Spring Break Trip

Spring Break in Shenandoah National Park!

March 8-15, 2025

We're heading to iconic Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the oldest national park on the East Coast, for Spring Break 2025! We will travel to the hills of Virginia and experience all that Shenandoah has to offer, both above ground and below! We will enjoy stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, wildlife sightings, iconic hiking trails, cascading waterfalls, caving, and even overnight backpacking during your best Spring Break week! 

Most of our time will be above ground as we hike and backpack. We will hike on trails in all sections of the park, including the North, Central and Southern Districts of the park, plus drive along the iconic Skyline Drive. We will also explore some of the 101-mile section of the Appalachian Trail that winds through Shenandoah Park. There are many waterfalls throughout, so we will definitely catch the beauty of several waterfalls gushing with early spring melt throughout our time in the National Park. 

Our last two days, we will go backpacking in Shenandoah, and carry all of our gear and food with us, hike to a camping site, and spend the night in nature. It will be a great end to our Shenandoah adventure.

The area around Shenandoah and throughout the mountains of Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina is known for its caves. We will do some exploring with a professional guide into one of the caves in the area, who will provide instruction, safety, and gear. This is such a unique and fun activity, and we are lucky to be able to offer this opportunity!

For all nights except our one backpacking night, we will sleep inside in a rented house in Luray, VA. 

This trip will be fun, challenging, and rewarding; you can learn new skills, meet new people, and have a great time experiencing the beauty of early spring and getting yourself refreshed for the rest of the semester.

Register online: Spring Break 2025 Shenandoah

This all-inclusive trip is priced at a very affordable $695, including van travel from Lowell and back, your UMass Lowell (UML) guides, all gear, and ALL food for these 8 days! Paid in two payments: $325 deposit paid upon registration; final $370 due on February 17. You won't have any more expenses, except any keepsakes you choose to buy.

If spots remain open, we will open registration to guests on January 31 at $935.

Jump to sections on this page:

• Description of the Trip
• Cost and Registration
• Skill Level and Physical Exertion
• Pre-Trip Meetings
• Trip Itinerary
• Packing List

Description of the Trip⁠

We will enjoy three days of hiking, two days of backpacking, and one day of caving! Read more about each activity below, as well as lodging and other details.

Hiking and Backpacking

Shenandoah is renowned for its amazing hiking and more than 500 hundred miles of trails, along with its iconic Skyline Drive, a road that goes the length of the park, providing beautiful views and easy access to the many trails along the ridge. Shenandoah offers all kinds of trails, and we will focus on the trails often described as intermediate/moderate or even strenuous, likely between 6 and 9 miles each day. While we have a plan of trails in mind, this will be flexible and we will use the the group's desires and input. Since Shenandoah is a ridge line, you can expect that we will be hiking uphill and downhill most of the time, occasionally on steep trails, with scenic vistas at various points, plus a number of photogenic waterfalls. Because the trees at the 2,000-3,000 foot elevation mark won't have leafed out yet, we'll have even more views than in the summertime!

Because the weather in Virginia at Shenandoah's elevation can be somewhat cold at times in mid-March, we will help the group learn how to make the most of backpacking in cooler temps, while learning how to stay warm. Our backpacking night is not about surviving cold temperatures, it is about learning your body and trying new methods and skills to stay warm and discover a new season! Additionally, we may adjust the schedule based on that week's forecast.

Some great trail options we are considering are:

• Doyles River / Jones Run Falls, a 6.6 mile loop with three beautiful waterfalls.
• Big Branch Falls, a 4.8 mile trail with a few river crossings with a lovely waterfall running quite strong in spring, which summer visitors won't see since it runs pretty dry later in the season.
• Robertson Mountain, a 7-mile quite steep trail to gain sweeping views of Fork Mountain and Berry Hollow, a great way to get views of Old Rag.
• South River Falls, one of the tallest and most impressive waterfalls with an 80 foot drop. This is on a 4.5 mile hiking loop.
• So many more great options, we will keep adding more!

Caving

Beneath the floor of the Shenandoah Valley lies some of the lesser-known highlights of the Appalachian Mountain range: caves. Exploring caves with a professional guide is an exciting, safe and other-worldly experience. With our guide, we will learn travel safety, underground navigation, and get in some "total body hiking."

The caves we will visit are not the tourist-y caves with paved pathways and electric lights. We will instead visit a primitive or wild cave, which has "all the features of the subterranean world - speleothems (stalactites, flowstone, soda straws and columns), and lots of real mud. There are squeezes if you want them, and belly crawls for the adventurous, but there are also corridor ceilings higher than your house, and large cavern rooms for the claustrophobic."

