Trails in George Washington National Forest

Forest Service Rules for George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

• Appalachian Trail – Hog Camp Gap to the Tye River
  (19.5 miles, elevation 3172 ft, includes views from Tar Jacket Ridge, Spy Rock and the Priest)
• Appalachian Trail – Hog Camp Gap to Punchbowl Mountain
  (17 miles, elevation gain: 2900 ft. – first day views, camping shelter)
• Appalachian Trail – Tye River to Mau-Har Trail Junction
  (3.8 miles, elevation 1100 ft., suspension bridge and obstructed views of The Priest)
• Beards Mountain – Douthat State Park
  (7 miles, elevation gain: 1400 ft. – decent views of the lake)
• Big Schloss – Lee Ranger District
  (4 miles, elevation gain: 1000 ft. – spectacular views)
• Bird Knob -Emerald Pond
  (8.3 miles, elevation gain: 1650 ft. – great views and a pretty pond)
• Bird Knob – Browns Hollow Loop
  (11 miles, elevation gain:2290 ft. – great views, pond, stream/waterfall)
• Buzzard Rock – Lee Ranger District
  (4 miles, elevation gain: 650 ft. – nice views)
• Cole/Cold Mountain – Glenwood & Pedlar Ranger District
  (6 miles, elevation gain: 1490 ft. – spectacular views, open meadows)
• Crabtree Falls – Glenwood & Pedlar Ranger District
  (3.4 miles, elevation gain: 1000 ft. – waterfall, very crowded trail)
• Duncan Knob – Lee Ranger District
  (3.5 miles, elevation gain: 1200 ft. – spectacular views, fun rock scramble)
• Duncan Knob Backpacking Loop – Lee Ranger District
  (9 miles, elevation gain: 1780 ft., nice views, but the trail tends to get sloppy)
• Flat Run Trail – Douthat State Park
  (5 miles, bike ride, elevation gain: none – along a scenic creek)
• Fridley Gap Loop
  (6 miles, elevation gain: 1417 ft,  a couple nice views, pretty stream, great backcountry camping)
• Halfmoon Mountain Loop
  (10 miles, elevation gain: 2022, a decent view and camping)
• Hanging Rock 
  (7.25 miles, elevation gain: 1942 ft. – views, AT shelter)
• Hidden Rocks
  (2.5 miles, elevation gain: 390 ft, rock walls and some obstructed views)
• Hone Quarry Ridge – Dry River Ranger District
  (5 miles, one nice view, near a GWNF established campground)
• Kaylor Knob – Lee Ranger District
  (3.3 miles, elevation gain: 450 ft. – decent views)
• Kennedy Peak – Lee Ranger District
  (4.75 miles, elevation gain: 400 ft. – excellent views, fire tower)
• Kepler Overlook
  (6 miles, elevation gain: 1100 ft – nice views, great backcountry camping)
• Massanutten Ridge Trail – Massanutten Resort
  (4 miles, elevation gain: 1000 ft. – nice views, feral goats)
• Massanutten Story Book Trail – Lee Ranger District
  (.5 miles, elevation gain: none – pretty views, wheelchair accessible)
• Mount Pleasant – Glenwood & Pedlar Ranger District
  (5.4 miles, elevation gain: 1350 ft. – pretty views, two summits)
• Pete’s Cave
  (6.8 miles, elevation gain: 1000 ft. – stellar views and interesting rock formations)
• The Priest – Glenwood & Pedlar Ranger District
  (2.8 miles, elevation gain: 1000 ft. – nice views, recommend 4WD to get to trailhead)
• Shrinemont to North Mountain Rocks
  (5.6 miles, elevation gain: 1545 ft – nice views, interesting cliffside)
• Signal Knob
  (10.2 miles, elevation gain: 2159 ft. – ok views)
• Strickler Knob – via Scothorn Gap – Lee Ranger District
  (5.5 miles, elevation gain: 1600 ft. – fantastic views, fun rock scramble)
• Strickler Knob – via Massanutten Trailhead
  (9.1 miles, elevation gain: 2250 ft. – tough climbing, fantastic views, fun rock scramble)
• Three Ridges
  (13.2 miles, elevation gain: 3900 ft.  amazing views, streams/small waterfall)
• Tibbet Knob – Lee Ranger District
  (3.1 miles, elevation gain: 830 ft. – excellent views)
• Trimble Mountain – North River Ranger District
  (4 miles, elevation gain: 1050 ft. – ok views, close to Todd Lake)
• Veach Gap – Morgan’s Road – Fort Valley
  (7 miles, elevation gain: 1100 ft. – nice views of the river, interesting geology)
• Woodstock Tower – Lee Ranger District
  (2 miles, elevation gain: 500 ft. – great views, fire tower)