Summary
With a population of just over 1,000 people, the town is known for its scenic beauty, historic sites, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
One of the main reasons to visit Leland-Madison is to explore the natural beauty of the area. The town is located near Shenandoah National Park, which offers hiking trails, scenic drives, and other outdoor activities. The park is particularly beautiful in the fall, when the leaves change colors.
Visitors to Leland-Madison can also explore the area's history by visiting sites like Montpelier, the home of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. The Montpelier property includes a museum, gardens, and a historical forest.
Other points of interest in the Leland-Madison area include the Graves Mountain Lodge, which offers hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities, and the Madison County Historical Society Museum, which showcases the history and culture of the area.
Interesting facts about Leland-Madison include its status as the birthplace of baseball legend Babe Ruth's wife, Claire Hodgson, and its role as a filming location for the movie "Somersby" starring Richard Gere.
The best time of year to visit Leland-Madison depends on your interests. If you're interested in outdoor activities like hiking, spring and fall are the best times to visit. If you're more interested in history and culture, summer is a good time to explore the area's museums and historical sites.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References