Big Meadows
title: "Big Meadows" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["madison-county,-virginia", "geography-of-virginia", "geography-of-madison-county,-virginia", "geography-of-page-county,-virginia", "archaeological-sites-in-virginia", "shenandoah-national-park", "tourist-attractions-in-madison-county,-virginia", "tourist-attractions-in-page-county,-virginia"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Meadows" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox NRHP"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Big Meadows Site |
| image | bigmeadow.jpg |
| caption | Big Meadows in Summer |
| nearest_city | Luray, Virginia |
| locmapin | Virginia |
| coordinates | |
| added | December 13, 1985 |
| area | 0.1 acre |
| refnum | 85003172 |
| :: |
| name = Big Meadows Site | nrhp_type = | image = bigmeadow.jpg | caption = Big Meadows in Summer | nearest_city = Luray, Virginia | locmapin = Virginia | coordinates = | architect OR builder = | architecture = | added = December 13, 1985 | area = 0.1 acre | refnum = 85003172 Big Meadows is a recreational area of the Shenandoah National Park in Madison County and Page County, in the US state of Virginia. The meadow is located on the Skyline Drive at Milepost 51 and contains the park's Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center, a lodge, camp store, and camping area. Several hiking trails can be accessed from Big Meadows, including the Mill Prong Trail which leads to Rapidan Camp on the Rapidan River, the fishing retreat of President Herbert Hoover from 1929–1933, which is now restored to its 1930s configuration.
President Roosevelt used Big Meadows in 1935 as the site for dedicating Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. In 1962, during the Ash Wednesday Storm, Big Meadows recorded Virginia's greatest 24-hour snowfall with 33 inches, and the total storm snowfall was 42 inches at Big Meadows. In the Blizzard of 1996, Big Meadows recorded Virginia's greatest storm snowfall accumulation at 47 inches. Big Meadows Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Activities
Big Meadows has a dining hall, gift shop, horse trails, and a series of lodges for guests to stay in. Each lodge guestroom has a stone fireplace and a supply of firewood, although the building has natural gas-fired central heating - the fireplaces are for decorative purposes only. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Big_Meadows_lodge.jpg" caption="Entrance to the Big Meadows Lodge"] ::
Big Meadows Wayside has a campground with some 200 lots. There is a shower building, laundry accommodations, a storage building for packaged campfire wood, and a small office at which ice, firewood and basic supplies can be purchased.
There are several hiking trails: :Lewis Spring Falls follows the Appalachian Trail for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the main campground to the falls overlook. It is an easy trail with standard hard-packed pebbles and dirt, with a few rock scrambles along the way. :Dark Hollow Falls begins at a parking lot close to the Byrd Center. From the parking lot, a 0.7-mile (1.1 km) trail takes hikers to overlooks at the top and bottom of the falls. The trail is scenic and wide, but somewhat steep on the return. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Big_Meadows_Woods.jpg" caption="Woods at Big Meadows; a mother bear and two cubs are barely visible at center"] ::
The summit of Blackrock Mountain is located 0.3 mile (0.5 km) from the main campground and adjacent to the Big Meadows Lodge. It is the highest point at Big Meadows and provides a scenic view of the Shenandoah Valley.
The Big Meadow
A part of the campground area, called The Big Meadow, is adjacent to the camp store and the Byrd Visitor center. Campers often wander the grassy trails of the meadow, looking for blueberries and blackberries. Usually, bears have already foraged the ripe berries before hikers arrive; in early-morning hikes, bears are sometimes spotted around the edges of the meadow.
Wildlife
There are white-tailed deer, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels and a variety of birds who visit the campground area and are very used to people. The deer are eager to find campers who will hand out food and treats. The rangers discourage this, but the result is that the deer wander the campgrounds throughout the day. It is not uncommon to have a deer take food from a human's hand in a campsite. Daytime bear sightings are not uncommon. The black bears are not aggressive, and no attacks on humans have been reported. The park provides bear-proof metal lockers around the camp area to protect food at night.
The biggest concern is the skunk population. Like the deer, they forage the campsites for food. Campers will sometimes note the aroma of a skunk who was startled during the night. Wise campers ensure there is no food on the ground to attract skunks, and that the tent flap is secured against skunk entry.
