Red Gate Cabin

29/07/2025

16/07/2025

Sources of joy:
-Fawns in the yard
-Guests who leave the cabin immaculately clean -Pink sunsets from the deck

12/07/2025

Use the stick!

One does not simply “become” a master of karate. First you must accidentally walk into a spiderweb.

In your face. Literally. National parks offer many opportunities to hit the trail! Hiking is one of the best ways to get exercise. No matter what type of trail you find yourself on, hiking is a great whole-body workout—from head to toe and everything in between. Hmm, walking into spiderweb = great cardio. In conclusion, the early bird gets the face full of spiderwebs. Sleep in. Or bring a friend. (Maybe a tall friend, just saying.) Get ready, adventure awaits.

Image: Screenshot of National Park Service post with text, “TIP: As you walk down a trail, use a stick to make first contact with spiderwebs. You can also use your face. Do what feels right.”

06/07/2025

Just steps from the cabin!

Discover the best hikes, scenic spots, and trail clubs along Virginia’s 557-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail.

05/07/2025

Misty morning at the cabin

03/07/2025

🫐 July is National Blueberry Month! 🫐

Each summer, wild blueberries blanket the ridges and trails of Shenandoah National Park—and yes, you’re welcome to enjoy a few!

From late June through August, hikers can savor sweet, sun-ripened berries growing naturally throughout the park. You’re allowed to pick small amounts for personal consumption, but please harvest responsibly and practice Leave No Trace. These berries are an essential food source for Shenandoah’s wildlife—including birds, bears, deer, and many of the 200+ animal species that call the park home. Unlike humans, they don’t have grocery stores!

Harvest tip: Pick gently, don’t clear any one area, and leave plenty behind for the critters who depend on them. Blueberries in Shenandoah are more than a tasty trail snack—they’re a reminder of the richness and resilience of Virginia’s wild public lands. 🍃



Photo Description: A close up shot of almost ripe low bush blueberries.

03/07/2025

On this day in 1936, Shenandoah National Park was officially dedicated by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Roosevelt had made Shenandoah the site of the first Civilian Conservation Corps camps in May of 1933 and visited in August of that year. As part of the historic event, FDR gave a speech to several hundred spectators, saying “I now take great pleasure in dedicating Shenandoah National Park, dedicating it to this and succeeding generations of Americans for the recreation and for the re-creation which they shall find here.”

The Park has since been visited over 138 million times and counting and has lived up to its billing as an eastern park in the western tradition.

Happy Birthday Shenandoah National Park. 🎈

25/06/2025

Baby fawn at the cabin tonight!

22/06/2025

Not all rivers are made of water. Here in Shenandoah, there are moving “rivers” of rock, and some of them are right under our feet! From the many overlooks of Shenandoah, you may notice areas where the mountain is a stony patchwork of rock and rubble known as talus.

As rain, ice, and forest growth continue to weather away the Appalachian Mountains, the rocks break down and often let loose. As they tumble and shift, the debris piles up and eventually creates entire slopes of talus. Over time, these slopes move and change their course on their slow migration downhill. They will clear out sections of forest, providing instead garden space for the moss and lichens that call it home.

Be sure to pack extra caution when hiking across the many talus slopes in the park. Stony debris underfoot is not always reliably stable, and rocks can wobble and roll. Trees often do not take root in this rocky environment, so be prepared for longer exposure to sunshine and heat. Finally, watch where you place your hands as many animals, especially reptiles, are drawn to the rocks to bask in the sun.

Photo description: Two people stand atop a grey, rocky talus slope section of Blackrock Summit.