Absolutely beautiful landscapes and views of the valley and ridge lines. The hike is a short…read moredistance (0.8 miles) to the view point, but the change in elevation makes it a great workout.

- Update - *Several…read morepeople have advised me that the bird that tried to attack me is a Ruffled Grouse!* Apparently, they are well known in the area and confirmed to be aggressive and make strange noises! *Don't say you haven't been warned! :-) Saturday for the Memorial Weekend, I went to Wardensville WV to hike the Eagle Rock. AKA Tuscarora Trail. It's a simple 1 hour from my house. It's part of the Great North Mountain that acts as part of a natural border of WV and VA for some miles. The total miles of the Tuscarora Trail is 252 miles. It runs through PA/MD/WV and VA. It catches some of the Appalacian Trail at the Matthew's Arm Campground area. This trail was built as an alternative route for the Appalacian Trail due to the fear of the AT being shut down from development along the areas. The Tuscarora Trailhead for this location starts on the tippy top of The Great North Mtn on US48/VA55. At this location also you are in George Washington National Forest. You honestly can't miss it. 66w to 81s. Strasburg Exit to US48/VA55 follow for about 17 miles and you crest the mountain. There is a sign at the crest on the left near the wooods saying Tuscarora Trail. You can see it from the road. It slightly catches your eye but on the right side, you will see a big brown sign that says Entering Wardensville Cooperative Wildliffe Management Area. Park at the sign. Do not block the fire gates. I started out a little upset by the amount of hiker garbage on the o/s guardrail. Tons of Ice tea and water bottles littering the entire area. Not just a couple. It's like a ground of plastic bottles here. Also a bit worrisome was the constant gunshots. Over and Over until about the 1.5 mile stretch ends. I even saw Shot gun casings on the path, but I guess the sign did say Wildlife management Area. Geeze. The first mile was strenuous. There, I passed my first and only group of people I ever saw. They seemed to be teens chaperoned by 3 adults. They were catching their breath on the first mile. It was steep. Afterward, it leveled out and you could see you were walking the ridgeline of the mountain by looking o/s the trees to the mountain next door. Same height. From here it went from breathlessly uphill to muscle scortching downhill and leveling out.. over and over.. so overall there was give and take. A lot of the path became weedy and made my legs itchy. Some times it was almost knee length weeds. and the bugs. oh... the bugs. Don't stop for too long. I was breathing in a lot of bug protien on Saturday, let me tell you I had bugs for prelunch, lunch and snack! You could hear them around your head like a beehive. It was very much more wild than SNP. You could feel the wildness out here... I swear I am surprised I didn't see a bear. It was definately Bear Country! Speaking of this, let me also tell you what scared the living heck out of me up there. (Turns out after the scare I was laughing out loud all to myself but at the the time... I thought I was going to die) I heard some leaves russling... I slowed down and made a little noise...This...This... Turkey Bird Thing races out of the woods at full turkey bird speed and is coming right at me. It puffs up it's whole body and the tail spreads out like a Turkey but it's not big like a Turkey, more of a chicken size but fatter.... anyway this thing runs to me with his body puffed out and all I could do was walk backward and shout No over and over and over.. It's amazing I didn't fall down! That bird was litterally attacking me. I guess there was a nest along the patch in the woods and I was a bit close but OMG, If it were a bear, I'd be dead. That simple. Freaking Bird. OMG.... so it went off to the right and made this sound like a beaten dog.. wimpering..it was terrible. and When I started on my way, it followed me ! It was walking in the woods making that sickening noise for a good couple yards...That whole situation made me wonder about this dumb whistle I brought with me for safety. wow. wth is this whistle going to do! I forgot it was even in my hand! and that was a bird! lol. So later at a rock outcrop I almost sit on the one snake I saw the entire time. He was identical to the rock. Identical. I looked right at him and sat next to him. (?!?) The views were nice. A good change from SNP views. I'm glad I chose to hike this mountain this summer. There's so much more of it to hike and it even meets up with the Stairway to Heaven I did a couple weeks prior. I'm interested in exploring it a bit more. I may need to invest in a bigger whistle and perhaps a nice size knife as well. In the end, I was trying to outhike the storm on the way back to the car. I almost made it. But I was dripping wet once I turned the key! It was a great day and a great hike.