One of the really cool things about caves is their consistent temperature. They are never cold and never hot - they generally stay at about a consistent 52-54 degrees F (11-12 celsius) year-round. The high humidity tends to make it actually feel warmer too - most people report feeling like it is in the low or mid 60's.

Don't worry if you feel a little scared or nervous about feeling claustrophobic. It's common for people to be nervous about this kind of activity, and the company we are using has helpful options and alternate locations, like only going to larger rooms and having the option to avoid the narrow passageways. That said, a lot of people discover that a new environment like this is actually surprisingly fun and not as scary as they thought. We will also have headlamps, helmets, cave packs, and safety equipment.

Lodging and Other

Where we are staying: We have rented a large house near Luray, Virginia. The house has multiple rooms, separate beds for each person, a full industrial-style kitchen, plus several individual use bathrooms with warm showers. The group will cook and dine together. There is a comfy living room where the group will hang out or play board games after our adventurous days. This is a rented home, and we will treat it with respect. Note: we don't allow alcohol or other drugs on any Outdoor Adventure Program trips.

What to know about the weather: Shenandoah National Park in mid-March will start to be warm in the valleys and more wintry in the higher elevations of the park. Averages for Luray are high 50s during the day and mid-30s (around 0 degrees Celsius). The temperature at the top of the ridge on Skyline Drive is typically about 20 degrees cooler than down below, and weather can change rapidly over a day. We of course expect sun and rain over the week, and it is of course possible to see snow or ice potentially.

Who is leading the trip? We will have 1 professional staff plus 1-2 student trip leaders. The program leaders have solid experience leading Outdoor Adventure Program trips, including overnight excursions, along with Wilderness First Responder medical training. You will recognize these trip leaders from all of our other normal trips during the semester: hiking, kayaking and other adventures. As noted, we will also hire a local professional guide for our caving excursion.

What about technology? While we will be staying inside and likely have cell service some of the time, we encourage everyone in the group to take a break from screens during this experience. Some students have left their phones behind in Lowell entirely. The Outdoor Adventure Programs strives to create experiences that allow you to spend your time connecting with your classmates and nature, so you can come back refreshed and ready to succeed in classes. Since we will return on Saturday, this will still leave you with Sunday for completing any assignments.

What about wildlife? There is great wildlife to see and enjoy in Shenandoah! If we are lucky enough to see a black bear, we will keep our distance and we will never feed them. When backpacking, we will keep our food secure from the bears by either using a bear-box provided by the park or hanging our food in the trees. Other animals could include white-tailed deer (common) and bobcats (very elusive), along with foxes and coyotes (both also elusive).

Cost

UMass Lowell (UML) cost: $695, all-inclusive with van travel, your guides, gear and all food for these 7 days! This literally covers everything! Paid in two payments: $325 deposit paid upon registration; final $370 due on February 17. The trip is first prioritized to UML students, faculty or staff.

Public cost: $935, opens on January 31 for any remaining open spots. Paid in two payments: $565 deposit due for registration; final $370 due on February 17. Your sibling, parent, significant other, friend... all who are excited about the trip are welcome at this point! 

The actual cost of this trip, including food, lodging and all the activities, would be approximately $950 - $1,200 (depending on housing).... and some may say, priceless, if you count the experience of being guided and taught by knowledgeable and trained staff as you venture in the woods! This is a GREAT deal, and we are proud to offer it to our UML students in order to provide new and adventurous experiences.

If you want to come, but are still worried about cost or need to make payments on a separate schedule, please send an contact Kate Ford by email: kate_ford@uml.edu to inquire about scholarships or payment options - we would love to help if we can!

The only additional potential costs would be any souvenirs or road purchases, and one optional in-town dinner.

Registration

This trip is first available to the UMass Lowell community (students, faculty and staff), and if spaces remain open on January 31, also to their guests. Group size maximum is 10 participants; group size minimum is 7 participants. Encourage your friends to join!

Regarding the waitlist: Registration does not close; we will maintain a waitlist the whole time. When the trip is full, please register like normal and you will be placed on the waitlist. There is no financial charge to be placed on the waitlist.

If/When a space opens, we will work through the waitlist in order of registrations and invite people individually, so sign up as early as possible! Do not delay, as you will have a better chance the sooner you register. Please watch your email carefully: If you are offered a spot, you may have just a few days to accept before we move on to the next person. Your deposit will be due at that time, or the full charge if after February 17. Depending on when a space opens, this may happen at any time up until the end of February.

Register online: Spring Break 2025 Shenandoah

Cancellation Policy

Due to the commitment and scope of the program, the deadline for cancellations with full refund of your deposit is January 6. After this deadline, participants needing to cancel will only receive a refund of their deposit payment if another participant assumes their place on the trip. As stated above, we will maintain a waitlist and will attempt to fill the space if at all possible. If the trip is cancelled by OAP for any reason, participants will receive a full refund of the trip cost.

skill-level&exertionSkill Level / Prerequisites

• Overall good physical fitness. This will allow for a successful trip; please consider exercising at least 2-3x weekly to prepare.
• Ability to be active for approx. 6-8 hours or more per day, with an emphasis on walking.
• NOTE: No previous backpacking experience is required, just a good attitude to challenge yourself and try new things!

