I'll have my wife and two very little girls.
November Trail Ride
- Thread starter hakalugi
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I will have any where from 1 to five in my truck and maybe a buddy with a jeep and two in his truck. Don't know yet.
Woodford, crash and i will bring enough to share.................. just kidding not good for a trip like this.
Woodford, crash and i will bring enough to share.................. just kidding not good for a trip like this.
Permits, Path and Permission - Oh my!
All,
For the area of the George Washington National Forest near Harrisonburg there is no requirement to obtain permits - it is free - your tax dollars at work.
Per discussion with Ranger, highly recommends purchasing National Geographic Illustrated Map #791 Staunton and Shenandoah Mountain. Can be bought at ranger station in Harrisonburg or on Amazon. Clearly shows what trails that are legal. He said that anything without a closed gate can be used unless marked as non-motorized trail or marked as private property or if it has a tank trap (most vehicles would high center on these - so it is pretty obvious). See attached photo of the signs that mark NO-GO areas -lest you get a ticket.
I requested the seasonal schedule of trails from the ranger. They faxed it to me and I scanned it for your reading pleasure. Find it attached.
Recommend the following path:
81 South
33 West
Climb several switchbacks
Make left onto Skidmore Fork Road (227)
Skidmore Fork Lake is now on your left (aka Switers Dam)
Road becomes Dungle Hallow (stay left at fork)
Several switchbacks along a really steep valley as you climb mountain to 3500+ ft
Turn right at top of trail onto 85A
Flagpool Knob 4360 Ft will be on your left - outstanding view of Harrisonburg and valley - definetely should stop and take in the view!
Continue on 85A
At intersection make left onto 85
At intersection ignore first left turn
Road continues on pavement
At fork make left and go to top of Reddish Knob, 4397 feet, highest elevation reachable by road in Virgnia - outstanding views of Harrisonburg - look west and see some very interesting governmental looking satelite dishes???
Come back down from Reddish Knob
Make left onto 85
At the switchback make left onto 427 through the open gate (open from 9/1 to 1/10) - note that per the schedule the second gate is permanently closed and that you actually can't go all the way to Little Bald Knob (4351 feet)
Turn around and go back to Flagpole Knob
Pass Flagpole knob and continue down 85A which becomes Union Springs Road (225B) at the intersection with Dunkle Hallow
Continue down Union Springs to Meadown Knob, 3880 feet
Continue on and you will find ruins of a stone cabin built by a Civil War defector - fun to get out and check out what this guy built - must of had a wooden roof when he was there.
Next will be a series of pools (stock frendly)
Next will be some interesting rocks that will likely require a little spotting for stock vehicles.
Once you start your desent it is mostly just a steep gravel road that eventually turns into pavement. Stopped on the gravel road portion and aired up.
Drive to the end of Union Springs
Make a left onto 742
Make right onto 743
Make left onto 613
Make right onto 33 East
Take 81 North
The above path is likely to be a full day that maximizes time on mud and rock and minimimizes pavement. Probably doable in 6-8 hours - greatly depends on how much you stop etc. Will be more than fine on fuel as long as everyone fills up in Harrisonburg.
Have a great time.
I hope to join in the fun - after all there is PORK 
involved however wont know until the last minute if I can make it.
All,
For the area of the George Washington National Forest near Harrisonburg there is no requirement to obtain permits - it is free - your tax dollars at work.
Per discussion with Ranger, highly recommends purchasing National Geographic Illustrated Map #791 Staunton and Shenandoah Mountain. Can be bought at ranger station in Harrisonburg or on Amazon. Clearly shows what trails that are legal. He said that anything without a closed gate can be used unless marked as non-motorized trail or marked as private property or if it has a tank trap (most vehicles would high center on these - so it is pretty obvious). See attached photo of the signs that mark NO-GO areas -lest you get a ticket.
I requested the seasonal schedule of trails from the ranger. They faxed it to me and I scanned it for your reading pleasure. Find it attached.
Recommend the following path:
81 South
33 West
Climb several switchbacks
Make left onto Skidmore Fork Road (227)
Skidmore Fork Lake is now on your left (aka Switers Dam)
Road becomes Dungle Hallow (stay left at fork)
Several switchbacks along a really steep valley as you climb mountain to 3500+ ft
Turn right at top of trail onto 85A
Flagpool Knob 4360 Ft will be on your left - outstanding view of Harrisonburg and valley - definetely should stop and take in the view!
Continue on 85A
At intersection make left onto 85
At intersection ignore first left turn
Road continues on pavement
At fork make left and go to top of Reddish Knob, 4397 feet, highest elevation reachable by road in Virgnia - outstanding views of Harrisonburg - look west and see some very interesting governmental looking satelite dishes???
Come back down from Reddish Knob
Make left onto 85
At the switchback make left onto 427 through the open gate (open from 9/1 to 1/10) - note that per the schedule the second gate is permanently closed and that you actually can't go all the way to Little Bald Knob (4351 feet)
Turn around and go back to Flagpole Knob
Pass Flagpole knob and continue down 85A which becomes Union Springs Road (225B) at the intersection with Dunkle Hallow
Continue down Union Springs to Meadown Knob, 3880 feet
Continue on and you will find ruins of a stone cabin built by a Civil War defector - fun to get out and check out what this guy built - must of had a wooden roof when he was there.