If you're looking for flashy photo opportunities, this probably isn't the battlefield for you. If…read moreyou're looking to understand one of the most decisive and brutal battles of the Civil War, it's outstanding. The Third Battle of Winchester (Opequon) was the largest battle ever fought in the Shenandoah Valley, with more than 54,000 soldiers engaged and over 8,600 casualties in a single day. Walking these fields, it's hard to imagine the chaos that unfolded here on September 19, 1864, as Union forces under Philip Sheridan broke Jubal Early's army and changed the course of the Valley Campaign. The battlefield is beautifully preserved with excellent interpretive markers that explain not only what happened, but why it mattered. The visitor center does an excellent job setting the stage, and the trails let you experience the terrain that shaped the fighting. Don't rush this stop--read the signs, watch the orientation film, and let the landscape tell its story. This isn't just another Civil War battlefield. It's the beginning of the end of Confederate control of the Shenandoah Valley, and you can feel the weight of history with every step. A must-visit for anyone who wants to truly understand the 1864 Valley Campaign.

This was exactly what I was looking for:…read more Low key historical location Close proximity to where I'm staying Mostly flat pebble lined trail (bugs love me!) 3-5 miles long, depending on which trail you pick Signage posts along the trail to explain events that took place

The tibbet knob hiking trail is what I would consider a moderate trail located on the border of…read moreWest Virginia and Virginia. The trailhead begins at the wolf Gap recreation area. To get to the tibbet knob trail after parking at Wolf Gap, you cross the road and find the trailhead on the south side of the road. It is very well-marked. The trail itself is 1.6 miles from the trailhead to the summit of tibbet knob. The trail first ascends through a sparsely wooded area with very little underbrush and several large campsites that would be perfect if you were camping in the area and the Wolf Gap campground was full. Since the only amenities at Wolf Gap our privys and tent sites, you wouldn't really be giving anything up to camp here on the tibbet knob trail. After passing through the sparsely wooded area, the trail ascends to a small ridge and the trail itself is very well marked with yellow blazes. The trail is somewhat Rocky but overall very smooth and comfortable. When you get to the top of the small ridge there are good views to the east. The trail then descends into a saddle between the ridge and the actual knob. It is at this point that the real ascent begins and the hike becomes somewhat harder as you take on the majority of the 800 FT elevation gain. This is a fairly strenuous climb and there are two small rock scrambles before you get to the actual summit. At the summit there's a wonderful overlook providing views to the West of the trout run valley, and really good views to the north of big Schloss and half moon mountain. Just past the actual summit there is a spectacular campsite with a fire ring that would probably hold as many as four tents. there is of course no water so this is a dry site and all water must be packed in.

This trail was very well marked! I would recommend reading the map at the begging of the trail. It…read moreis very pretty. There are a lot of look out spots along the way. It was a moderate trail. Some spots were steep and rocky. The bathrooms were dirty. Overall would highly recommend! Had a great time!

CAUTION: Bring an extra pair of socks or two. There are a lot of streams you need to cross (by…read morehopping over rocks which aren't all stable to the ground) so you could easily just drench your shoes if you're not the most agile like me. If you're looking for a workout hike, then this is for you. Especially on a cloudy winter day, you're mainly looking at dead trees - lots of brown and more tan-ish looking brown scenery, so really not the best views. However, there are mini waterfalls and streams every now and then. The overlook is also small and pretty sad in terms of views. Overall, the hike is pretty hard for people who don't go hiking very often, but it was very satisfying after making it up to the top. There's a lot of rocks you need to hike up (mainly rocky paths and trails) and streams. Make sure you enter through the right side of the parking lot if you're looking for the Little Devils Stairs Trail (there should be a long pole looking sign with the name on it). You will be hiking up about 3 miles (~1500 feet of elevation). Be careful and make sure you are following the blue markers. They weren't very obvious to me, but fortunately, one of my friends have gone on this hike before so he knew where he was going. Afterwards, you can take the fire road down (super easy downhill walk on a trail). The entire hike is about 5.5-6 miles - it was tough going up, but an easy and relaxing walk to the bottom. Note, if you want to go to the overlook, it's on the way down on the fire road, not on the top. It's pretty small so it can be easy to miss.

