Stumbles Recommended!
Alaska, Wet Boots, and I made our first foray on the Massanutten Trail last month (January 2011), when we hiked part of the MT to the Strickler Knob trail. The route offered excellent views, some nice elevation gain and loss, and no crowds. I later learned that the MT is a 70-mile trail through the George Washington National Forest, and from this first hike I look forward to exploring it more.
Massanutten Trail to Strickler Knob Trail (4.5 miles one-way; 9 miles roundtrip): The majority of the trip is on the orange-blazed Massanutten Trail, with only the last mile on the pink-blazed Strickler Knob trail. The first 1/2 mile provides a nice opportunity to warm-up as you walk along an East coast-style ridge (i.e. broad, flat, and in summer you'd have no idea you were on a ridge) that offers some spur trails to views of the Luray valley and Shenandoah mountains. Amazingly, there was greenery on the ridge - quite a sight for sore eyes in the dead of winter.
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| A little bit of heaven in an otherwise bleak January. |
After about half a mile, the trail descends very steeply for approximately 1000 vertical feet into a ravine - so steeply I expected switchbacks, but there were almost none. Note: If it is very icy or snowy, consider crampons or other sources of traction. It is a beast to climb back up on your way back to the car. Reserve some energy for it.
At the bottom of the ravine is a creek and campsite. The trail turns to the left and follows the water while slowly gaining elevation, crossing the creek twice. The elevation gain is only moderately strenuous.
You will pass 2 sign-posted trail junctures. The first, as far as I could tell, is meaningless. The second (showing the Massanuteen Tr. 408, 3 miles to Gap Creek Tr., and 2 miles back the way you came to the Massanutten Connector Tr.) marks the point where you need to turn to the right and begin to climb sharply uphill to the top of the next ridge.
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| Take the trail on the right (uphill) at this sign |
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| Heading up to the top of the ridge with the junction. |
At the top of the ridge, STOP! You've now arrived at the easily-missed junction for the Strickler Knob trail. The junction - one mile from the end - is a nice place to take a break if you need it and enjoy some pleasant views. When you are ready to go, do not continue downhill on the other side. Turn to your right, and begin walking through the rocky field.
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| Easy-to-miss junction. Note that the tree in the foreground has an orange blaze, but the tree behind it is pink-blazed. |
From here, the Strickler Knob trail continues along another East Coast-style ridge for about 1 mile. The path is marked with red and/or pink blazes on rocks, with some additional red/pink blazes on trees. Initially, we found it a little difficult to follow. The trick - if you get lost, as we did - is to head to the highest point on the ridge on your left as you walk away from the junction. You should find the trail there.
The route becomes increasingly rocky, with the views getting better as the boulders get bigger. Near the end, you'll need to scramble up a fairly large set of rocks. Once you reach the top, head between two boulder stacks to the end.
You can go no further at a trio of boulders/cliffs with panoramic views of the surrounding valleys. We ate our lunch here, and then came back the way we came. Again, remember to save your energy for the now-uphill 1000 vertical feet climb at the end of the trail.
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| Scrambling up the largest boulder stack |
You can go no further at a trio of boulders/cliffs with panoramic views of the surrounding valleys. We ate our lunch here, and then came back the way we came. Again, remember to save your energy for the now-uphill 1000 vertical feet climb at the end of the trail.
Scroll down for In Short and How to Get to the Trailhead.
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| Not quite sure what is growing on the Knob. |
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| Not a bad view for a lunch break. |
In Short:
- 4.5 miles one-way; 9 miles round trip.
- Strenuous elevation gain in last mile on the return.
- Great views at the beginning and end; some scrambles.
- Orange blazes for the first 3.5 miles one-way.
- First 1/2 mile along a ridge, then steeply down to the campsite along the creek.
- Turn left along (and crossing twice) the creek.
- At the Gap Creek / Massanutten Connector sign, turn right.
- Junction at the top of the ridge and switch to pink blazes along the ridge for 1 mile to the end.
Getting to the trailhead: This hike is about 2 hours' drive from DC. Take Route 211 through Shenandoah National Park and past Luray Caverns. Once you begin climbing out of the valley, past Dan's Steak House, turn right on Route 274 / Crissman Hollow. (It can be hard to spot - be on the lookout.) Drive 2 miles on Route 274 to the second parking lot. Do not stop at the first parking lot, which is for the Massanutten Storybook Trail. This is a decoy, we can only assume. (Kidding.) Continue another mile on the now-gravel road to the Massanutten Trail sign.
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| The true sign for the trailhead, on a very cold day. |
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| East Coast-style ridge |
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