and Pinnacles Picnic Area (Skyline Drive milepost 36.7) — great ways to enjoy Blue Ridge Mountain fall color, weather conditions, and scenery — from the comfort of their own homes.
Two new 4K, high-definition webcams were added in 2022.
The “View From the Valley” webcam features a live-feed of the park’s central portion as viewed from Highway 340, just south of Luray. This cam scans from Neighbor Mountain, near US 211 and to Big Meadows. The feed allows viewers to enjoy familiar mountain crests including Mary's Rock, Stony Man, and Shenandoah National Park’s highest peak, Hawksbill Summit.
An additional webcam feed, “Big Meadows Live,” includes “stops” with zooms and wide shots capturing the beauty and wildlife of the meadow.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) also operates a live park-area cam with a westbound view of Highway 33 near Swift Run Gap.
All webcams can be accessed from the park’s website www.nps.gov/shen.
To view more beautiful Shenandoah National Park (and Page County) nature images, visit the fine art collection of Lara Ellis Photography.
Luray, Virginia is home to Shenandoah National Park headquarters.