Page: Hiking Trails, Water and History

A trip to Page can bring together nature and history. Options range from hiking trails and activities on the water to museums, historic buildings and places that recall the region’s railroad history. The focus you choose can also help you plan your stay.

Hiking, Cycling and Time on the River

Shenandoah National Park has 516 miles of hiking trails in total, including a 101-mile section of the Appalachian Trail. In the park, the trail runs along the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains and crosses Skyline Drive several times. Those interested in the route can consider both the trail’s course and its connection to Skyline Drive.

The Luray-Hawksbill Greenway offers a different kind of experience: This two-mile paved path is suitable for walking and cycling and is accessible to people with disabilities. It follows Hawksbill Creek through historic Luray. The creek’s surroundings provide habitat for birds, butterflies, trout and other wildlife. This gives visitors a choice between an extensive network of paths in the national park and a well-defined route through Luray.

At Lake Arrowhead, a one-mile trail circles the lake, where fishing is also available. For a break, six picnic shelters are available to rent. Public access points on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River make raft trips of varying lengths possible. Outfitters in Page Valley arrange transportation and rent equipment. If you’re planning a drive through Shenandoah National Park, the Thornton Gap entrance provides access to Skyline Drive and, from there, the route through the park.

Historic Sites and Collections

In Luray, Stevens Cottage tells the story of the area’s economic development: Completed in 1891 as the office of the Shenandoah Land and Improvement Company, it is now a local history museum in the Shenandoah Historic District. The Luray Norfolk & Western Passenger Station dates to 1906 and recalls the city’s successful railroad era. The Luray Downtown Historic District encompasses the historic commercial center, with predominantly commercial buildings dating from the 1830s to the 1940s.

Museums also explore different chapters of regional history. The Car & Carriage Caravan Museum displays more than 140 transportation-related objects, including 50 motorized vehicles, from simple wagons and carriages to elaborate automobiles from the 1940s. The Town of Shenandoah Museum and Welcome Center presents an extensive collection on the N&W Railroad, the town’s history and the USS Shenandoah. Exhibits, historic artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, timetables and interactive displays on the region’s railroad history are part of the Page County Railway Museum, which is housed in a historic depot.

Other historic highlights range from the Luray Singing Tower, with its 47-bell Taylor carillon, to the Stalacpipe Organ in Luray Caverns. The carillon was dedicated in 1937. During every tour of the caverns, the organ is played by an automated system. The historic themes therefore differ not only by era but also in their connections to music, transportation and local history.

Landscape and Regional Context

The grounds of the Redwell-Isabella Furnace Historic District include pastureland, wooded areas and the elongated basin of Yager Spring. Redwell Furnace was probably established in 1787 and is considered the oldest iron furnace in Page County. Another trace of the area’s industrial past is Catherine Furnace, now preserved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and regarded as one of Virginia’s best examples of a once-common type of industry.

Other historic places include Green Hill Cemetery. It was laid out in the style of a Victorian garden, with a dolomite mortar wall running along its east, north and west sides. If you’d rather discover regional culture through a collection, you can also visit the Luray-Page County Visitor Center. It helps visitors discover restaurants, shopping, attractions, hiking trails, entertainment and scenic experiences in Page Valley and Shenandoah Valley. Farmers’ markets in Page Valley offer seasonal fruit and vegetables, Page Valley beef, fresh eggs, homemade goods and freshly baked specialties.

For trip planning, it helps to start by choosing your main interest: hiking and cycling, a raft trip or historic collections each lead to different experiences. With that priority in mind, you can then look for a hotel in Page that suits your personal needs.

Discover more destinations: Shenandoah, Luray, Petersburg, Rileyville, Dickenson County, Clarke County, Stanley, Virginia Beach

For the broader travel overview: Virginia.