Hiking
Bryce Resort sits in a small valley along the foothills of Great North Mountain, surrounded by 700 miles of blazed and named hiking trails. Great North Mountain to the west and Massanutten Mountain, located 12 miles east of Bryce, are part ot the Lee Ranger District of the George Washington National Forest. Great North Mountain, known for its spectacular displays of mountain laurel in late spring, has 47 blazed trails with magnificent panoramic views. Massanutten Mountain, which is actually a doughnut ring of mountains, offers several hundred miles of trails in addition to mountain biking, off-trail-vehicle roads and camping.
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, a volunteer organization with more than 7,000 members, helps to blaze and maintain these trails, and provides accurate maps. Maps and guide books can keep you from becoming lost. Recommended maps are "Great North PATC F," "Massanutten G and H," and "Shenandoah National Park 9 and 10." Also valuable for local hikers are PATC Guide Books: "Great North," "Massanutten," and "Shenandoah National Park." These resources can be purchased at the Edinburg Ranger Station and the Bryce Resort Pro Shop.
The Take a Hike group at Bryce Resort sponsors organized group hikes twice a month, and the public is welcome and encouraged to participate. They meet every 2nd Friday and 4th Tuesday from April through October. Be prepared, carry recommended safety supplies, be courteous of fellow hikers and wildlife, and enjoy the beauty of our natural surroundings.
*For safety reasons, walking is not permitted on the Bryce Golf Course.*
Join our E-club to receive announcements about scheduled hikes.
Take a Hike 2010 Hiking Schedule
Abbreviations:
| GN | Great North Mountain |
| MM | Massanutten Mountain |
| SNP | Shenandoah National Park |
If you are interested in participating in a specific hike, you may contact Mary Modolo, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Ken Erney, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for information on hike times and meeting places. Although hikes begin at designated trail locations, groups from Bryce Resort often meet up at the Basye Post office and carpool to the starting point of the hike.
Friday, June 11th: Lewis Falls - The hike starts at Milepost 51.2 on Skyline Drive. It is a challenging 3.3 mile loop with a 990 foot elevation gain over rugged terrain. Hike Leader: Ed Provost.
Tuesday, June 22nd: Hazel Mountain Loop - There are two options for this hike. Heartier hikers can do a 7.5 mile hike wth a total elevation gain of over 2,100 feet for the entire circuit. At one point you will climb over 500 feet in less than 0.5 miles only to find three more false summits before you. This longer circuit includes the Hazel River Trail, White Rocks Trail, Hazel Mountain Trail and Sam's Ridge Trail. There is also a 5.5 mile circuit starting at the same point but at the White Rocks intersection, cut off onto the Hazel River Trail to Sam's Ridge Trail. Both hikes start on SR 600 where Sam's Ridge Trail and the Hazel River Trail come together. Hike Leader: Dale Wurzer (longer hike) and Anne Tyler (shorter hike.)
Friday, July 9th: Doyles River Falls and Jones River Falls - The hike starts at milepost 81.1 on Skyline Drive and will end at milepost 84.1. Cars will need to be stationed at both locations. The hike is less that 6 miles. the trail to Doyles River Falls is all downhill after which it flattens out and meets with the Jones Run Trail. There are two falls on the Doyles River Trail which are 28 and 63 feet. The Jones Run Trail is mostly uphill with a total elevation change of about 1,300 feet. there are several stream crossings. Leaders: Ken and Teresa Erney.
Tuesday, July 27th: Camp Hoover via Mill Prong Trail - The round trip is 4.1 miles with a total climb of about 870 feet. It is moderately rough in spots, but not steep, with three stream crossings. We can explore Camp Hoover unless it is occupied. The three original cabins are still standing. Hike Leader: John Modolo.
Friday, August 13th: North River Gorge Trail - The trailhead is southwest of Bridgewater in the George Washington National Forest. The 5 mile trail is flat with 11 stream corssings that will require wading across. Hike Leaders: Ken and Teresa Erney.
Tuesday, August 24th: Rose River-Dark Hollow Trails - The trailhead is at Big Meadows, just south of MP 51 on Skyline Drive at the Amphitheater parking area. The 5.5 mile circuit passes Rose River Falls and the site of an old copper mine. Erosion has all but obliterated all traces of this mine. The circuit continues on past Dark Hollow Falls and offers view points from the Appalachian Trail as it circles the Big Meadows picnic and camping areas. The trail has an ascent of 1,400 feet. Hike leader: Dale Wurzer.
Friday, September 10th: White Rocks—This is a 6 mile hike with 1,600 feet of elevation gain. It starts at Van Buren Furnace off Zepp Road. From Van Buren Furnace we will ascend the Sulfur Springs Gap and Three Ponds Trails to White Rock Cliff and its dramatic overlook. From there we will reverse down Little North Mtn. Trail to Van Buren Furnace. Hike Leader: Rick Rhoades.
Tuesday, September 28th: Vance’s Cove - There are two ways to do this hike and they will be researched
and information provided just prior to the hike. It will be about a 6 mile hike on a relatively level portion of the
Tuscarora Trail. Hike Leader: John Fienup.
Friday, October 8th: Buck Ridge/Buck Hollow - This is a 6 mile circuit hike with a 1,700 ft. elevation gain. It
starts at Milepost 33 on the Skyline Drive. We can go in either direction starting on the Buck Ridge or Buck Hollow Trail and returning by the other one. There is an option to leave a car at Rt. 211 and only go down the
mountain. Hike Leader: Susan Chiaramonte.
Tuesday, Octiber 26th: Hogback Mountain Loop - This hike begins at milepost 45.6 on Skyline Drive and is
about 4.5 miles. We will take Keyser Run Fire Road to Pole Bridge Link Trail to Sugarloaf Trail to the Appalachian Trail which takes us back to the starting point. The trail has nice views of the Browntown Valley, the Massanutten Mountain and the Shenandoah Valley. Hogback is the highest point in the northern section of the park. Hike Leader: John Kreitzburg.
Friday, November 5th*:v Verlin Smith Loop - The hike will be the 5 mile Verlin Smith Loop in the G. Richard
Thompson Wildlife Area in Linden, Virginia (Blue Mountain). Hike leader: Dale Wurzer.
Tuesday, November 16th*: Mary’s Rock - This hike will start on Skyline Drive at Skyland and hike along the
Appalachian trail to Mary’s Rock and on down a steep portion of the trail to the Panorama parking lot, a hike of
about 3.6 miles. Hike Leader: John Fienup.
Friday, December 10th: Snead Farm Loop -The hike is an easy 3.2-mile loop that begins at milepost 5.1 on
Skyline Drive. A visit to the farm is a trip back in time. In the past, owners worked this 200-acre piece of land as farmland and as an apple orchard. The park bought the land in 1962. The remnants are visible; the barn still stands, as does the root cellar. The stone remains of the old house are in an open area. The hike encompasses the Snead Farm Trail and the Dickey Ridge Trail. Hike Leader: Susan Chiaramonte.
* The November hikes are moved up a week to get both hikes in before Thanksgiving week.
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