Physical Exertion

Medium to significant, varies with each day's location. Each day will involve 6-8 hours. Hiking and backpacking generally uses your legs mostly, plus plenty of core and back muscles. Caving is similar to hiking, with consistent movement through the cave.

Physical conditioning prior to the trip will be an important step to having a great trip, both for yourself and the group. The more you prepare, the better the experience will be. Since hiking is quite leg and core dependent, one of the best activities you can do to prepare is go hiking or running, as well as general fitness workouts in the gym with weight.

Pre-trip Meetings

1. Monday, January 27, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. An informational meeting is open to all at the Outdoor Center and Bike Shop (5 Lawrence Dr., Lowell, MA 01854) or on Zoom: Pre-trip informational Zoom meeting for Spring Break. This meeting is for anyone, including students who have already registered for the trip, any students on the waitlist, as well as anyone else who is interested in learning more and potentially joining the waitlist. Topics will include:
   • Daily schedule: We will talk over the plan for each day of the trip, describing each activity and answering any questions. We will also talk over the travel plan.
   • Meals & Lodging: We will talk over meal possibilities; our menu will vary depending on the needs of the group (dietary restrictions, etc.). We will buy food at a grocery store, and bring it with us to our lodging. 
   • Trip Leaders: Come meet the staff leading this trip! Kate Ford, Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs, will be leading this trip, along with at least one of our student trip leaders whom you may have already met on other trips. We will also hire local professional guides for the caving day trip.
2. Monday, February 24, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. In this required preparation meeting, we will review the maps, menu, lodging, and travel information. We will go over the full personal packing list. You will leave this pre-trip meeting all the information you need and knowing what extra gear you can borrow, as well as any last items you may decide to purchase yourself. (If you can't join due to your classes, email kate_ford@uml.edu, and we'll get you covered!)
3. Friday, March 7, 2025 at 6 p.m. In this final required preparation meeting, everyone will bring their fully packed gear. We will do a full gear shakedown with each person to make sure you have sufficient items for hiking and backpacking. You will check out any OAP gear you need. Duffle bags/suitcases can be left at the Outdoor Center overnight for your convenience.

Trip Itinerary

• March 8, Saturday: Drive from Lowell to Luray, Virginia (VA).
• March 9, Sunday: Full Day Hike in Shenandoah (trails to be determined with group input)
• March 10, Monday: Full Day Hike in Shenandoah (trails to be determined with group input)
• March 11, Tuesday: Caving near Bridgewater, VA, with WildGUYde Adventures
• March 12, Wednesday: Full Day Hike in Shenandoah (trails to be determined with group input), prepare Backpacking gear
• March 13, Thursday: Backpacking in Shenandoah
• March 14, Friday: Backpacking in Shenandoah, return to house, clean up and pack up gear
• March 15, Saturday: Drive from Luray, VA, back to Lowell
• At the end of each day, we will return to the house in Luray, where the group will prepare hot food and can enjoy warm showers and sleep inside. Breakfast is at the house, as well. The only exception is the night that we backpack.

Packing List:

Clothing should be non-cotton. March in Virginia will be cool or possibly cold. In these kinds of temperatures, the saying is, "Cotton is rotten" -- this is because cotton, once it gets wet, will cling to your body without providing any insulation. Your layers can get wet due to your own sweat from inside, and/or outside moisture, like snow or rain. Fleece, wool, or treated down provide the "dead air space" structure that still holds heat even when wet.

Therefore, you will want and need to wear non-cotton layers, from the layer closest to you to the outermost layer, including socks. Jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts are cotton and therefore not appropriate or safe for hiking or backpacking. Wool, silk, nylon, polypropylene, fleece, etc. are all good. And don't forget, also, we have some gear you may borrow; you don't have to buy everything. When driving in the van, at the house, or while caving, there's no problem wearing cotton.

Please plan to wear mostly the same layers every day that you are on this trip. We will all expect to wear the same hiking clothes every day for days in a row - don't worry, everyone is the same! You may bring two sets of base layer tops and bottoms if you have them; if you have two different weights, that's great. Remember, because we are inside overnight, you can dry out any damp gear daily! Same for the house clothes, please bring only one or two sets of house clothes, we are only wearing them in the evening and we have limited space in the van.

The weather forecast and your thermal perception (i.e. if you generally feel cold easily or often feel hot) should be considered when packing.

