Swift Run Gap Entrance: Greene County's Skyline Gate

Swift Run Gap Entrance Station is the Greene County doorway into Shenandoah National Park, where US Route 33 crosses Skyline Drive at mile 65.5. For a late-November drive along the ridge, it is a quiet, well-placed way in, and it keeps the day from beginning with the long approach from the northern end of the park.

Quick Facts

• What it is: One of four Shenandoah National Park entrances
• Where: US Route 33 at Skyline Drive mile 65.5, on the Greene-Rockingham line
• Nearest town: Stanardsville, Greene County
• Season note: Most park facilities operate March through late November; the park and Skyline Drive are open year-round, weather permitting

Why Enter at Swift Run Gap

Most visitors from the DC side think of Shenandoah as a northern-gate experience. Swift Run Gap is the alternative: a crossing at mile 65.5 that puts you in the middle of the 105-mile ridge rather than at either end. From here you can choose to head north toward the central district or south, and decide on the spot how much of the parkway the day deserves.

That flexibility suits November. Light is shorter, and portions of Skyline Drive may close in inclement weather, so an entrance that lets you shape the drive as conditions allow is a practical advantage. Hikers, it is worth noting, may always enter the park on foot.

Pairing the Gate with the Ridge

Once through, the natural reference point is Skyline Drive itself, the ridgetop parkway whose central district runs along Madison County's edge. If you want a destination for the day, Big Meadows and Byrd Visitor Center sits at mile 51, a rare high-elevation open meadow with the Harry F. Byrd Sr. Visitor Center. According to park information, the Byrd Visitor Center is open year-round, Sunday through Thursday 9am to 5pm and Friday and Saturday 9am to 6pm.

Note that the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center at mile 4.6 runs only May 1 through November 1, so it will be closed this month; Byrd is the visitor center to plan around.

What the Park Offers Beyond the Drive

The park holds roughly 500 miles of trails, including the Appalachian Trail, plus waterfalls such as Dark Hollow Falls and Whiteoak Canyon, and wildlife including deer, black bear and songbirds. Waysides, lodging and campgrounds exist, but most facilities close for the season in late November, so bring what you need rather than counting on a wayside. Check Shenandoah National Park's seasonal schedule at nps.gov/shen before you go.

A Greene County Day

Stanardsville is the town nearest the gate, and it makes a sensible base before or after the ridge. The entrance itself is a simple station, not a destination to linger at; its value is access. Plan the drive, fill the tank and pack lunch in the village, and treat Swift Run Gap as the start of the climb.

Planning Your Visit

• Location: US Route 33 at Skyline Drive mile 65.5, Stanardsville area, Greene County, VA
• Information: exploregreene.com/destinations/outdoors/shenandoah
• Park phone: (540) 999-3500
• Park website: nps.gov/shen
• Hours: The station has no posted hours in our data. The park is open year-round, but portions of Skyline Drive may close in bad weather. Check the NPS site for current conditions before you leave.