Other wildlife includes venomous snakes, although they are relatively rare. The park houses rattlesnakes and copperheads, as well as garter snakes and other non-venomous species.
Climate
The hottest temperature recorded in Big Meadows was 95 F on July 24, 1991, while the coldest temperature recorded was -26 F on January 18, 1994. |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=sto |publisher = National Weather Service |title = NOAA Online Weather Data - NWS Sacramento |access-date = October 29, 2022
|location = Big Meadows, Virginia, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1935–2012 |single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 76 |Feb record high F = 67 |Mar record high F = 78 |Apr record high F = 87 |May record high F = 89 |Jun record high F = 89 |Jul record high F = 95 |Aug record high F = 92 |Sep record high F = 90 |Oct record high F = 94 |Nov record high F = 75 |Dec record high F = 68
|Jan avg record high F = 54.4 |Feb avg record high F = 57.0 |Mar avg record high F = 66.1 |Apr avg record high F = 75.7 |May avg record high F = 77.7 |Jun avg record high F = 81.2 |Jul avg record high F = 84.0 |Aug avg record high F = 82.6 |Sep avg record high F = 79.3 |Oct avg record high F = 73.3 |Nov avg record high F = 64.5 |Dec avg record high F = 57.0 |year avg record high F = 85.3
|Jan high F = 35.6 |Feb high F = 38.0 |Mar high F = 43.6 |Apr high F = 57.0 |May high F = 64.4 |Jun high F = 70.2 |Jul high F = 74.8 |Aug high F = 72.5 |Sep high F = 69.2 |Oct high F = 58.0 |Nov high F = 48.1 |Dec high F = 39.5 |year high F =
|Jan mean F = 27.3 |Feb mean F = 29.7 |Mar mean F = 35.1 |Apr mean F = 46.9 |May mean F = 55.3 |Jun mean F = 62.3 |Jul mean F = 67.1 |Aug mean F = 65.1 |Sep mean F = 60.5 |Oct mean F = 49.8 |Nov mean F = 39.8 |Dec mean F = 31.5 |year mean F =
|Jan low F = 19.1 |Feb low F = 21.5 |Mar low F = 26.6 |Apr low F = 36.7 |May low F = 46.3 |Jun low F = 54.4 |Jul low F = 59.3 |Aug low F = 57.7 |Sep low F = 51.8 |Oct low F = 41.5 |Nov low F = 31.6 |Dec low F = 23.5 |year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = -3.0 |Feb avg record low F = 0.8 |Mar avg record low F = 5.9 |Apr avg record low F = 18.4 |May avg record low F = 30.7 |Jun avg record low F = 40.4 |Jul avg record low F = 46.1 |Aug avg record low F = 44.4 |Sep avg record low F = 35.3 |Oct avg record low F = 24.7 |Nov avg record low F = 15.5 |Dec avg record low F = 2.8 |year avg record low F = -6.7
|Jan record low F = -26 |Feb record low F = -14 |Mar record low F = -6 |Apr record low F = 6 |May record low F = 14 |Jun record low F = 31 |Jul record low F = 34 |Aug record low F = 31 |Sep record low F = 25 |Oct record low F = 12 |Nov record low F = -1 |Dec record low F = -15
|precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 3.85 |Feb precipitation inch = 3.15 |Mar precipitation inch = 3.93 |Apr precipitation inch = 4.36 |May precipitation inch = 4.63 |Jun precipitation inch = 4.49 |Jul precipitation inch = 4.72 |Aug precipitation inch = 3.85 |Sep precipitation inch = 5.66 |Oct precipitation inch = 4.13 |Nov precipitation inch = 4.43 |Dec precipitation inch = 3.59 |year precipitation inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 8.3 |Feb precipitation days = 8.0 |Mar precipitation days = 9.1 |Apr precipitation days = 10.0 |May precipitation days = 12.0 |Jun precipitation days = 9.9 |Jul precipitation days = 11.8 |Aug precipitation days = 10.5 |Sep precipitation days = 10.3 |Oct precipitation days = 8.2 |Nov precipitation days = 7.2 |Dec precipitation days = 8.2
