Limberlost Trail, Shenandoah National Park

Important Notices

COVID-19 & the VBWTBefore heading out to visit a site on the Virginia Bird & Wildlife Trail, be sure to check if that site has any COVID-19 policies or closures in place. This information is typically posted on a site's own website.

Description

Elevation: 3377 ft.

The Limberlost Trail leads the visitor to high elevation wetlands along a walking trail. This 1.3-mile trail provides numerous opportunities for wildlife watching not the least of which is the almost fearless white-tailed deer grazing all around. The higher elevation of this area provides for exciting birding. Species such as Blackburnian, black-throated blue, hooded, and chestnut-sided warblers, veery, Acadian flycatcher and rose-breasted grosbeak all breed here. The dense stands of spruce provide perfect cover for retiring species such as Cooper’s hawk and barred owl, which on occasion dart from cover to pick off their prey from along the trail. Listen in spring when the woods resonate with the booming of ruffed grouse. Along the length of the trail there are several moist boggy areas that host numerous salamanders.

A map of this trail and the surrounding area can be found on the provided website.

Directions

Skyline Drive Milepost: 43

From the Previous Site on the Skyline Drive Loop of VBWT:

From the Stony Man Trail in Shenandoah National Park, go south on Skyline Drive 1.2 miles to the Limberlost Trail on the left.

Location & Directions

View on Google Maps

Site Information

  • Site Contact: Shenandoah National Park: (540) 999-3500
  • Website
  • Access: Daily, sunrise-sunset; admission fee

Birds Recently Seen at Limberlost Trail, Shenandoah National Park (as reported to eBird)

  • Pileated Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Carolina Chickadee
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Winter Wren
  • Carolina Wren
  • Fox Sparrow
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • White-throated Sparrow

Seasonal Bird Observations

Facilities

  • Camping
  • Environmental Study Area
  • Fee
  • Accessible
  • Hiking Trails
  • Information
  • Parking