There’s a new way to explore some of your favorite trails: GPS Ranger. Available at Byrd Visitor Center (milepost 52), the GPS Ranger unit contains four hikes: Dark Hollow Falls, the Appalachian Trail-Milam to Tanners Ridge, Hawksbill, and a Meadow Discovery walk. Visitors can rent the unit and head out to explore. As you walk, the unit will key on points of interest and direct your discovery through audio, video, and animation.

NPS Bob Kuhns

The Dark Hollow Falls program focuses on water and its journey from the park to the bay. The Appalachian Trail hike features historic photos of the history of the trail and the area, as well as interviews with two thru-hikers. Hawksbill’s climb covers the geology of Shenandoah and Meadow Discovery reveals some of the mysteries of Big Meadows through historic photos and film of a recent burn. Each unit rents for $9.95 through the Shenandoah National Park Association’s Park Store at Byrd Visitor Center. The rental covers the life of the battery--about four hours. In that time you can do one of the longer hikes or two of the shorter ones.

This program was made possible through a cooperative effort between Shenandoah National Park, the Shenandoah National Park Association, the Shenandoah National Park Trust, and BarZ Adventures™.