Next will be a series of pools (stock frendly)
Next will be some interesting rocks that will likely require a little spotting for stock vehicles.
Once you start your desent it is mostly just a steep gravel road that eventually turns into pavement. Stopped on the gravel road portion and aired up.
Drive to the end of Union Springs
Make a left onto 742
Make right onto 743
Make left onto 613
Make right onto 33 East
Take 81 North
The above path is likely to be a full day that maximizes time on mud and rock and minimimizes pavement. Probably doable in 6-8 hours - greatly depends on how much you stop etc. Will be more than fine on fuel as long as everyone fills up in Harrisonburg.
Have a great time.
I hope to join in the fun - after all there is PORK involved however wont know until the last minute if I can make it.
Pictures - Flag Pole Knob and Reddish Knob
See pictures of Flag Pole Knob, Reddish Knob (View of Harrisonburg), Reddish Knob at sunset looking into West Virginia.
See pictures of Flag Pole Knob, Reddish Knob (View of Harrisonburg), Reddish Knob at sunset looking into West Virginia.
Land Shark
SILVER Star
Wow now thats a write up
D****t I knew woodley was wrong. Most of that was a blur anyway. Iv never done this trip through GWNF so its sounds great!
It will probably just be me. The 
is underway...
is underway...
Land Shark
SILVER Star
Ryan,
What route are you taking out to harrisonburg?
What route are you taking out to harrisonburg?
Don't look like i'll make it I may have to work. And the 40 will not be ready to go. Thought about bringing the ford but don't think the trails are that big.
Chris
Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD
Chris
Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD
I'm not sure yet, once we got a finalized meeting place I was going to "google map" it and go from there...
Drive the Ford to the rendezvous and snag a seat!
In that first picture of the trail what is that on the right . it kinda looks like bart or a big bird or even a log. i have to know its been bothering me . if it is bart what is he doing?
Land Shark
SILVER Star
Well let me know what you decide maybe (depending on your route) we could catch up midway.
Deer season is the following week. You would be amazed by what people haul up there. Campers, school buses…etc
i agree, what is it!! Does it fly, is it fire wood, or does it grow a beard?
- Thread starter
- #97
Pegasus - good stuff, thanks much.
considering it's a 2hr ride from dc, and we'll be stopping for lunch to actually eat that makes 5.5 hrs. add another 30 min of gassing up and BS coordinating at the general store, that's 6 hrs - before any actual trail time. as such, adding a 6-8 hr trail ride would bring on mutiny from the kids in the backseat, so i'll be looking for a more modest loop myself.
i'm buying "Geographic Illustrated Map #791" now to help orient me to the location. i'll definitely not be leading this ride - since i've never been to this site, and if anyone with experience is up for a 4hr loop, that would be ideal.
10am at the general store? break for lunch at noonish?
here's the link: Amazon.com: Staunton/Shenandoah Mountain, George Washington National Forest Hiking Map (9781566953740): Trails Illustrated Maps: Books
considering it's a 2hr ride from dc, and we'll be stopping for lunch to actually eat
that makes 5.5 hrs. add another 30 min of gassing up and BS coordinating at the general store, that's 6 hrs - before any actual trail time. as such, adding a 6-8 hr trail ride would bring on mutiny from the kids in the backseat, so i'll be looking for a more modest loop myself. i'm buying "Geographic Illustrated Map #791" now to help orient me to the location. i'll definitely not be leading this ride - since i've never been to this site, and if anyone with experience is up for a 4hr loop, that would be ideal.
10am at the general store? break for lunch at noonish?
here's the link: Amazon.com: Staunton/Shenandoah Mountain, George Washington National Forest Hiking Map (9781566953740): Trails Illustrated Maps: Books
I think I'm in. What types of foodstuffs have yet to be spoken for?
Devilmans Hand
TLCA #19517
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2008
- Threads
- 140
- Messages
- 3,476
- Location
- Commonwealth of N.VA
- Website
- www.capitallandcruiserclub.org
likewise, i'd like to bring something too.
anyone have any food allergies?
anyone have any food allergies?
Devilmans Hand
TLCA #19517
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2008
- Threads
- 140
- Messages
- 3,476
- Location
- Commonwealth of N.VA
- Website
- www.capitallandcruiserclub.org
lugi, i was thinking trailhead by 1000. gas up at general store at 0830, then form the convoy and general brief there until 0930 then move out to trailhead.
The gas station at the general store is fairly slow.
I think this gives us enough flex time to enjoy ourselves at the meadow and allows enough trailtime before sunset, which will be around 1700.
I think earlier will be better...
Remember that we lose an hour in Nov.
The gas station at the general store is fairly slow.
I think this gives us enough flex time to enjoy ourselves at the meadow and allows enough trailtime before sunset, which will be around 1700.
I think earlier will be better...
Remember that we lose an hour in Nov.
Last edited:
Similar threads