|Jan snow inch = 10.3 |Feb snow inch = 9.7 |Mar snow inch = 6.4 |Apr snow inch = 1.4 |May snow inch = 0.0 |Jun snow inch = 0.0 |Jul snow inch = 0.0 |Aug snow inch = 0.0 |Sep snow inch = 0.0 |Oct snow inch = 0.2 |Nov snow inch = 2.7 |Dec snow inch = 5.8 |year snow inch =
|unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 3.7 |Feb snow days = 2.7 |Mar snow days = 2.3 |Apr snow days = 0.8 |May snow days = 0.0 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Oct snow days = 0.1 |Nov snow days = 0.8 |Dec snow days = 2.6 |year snow days = 13.0
|Jan snow depth inch = 8.2 |Feb snow depth inch = 7.7 |Mar snow depth inch = 6.8 |Apr snow depth inch = 1.5 |May snow depth inch = 0.0 |Jun snow depth inch = 0.0 |Jul snow depth inch = 0.0 |Aug snow depth inch = 0.0 |Sep snow depth inch = 0.0 |Oct snow depth inch = 0.2 |Nov snow depth inch = 2.2 |Dec snow depth inch = 3.9 |year snow depth inch = 13.7
|source 1 = NOAA |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00440720&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Big Meadows, VA |access-date = February 28, 2023 |source 2 = XMACIS2 (mean maxima/minima, precip/precip days, snow/snow days/snow depth 1981–2010) |url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/ |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = xmACIS2 |access-date = February 28, 2023
| single line = Y | location = Big Meadows Visitor Center, Shenandoah National Park. Elev: 3474 ft (1059 m) | Jan high F = 34.9 | Feb high F = 38.4 | Mar high F = 47.2 | Apr high F = 59.0 | May high F = 66.5 | Jun high F = 74.4 | Jul high F = 77.6 | Aug high F = 76.4 | Sep high F = 68.6 | Oct high F = 58.5 | Nov high F = 50.4 | Dec high F = 38.0 | year high F = 57.6 | Jan mean F = 26.1 | Feb mean F = 28.9 | Mar mean F = 36.4 | Apr mean F = 47.5 | May mean F = 55.9 | Jun mean F = 63.9 | Jul mean F = 67.7 | Aug mean F = 66.4 | Sep mean F = 59.3 | Oct mean F = 49.0 | Nov mean F = 40.4 | Dec mean F = 29.4 | year mean F = 47.7 | Jan low F = 17.3 | Feb low F = 19.5 | Mar low F = 25.6 | Apr low F = 36.0 | May low F = 45.3 | Jun low F = 53.4 | Jul low F = 57.8 | Aug low F = 56.3 | Sep low F = 50.0 | Oct low F = 39.5 | Nov low F = 30.5 | Dec low F = 20.7 | year low F = 37.7 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 3.48 | Feb precipitation inch = 3.51 | Mar precipitation inch = 4.28 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.76 | May precipitation inch = 4.94 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.80 | Jul precipitation inch = 5.36 | Aug precipitation inch = 4.19 | Sep precipitation inch = 6.26 | Oct precipitation inch = 4.22 | Nov precipitation inch = 4.93 | Dec precipitation inch = 4.22 | year precipitation inch = 54.95 | humidity colour = green | Jan humidity = 66.9 | Feb humidity = 67.8 | Mar humidity = 57.2 | Apr humidity = 62.7 | May humidity = 69.1 | Jun humidity = 74.9 | Jul humidity = 75.0 | Aug humidity = 71.2 | Sep humidity = 74.2 | Oct humidity = 75.2 | Nov humidity = 65.1 | Dec humidity = 68.2 | year humidity = 69.0 | Jan dew point F =16.6 | Feb dew point F =19.6 | Mar dew point F =22.7 | Apr dew point F =35.4 | May dew point F =45.9 | Jun dew point F =55.8 | Jul dew point F =59.5 | Aug dew point F =56.8 | Sep dew point F =51.1 | Oct dew point F =41.5 | Nov dew point F =29.6 | Dec dew point F =20.2 | year dew point F =38.0 |source 1 = PRISM Climate Group}}
References
- Restoring a National Historic Landmark: President and Mrs. Hoover's Rapidan Camp, Shenandoah National Park
- The Free-Lance, Fredericksburg, Virginia, newspaper article 10/9/2005
References
- {{NRISref
- "Happy Trails - Blackrock". Trailz.org.
- "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University".
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