CLOTHING

• Long underwear shirt/base layer Recommend 1 long-sleeve and 1 short-sleeve, quick-dry, lightweight, non-cotton, no sweatshirts
• *Insulating upper layer Recommend 1-2 layers fleece, wool, or puffy top layer, should be compact
• *Rain jacket/shell Used for both rain and wind.
• Underwear Quick-dry (non-cotton) preferable
• Long underwear bottoms/lower base layer Recommend 1-2 pairs, quick-drying material such as nylon or polyester required
• Pants/Shorts/Hiking Skirt Recommend 2 pairs quick-dry, non-cotton, no jeans
• *Rain Pants Used for both rain and wind. Bottoms are a must, as weather in mountains can change suddenly
• Socks Hiking socks should be a wool mid-weight hiking style are required, especially for wet conditions and blister prevention; 2-3 pairs is ideal. Socks for wearing at camp may be any material, 1 pair.
• Hiking Shoes or Boots with good tread, and ideally with ankle support
• Camp Shoes Worn in the van, around the house, around camp when backpacking; very lightweight athletic shoes or sport sandals are ideal—no flip flops or open-toed sandals
• *Gaiters lightweight ankle protection to keep debris out of shoes, especially pebbles & mud. Necessary in winter weather.
• Sunglasses Recommend with leash
• *Warm Hat Sun and/or cold protection, depending on season
• *Gloves
• Scarf/Neck Gaiter optional
• Baseball hat or sun hat
• Pajamas
• Comfy clothes to wear at the house and on driving days

CAVING CLOTHES

• Old sneakers or boots that can get muddy (and not worn again during the trip)
• An outer clothing layer that can be muddied, and then removed when we exit the cave (blue jeans, work pants or old sweat pants, and a long-sleeve shirt or old hoodie). It is best to have other clothes underneath the outer layer (like shorts or tights and a t-shirt), so the muddy stuff can be "peeled off" without any modesty issues. There is not anywhere to change at the caves.
• Large plastic bag to hold your muddy clothes afterwards
• Driving shoes (sandals, sneakers, your camp shoes)
• A small flashlight (besides the headlamp we already have)
• Optional: Camera with flash, preferably in a baggie, or a disposable camera.
• Optional: Knee pads and gloves
• The company will provide caving helmets, cave packs and safety equipment.
• We will bring the company's required medical forms for each person to fill out.

PERSONAL

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
• Feminine hygiene supplies plus toiletries disposal bag, pee rag
• Personal environmental supplies Sunscreen, lip balm, bug spray
• If needed: Hair ties
• If needed: Contacts/contact solution
• Small pack towel and/or Bandana Washcloth is a perfect size. Versatile: use as sweat rag, hanky, napkin, etc.
• Personal Medications
• Medical Insurance Card
• Optional: Hand sanitizer Small bottle

EQUIPMENT

• *Headlamp You must provide 3 AAA batteries if borrowing one of ours
• *Sleeping bag Proper temperature rating for the season necessary; we use 0 or 20 degree bags
• *Sleeping pad
• *Trekking poles
• *Backpack 40+ liters(L) required. We provide 65 L backpacks.

FOOD AND WATER

• *Bowl For backpacking portion. Recommend a small plastic Tupperware-type bowl. No plate needed.
• *Mug or cup For backpacking portion. Lightweight plastic for warm drinks
• *Utensils For backpacking portion.
• *2 Water Bottles Hydration; start hydrating the day before

OPTIONAL

• Snacks for yourself We will provide snacks; however, if you want to bring some extra along, bring no more than 1-2 per day
• Money For food on the road and/or possible souvenirs
• Camera (or camera phone). A protective case is highly recommended. Turn phone to airplane mode to preserve battery (and enjoy nature)
• Book or journal or notebook Great for the van or down time on the trip
• Lightweight rechargeable battery pack & charging cables
• Multi-tool or pocketknife
• Binoculars

*All items with an asterisk are available to check-out and included in the cost of your registration. There are no extra costs for any gear you use!

If you have any personal equipment (backpack, sleeping bag, etc.) that you would like to bring, please bring it to the pre-trip meeting so trip leaders can make sure it is appropriate for the needs of this trip.

OAP will provide all the necessary group items, including tents, cooking supplies, stoves and fuel, all the food (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on the trail) and food storage, water purification, restroom kit (trowel, toilet paper, rest stop bag), hygiene kit (hand sanitizer and biodegradable soap), first aid kit, emergency communication device, and maps.

Check out our other upcoming trips on our Trips and Events Calendar webpage

Contact

Please ask us any questions you may have about the trip or the Outdoor Adventure Program!

• Email: OutdoorAdventure@uml.edu, or Kate Ford at: kate_ford@uml.edu
• Phone: 978-934-1549