Big Meadows Engagement Photos

Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park is one of the best places in the state for beautiful meadow engagement photos with mountains in the background. In fact, I think the only place remotely comparable (other than private property) is Sky Meadows State Park.

Big Meadows is located right in the center of the Central District of Shenandoah National Park. You can access it either by entering the park at the Thornton Gap or Swift Run entrance stations.

The meadows are beautiful at either sunrise or sunset. However, if you want to see the sun behind the mountains, I recommend this spot for sunset. That being said, if privacy is your biggest goal, then Big Meadows are equally beautiful for sunrise engagement photos.

Because Big Meadows are so large, you can really get away from other visitors in ways that’s more difficult at overlooks or at a summit hike.

A few things to note: when exploring Big Meadows for your engagement photos, do stay on paths. There are walking paths criss-crossing the entire space. The meadows are full of natural flora and fauna and stepping on them can kill or damage these species.

While there are mountain views visible from the top of Big Meadows, this spot will not give you the epic mountain views typically associated with Shenandoah National Park. Want a meadow with more “epic” mountain views? Then check out Cole Mountain near Lexington!

Ready to book your engagement photos?