This park is on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River and has more than 1,600 acres along 5.2 miles of shoreline. The park opened in June 1999. In addition to meandering river frontage, the park offers scenic views of Massanutten Mountain to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east. A large riverside picnic area, picnic shelters, trails, river access and a car-top boat launch make this a popular destination for families, anglers and canoeists. Ten riverfront tent campsites, a campground with water and electric sites, cabins, camping cabins and a group campground are available. With more than 24 miles of trails and a new zipline, the park has plenty of options for hiking, biking, horseback riding and adventure.
This park's hours of operation are between 8 a.m. and dusk. NOTE: This park is a Trash Free Facility - refuse must be removed by park visitor. A central refuse collection area is at the Cullers Overlook.
Cabins
Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, cabins and the lodge are rented by the week. Rentals start on Saturday or Sunday depending on the cabin. This requirement is reduced to a four-night stay three months out and dropped to two nights in the last month before arrival. A two-night minimum stay is required the rest of the year. This park has no extra bed rentals. Cabins and lodges are open year-round and may be reserved up to 11 months in advance. Check-in is 4 p.m., and checkout is 10 a.m.
Late arrivals: Check the contact station (the building at the park's entrance) for an envelope with the last name of the person who made the reservation. Instructions are in the envelope. Also, those arriving after-hours should check in at the park office between 9:30 and 11 a.m. the next day and bring an ID.
When a week-long stay is required, rental for cabins 1-5 starts on Saturday and on Sunday for cabins 6-11. No extra bed rentals. Check-in is 4 p.m., and checkout is 10 a.m.
Cabins have:
Kitchen: Refrigerator, stove, coffeemaker, dishes, dishcloth, dish towels, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, microwave oven, toaster, can opener, clock-radio.
Bring food, dish detergent, extra dishcloths, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, soap, extra bath towels, etc.
No dishwasher, phone, TV, washer or dryer.
Mission style rustic furniture.
Deck.
Fireplace.
Firewood is available for purchase. Do not bring your own firewood.
Bedrooms: Bed(s), nightstands, dresser, closet with hangers, clock-radio. One set of linens per bed and two sets of towels per person; these are not changed daily.
Bathroom.
Climate-controlled.
A picnic table, fire-ring and a charcoal pedestal grill are beside the cabin.
Wrap-around deck; open porch with rocking chairs and end tables.
Cabin 2, the lodge and cabin 5 are universally accessible.
Two vehicles, including trailers, are allowed per cabin. A daily parking fee is charged for additional vehicles. The number of cars allowed to park by the cabin proper varies. All vehicles and trailers must be parked in designated areas. There is no overflow parking area.
No smoking.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. Only overnight guests are allowed in the park after 10 p.m.
Pets are allowed. There's an extra fee per pet per night, plus tax.
Total sites of each type: Two-bedroom frame, 9; three-bedroom frame, 1; six-bedroom lodge, 1
Site Types:
Two-bedroom frame: Nine two-bedroom frame cabins; Cabin 2 is universally accessible. Cabins allow a maximum of six and have one queen bed, two sets of bunk beds (that sleep four total), except for Cabin 2 which has the queen bed and only one set of bunk beds. No extra bed rentals.
Three-bedroom frame: One three-bedroom frame cabin; Cabin 5 is universally accessible. This cabin accommodates up to eight and has one queen bed, two single beds in a second bedroom and two sets of bunk beds (that sleep four total) in a third bedroom; no extra bed rentals.
Six-bedroom lodge (Lod 03-SAT): One six-bedroom lodge, is universally accessible and accommodates up to 16. It has three baths, two bedrooms each with a queen size bed, two bedrooms each with two single beds and two bedrooms each with two sets of bunk beds (i.e., can sleep up to four in each bedroom); no extra bed rentals.
Total: 10 cabins; one lodge
Camping
Camping is year-round. Shenandoah River's developed campground has 32 sites with water and electric hookups for various equipment - tents, popups and RVs up to 60 feet long. Water at campsites is turned off when temperatures are below freezing. At such times, there's no reduction in fees because water is still available elsewhere in the park. The campground has centrally located restrooms with hot showers. Sites have fire-rings, picnic tables and lantern holders. Twenty-seven sites are back-in, and five are pull-through.