My husband and I hiked this trail and found it to be pretty strenuous for us, personally. We are…read moreaverage middle age folks that love the outdoors. We went up the trail side and came down the fire road, as most people we saw. Our tech devices measured 7.4 miles total which is more than we anticipated. An unexpected burial site and a small overlook on the fire road. Some scrambling necessary. Pretty steep and I'm glad we chose to go up the trail and down the fire road rather than the opposite. We would have struggled coming down! Really beautiful hike with lots of water crossovers. Will go again!

Great trail for off-roading. There are some muddy spots even without any rain the past few days…read more The trail is north-south so you can enter from either end. However, traffic can be two way at spots but the trail is designed only for one way traffic so a little maneuvering and road-sharing is courteous and expected. The full length at 10 miles per hour will take at least 2 hours. There are spots to stop at, such as a big clearing, a giant pond, and other smaller areas to pull over for rest and scenery intake. The trail is rocky, muddy, gravelly, and sandy. You probably won't have service so make sure you have good directions, ample water, and capable vehicles.

Did this trail with a stock 2018 Jeep Renegade Sport, and 2019 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. We had a group…read moreof about 25 with us mostly Jeeps but we had a wide body F150 and a Dodge Ram Laramie and they did great with us. If it has rained there are muddy patches on the trail unlike what some people have commented, there is a part where you go through the part of the river that goes down the mountain too. If you have a Jeep and want to get the Jeep badge for completing this trail download the Jeep app and check in at the beginning of the trail! There is a bathroom located on the map on the trails website.

A moderate 5-6 mile hike with a rock scramble and nice views at the summit. Located in the…read moreMassanutten Mountains in the GWNF, the trailhead to Scothorn Gap Trail can be easily found off of Crisman Hollow Road. Due to time constraints we were only able to hike out to Duncan Knob and back rather than do the entire loop including Strickler Knob but it was still a pleasant hike. The climb early on reminded me I need to hit the Stairmaster more often at the gym. Parts of the trail are quite overgrown so make sure to check yourselves quite thoroughly during tick season. We found PLENTY on our legs. The climb up the rocks to the summit was a LOT of fun, though maybe not so for those with balance problems or fear of heights. (I have to admit it was kind of intimidating looking up from the bottom - we have to go up THERE??) But once you climb, the view you are greeted with is wonderful and there is a nice flat, albeit small, area on the summit to hang out. Ran into only one group of hikers who patiently waited for us to descend from the rocks for their turn at the summit. Look forward to doing this again in the fall and also taking on Strickler Knob. For more info and a map go here: http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/DuncanKnob/index.asp

This GW National Forest hike is a shorter version of the Signal Knob trail. You chop off 2 miles,…read morethe second ascent, and one of the overlooks. This is a great hike for the winter months when daylight is limited or if you're just not feeling a big hike. The trails and blazes are very well maintained, making it easy to follow your path. The two main overlooks from this trail are both lovely. The first one (Buzzard Rock) is the nicer spot to hang out and relax for a bit. I almost always encounter little brownish lizards on this section of the hike, although they're so speedy that I haven't been able to get a good look. The next vista looks out on Fort Valley - also pretty, but not such a great view when the leaves are out. All in all, this is a convenient and beautiful day hike. There's a great picnic area just down the road from the trail parking lot too.

We decided to join the 1st Hike of the Year and had a great time. The county led the hike on a path…read morethat is going to be built up. After the hike we took a quick peak down at the river and want to come back for some more outdoor activity.

I'm so glad I came here this morning. I am truly grateful this land has public access and rendered…read moreas a preserve. Fauquier Co is beautiful already and then to come here and walk a trail by the Rappahannock River; It was gorgeous. I loved the rock jutting out into the river. The tall trees, so silent. I felt like I was far from home but it only took me 12 min to get here. I followed the red blaze trail. 2.5 miles maybe? Creeks, ferns, and singing birds all around. Very nice. DYK, the Rappahannock River is 195 miles long? Starts in the Blue Ridge Mountains and empties into the Chesapeake Bay. That being said, please keep Virginia beautiful. Pack it in, pack it out. Give a hoot, don't pollute!