Camping high on Old Rag had already been restricted in order to protect its rock outcrop areas.   The article below lists some new rock Shenandoah National Park outcrops where camping has just been restricted as well.

Rock outcrops tend to be:

• popular for their views (high use)
• fragile
• islands in the sky with unique ecosystems
• often have flora or fauna whose closest neighboring examples are hundreds of miles away

Shenandoah Closes Some Areas to Protect Outcrops

Posted: Oct 01, 2014 11:39 AM EDT Updated: Oct 01, 2014 11:42 AM EDT

 

Shenandoah National Park, photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) - Some campsites in Shenandoah National Park have been closed to protect rock outcrops that house rare plants and animals.

The closures are part of the park's new rock outcrop management plan. The plan prohibits access to the higher-altitude areas of several attractions, including Little Stony Man and areas of Overall Run Falls North and Mary's Rock.

Shenandoah spokeswoman Karen Beck-Herzog tells The Daily News-Record that the areas closed to camping were chosen because of their proximity to sensitive plant and animal populations.

Species considered at risk include Virginia pine, northern red oak and the Shenandoah salamander.

Beck-Herzog says park officials are monitoring areas closed to the public for regrowth and recovery.

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