Half the sites may be specifically reserved; the rest are assigned upon arrival. Here's a table with details about sites that may be specifically reserved. Click here for pictures of the sites.
Four camping cabins (small bunkhouses) also are in the EW campground. They are unheated. The maximum occupancy for the camping cabins is four. There are 10 standard tents-only sites in the Right River Campground, which isn't near the EW Campground.
Those arriving after 4:30 should check in at the contact station booth at the park's entrance. A rack outside the booth has envelopes with check-in documents for each guest.
EW Campground Sites (year-round)
EW - Electric and water hookups for various equipment (tents, pop-ups, RVs) up to 60 feet; bathhouse with hot showers. Tents must fit on a 20’ by 25' tent pad.
Check-in is 4 p.m.; check-out is 1 p.m.
Outlets provide 20, 30 and 50-amp current.
Each campsite has a steel fire-ring that can be used for cooking and campfires.
All camping equipment and vehicles must fit on the campsite. The site rental includes parking fees for up to two vehicles. Customers must pay parking fees for additional vehicles.
Those visiting overnight guests must pay a daily parking fee and leave the park by 10 p.m.
Quiet time is from 10 p.m. through 8 a.m.
Campsites have round grills on a cement pad on the ground. The grill can be used to make a campfire or for cooking. Campfires are allowed only in the designated area.
Those arriving late should register at the visitor center the next morning.
Firewood is for sale at the camp host site; to help prevent the spread of invasive species, please do not bring your own firewood.
Pets are allowed.
River Right Campground (tents only, year-round)
Ten standard tent canoe-in or walk-in sites (TentStd), each with a picnic table, grill and fire ring. The sites are less than 50 yards from the parking lot. The campground has a full service bathhouse. Potable water is available near the two vault toilets, and gray water sinks are near the bathhouse and the vault toilets. There are two river-access points and parking for up to 21 vehicles. Reserve these sites through the Customer Service Center, 800-933-7275.
Cottonwood Primitive Group Camp
This walk-in site is for tents only, accommodates up to 30 and is about 100 yards from the parking lot. The site is open year-round, depending on weather and site conditions. There's a bathhouse nearby. Call the Customer Service Center, 800-933-7275, to reserve this site. The cancellation fee for a group site accommodating at least seven people is higher than is the fee for individual campsites.
Total sites: 10 tent standard sites, 32 EW sites; 4 camp cabins; one group site.
Recreation
TRAILS
24 miles, more than 14 miles of which are multi-use.
SWIMMING
There are no designated swimming areas. Wading and floating are permitted.
FISHING, BOATING
The park offers a car top access in the day-use area, located 3.2 miles downstream from the Bentonville access area. The "fish trap" access area, near Shelter 3, is suitable for wade fishing. Freshwater fishing is available for those with a freshwater fishing license. The park does not rent boats. There are three car-top launches and two outfitters within five minutes of the park.
HORSES
Yes, but no horse rentals. State law requires that visitors carry a copy of a negative Coggins report with each horse brought to the park.
VIRGINIA CANOPY TOUR ZIPLINE
Virginia Canopy Tours™ enables visitors to tour the park by zipline. The tour operator offers a fresh adventure covering the environment, culture, history and wildlife. Reservations are being taken now for the zipline tour, which takes about three hours to complete and costs $89 per person. It includes:
A UTV (utility task vehicle) trail ride.
Eight ziplines.
Air stairs.
A sky bridge.
Two nature hikes.
A rappel.
Explore Shenandoah Valley hardwood forests in a thrilling new way - zipping through treetops. The grand finale is an exhilarating 1,000-plus foot-long zip offering stunning views of Massanutten Mountain followed by a 30-foot rappel.
All participants receive individual safety and braking training and are accompanied by two certified eco-trained guides who handle all gear and transfers. Participants are well-secured at all times when off the ground as safety is the main focus of the dual-cable system course.
