rocky summit

Duncan Knob & Strickler Knob

Highlights: Great views, two great rock scrambles, Massanutten Mountain Distance: 9.3 miles out and back Elevation Change 1,860 feet Trail Surface: Rocky with a few dirt sections Difficulty Level: Strenuous (distance, elevation gain, extremely rocky sections) Trailhead Parking: Gap Creek Trailhead, Crisman Hollow Road (FR 274) search Google Maps for “Gap Creek Trailhead”. Note: Crisman […]

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Kennedy Peak

Highlights: Great views, Massanutten Mountain Trail Distance: 5.2 miles out and back Elevation Change 791 feet Trail Surface: Dirt with rocky sections Difficulty Level: Moderate (distance, elevation gain, rocky sections) Trailhead Parking: Edith’s Gap, state route 675; search Google maps for “Edith’s Gap launch area” Website: AllTrails Beer Pairings: Swover Creek Farm Brewery—Nut Brown Ale

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Humpback Mountain & Humpback Rocks

Highlights: Great views, Appalachian Trail Distance: 10.2 miles out and back Elevation Change 2,112 feet Trail Surface: Dirt with rocky sections Difficulty Level: Strenuous (distance, elevation gain, rocky sections) Trailhead Parking: Humpback Rocks Picnic Area parking area, Blue Ridge Parkway MP 8.5 Website: National Park Service and AllTrails Beer Pairings: Blue Mountain Brewery—Bumper Crop IPA

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Browns Gap to Blackrock Summit

Highlights: Great views, Appalachian Trail Distance: 5.4 miles out and back Elevation Change 646 feet Trail Surface: Dirt with rocky sections Difficulty Level: Moderate (distance, rocky sections) Trailhead Parking: Brown’s Gap parking area, Skyline Drive MP 83 Website: AllTrails and Shenandoah National Park Beer Pairings: Champion Brewing Ice House—Hatchback Lyfe IPA & Festbier The Hike:

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Cascade Falls to Barney’s Wall

Highlights: Waterfalls, Little Stony Creek Gorge, Barney’s Wall Cliff Views Distance: 8.8 miles loop Elevation Change: 1,650 feet Trail Surface: Rocky Difficulty Level: Strenuous (rocky surface, elevation gain) Trailhead Parking: Cascades Day Use Parking Area, route 623 in Pembroke VA; $3 parking fee required Website: AllTrails and Hiking Upward Beer Pairings: Moon Hollow Brewing Co.—Lunatic

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Mary’s Rock AT North

Highlights: Appalachian Trail, amazing views, mountain laurel in June Distance: 3.7 miles out and back Elevation Change: 1,210 feet Trail Surface: Very rocky Difficulty Level: Moderate (rocky surface, elevation gain) Trailhead Parking: Panorama parking area, Skyline Drive MP 31.5; park entrance fee required Website: Shenandoah National Park and AllTrails Beer Pairings: Hawksbill Brewery—Hooray for Luray

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Old Rag Circuit

Highlights: Rock scramble, amazing views Distance: 9.4 mile loop Elevation Change: 2,348 feet Trail Surface: Very rocky Difficulty Level: Very strenuous (rock scramble, distance, elevation)  Trailhead Parking: Old Rag parking area, route 600/Nethers Road off route 231 south of Sperryville; park entrance fee required, hike tickets required, see below Website: Shenandoah National Park and AllTrails

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Tibbet Knob

Highlights: Great views, rocky summit, rock scramble Distance: 3.3 miles out and back Elevation Change: 865 feet Trail Surface: Very rocky Difficulty Level: Moderate (rocky surface, rock scramble)  Trailhead Parking: Wolf Gap Recreation Area, VA state route 675 Website: AllTrails Beer Pairings: Woodstock Brewhouse—North Fork Golden Ale & Beckford Parish Pale Ale The Hike: This

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Buzzard Rock

Highlights: Great views, rocky summit Distance: 4 miles out and back Elevation Change: 631 feet Trail Surface: Very rocky Difficulty Level: Easy/moderate (rocky surface)  Trailhead Parking: Buzzard Rock Trailhead, 3094 Mountain Road, route 619, Lake Frederick VA Website: AllTrails Beer Pairings: PaveMint Smokin’ Taphouse—Lionshead Pilsner & Hazy Tides IPA The Hike: Buzzard Rock is located

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Emerald Pond

Highlights: Great views, mountain pond, Massanutten ridge, fire ant mounds Distance: 8.5 miles out and back Elevation Change: 1,630 feet Trail Surface: Very rocky Difficulty Level: Strenuous (rocky surface, distance, and elevation gain)  Trailhead Parking: Wildflower Trailhead at the site of the former Massanutten Visitor Center, US route 211, 5 miles east of New Market

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