Heading to Massanutten VA in a couple weeks - trail?

[myright]

Hey fellas - I'm heading to Massanutten in McGaheysville, VA and I'm intereseted in hearing about any good trails in the area. I'll have a one year old in a back pack and am looking for some good trails of easy to moderate terrain. 5 miles is probably our limit for the day due to other activities, naps, etc.

Thanks in advance for any help!

What's the attitude around knives down there? Many sheeple, etc. ?

 

[myright]

It looks like where I'll be is minutes from Skyline drive.

No suggestions at all?

I see plenty of trail maps in the area but am looking for someone that has been on them before.

 

[chuck buck]

skyline is fun to drive down and there are lots of small "get out of the car and hike a couple miles" trails that are easy to access. short hikes with good views and waterfalls right off the drive. its fun. when i was at Mass. a couple years ago it was around thanksgiving and all the trails were closed.. dont know why exactly. but you cant go wrong on skyline. Old Rag is a fun hike on the south end of the park near the town of culpepper but if you have a one year old i wouldnt suggest it. switchbacks and a rock scramble on top.

it does cost a little money to get on skyline i remember. there are day and week passes so you might wanna plan a day of hikes if possible.

knives are no problem here. i think there is a 3.5 limit for folders but ive given police bigger knives and gotten them back no problem. btw, never been myself but i think new graham knives isnt but a couple hours from that area of VA.

so yeah head down skyline for some nice jaunts. there are longer hikes too but pleanty of short rewarding ones. the weather has been real good for a va summer this year. upper 80's low 90's so far and the humidity is way down this summer which is unusual but welcome. have fun and PM me if i can help ya out with anything.

 

[REKCUT]

Skyline Drive is absolutely beautiful!! There are alot of places on the side of the road to pull your car over and take pictures of the overview and signs that explain the historical significance of the area. But please follow the speed limit on Skyline Drive or you will get a ticket. You are driving the curves down a mountain and it is easy to cruise a little faster than the posted limit. And the police know this and will be waiting.


If you are going to have a one year with you, you might want to check out The White Oak Canyon Trail. It is one of the most traveled trails in the park. It has a beautiful creek that runs beside the trail for most of the way and at the bottom of the trail is an awesome waterfall that also has some rock formations that work good as a makeshift picnic area.

When you reach the waterfall you simply turn around and follow the same trail you came down to get back to the parking area. The trail itself is a very easy to moderate trail. The trip in is all downhill ( but not steep at all) so the trail out is naturally all uphill (but once again not steep at all.)

The first time I hiked this trail I was a little worried if I was in good enough shape to make it but then I saw two older couples ( probably in their 70's) hiking the trail out and all my worries went away!! There are plenty of places were the creek is next to the trail that nature has graciously provided for you to stop and take in the breathtaking sights.

This trail is the one that really got me interested in hiking and the outdoors. It has a special place in my heart and I like to recommend it to everyone.

It really is a beautiful trail!!

 

[wayfinder15]

Oh man, that is my home! I grew up in elkton and have hiked all over SNP. First off Massanutten is at the end of the national forest and theres forest service roads to drive on you can take them all the way to grovehill.

Shenandoah national Park would be your best bet, for all sorts of hikes and what not. It does cost to get into the park, you can get a day or week long pass for the park. You would come in at the swiff run gap entrance. It is in the middle of the park. The southern part of the park has more wilderness and less big campgrounds. It was always my favorite part of the park. Two of favs places, are hightop mountain and blackrock. Very easy to get to. The central and northern parks has the larger campgrounds. Big Meadows is the most know. Also lots of day hike places there. Also the AT runs the entire length of the park South to North.

For trip planning theres an outdoor shop in harrisonburg called wilderness voyagers. You can get some maps there of the park. I would suggest you get the Potomac Appalachian trail club series of maps, north, central, and south district. These are really good maps and cover the entire park and has pretty much everything in the park on it. I used these maps for all my travels in the park. They have a website that I think you can get them form there before you get to the AO. Also theres a book hiking Shenandoah national park(I think that is the name.) Its had tuns of day hikes in it. Got mine at wilderness. You can also get trail books at different places in the park.

Sorry I dont have better info on the books and maps. I dont have them here in pa, they at my moms(in elkton). Be sure to stop buy cerios in elkton have steak and cheese sub for me.

I havent been home in a few years, Im jealous that you are gonna beat me there. Please take pictures and post them. If you have anymore questions just ask and I will do my best to answer them, HTH-Chris

 

[myright]

Great suggestions fellas - this is exactly what I'm looking for.

I'll start looking for maps online and see how to drive there from Mass.

 

[dcfireman]

Little Stoney Man is about a 45 minute round trip from the parking lot (mile 39?) on Skyline Drive and Stoney Man adds about another 1 1/2 - 2 hours to the trip. The views of the valley are spectacular. Easy trail, a little steep in parts, but certainly doable with a baby in the backback.

I almost did it today, but had to work OT.