Blackrock Summit trail at Shenandoah National Park.

Mary Tyler March / WAMU/DCist

Shenandoah National Park will reopen Skyline Drive—including access to hundreds of miles of trails—on Saturday after being closed to motorists since April 4 due to the coronavirus.

The scenic roadway is 105 miles long and runs the entire length of the National Park in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s a popular destination for weekenders in the region during the best of times. Officials in Rappahannock closed the park last month, citing overcrowding and lack of social distancing among visitors.

Motorists will be able to drive the entire length of Skyline Drive from Front Royal to Waynesboro. Accessible trailheads from the road will be open for day use, but all camping is prohibited. Some trails will stay closed including Old Rag Mountain and Whiteoak Canyon/Cedar Run. Park boundary trailheads in Rappahannock County will not be accessible.

The area will open at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, and then from 5:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. beginning Sunday. The park will remain closed after 10:00 p.m. each day.

National Park rangers will staff the entrance to the park and will continue to collect admission fees, according to a press release from the National Park Service. Restrooms will be limited to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, Panorama, Byrd Visitor Center, and Beagle Gap. All other visitor centers will remain closed including picnic areas, campgrounds, and lodges. Shopping and food areas are still closed, per the release.

“The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount,” the release reads. “We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.”

Virginia’s State Parks are beginning to ease restrictions for visitors too. Ahead of Memorial Day, visitors can expect restrooms, campgrounds, and some boat rentals to be open, depending on the park.

Camping reservations between May 21 and June 10 will now be accepted. All other facilities will stay closed, including cabins and group campgrounds.