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. 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.*
Please note that there are more than 2 hikes in several months.
January 6: Dickey Ridge. This hike in Shenandoah National Park will start at MP 2.1 and follow Dickey Ridge 7 miles to MP 9. There are several options to end the hike at several parking areas short of MP 9. Hike Leader: Susan Chiaramonte
January 13: From the Tower on Crooked Run Road we will hike about 2.5 miles along the Ridge on Great North Mountain with overlooks into both West Virginia and Virginia and return for a total of 5 miles. Hike Leader: Rick Rhoades
January 24: Edinburg Gap to Woodstock Tower. This hike is 8 miles with a short climb at the beginning and an easy level or slightly downhill walk along the ridge. Cars will be pre-positioned at Woodstock Tower. Hike Leader: Ed Provost
February 10: From Powells Fort Camp we will go to Strasburg Reservoir via Tuscarora Trail and return on Massanutten West Trail (roadway) for a total of 8 miles. The first ½ mile is steep. Hike Leader: Dale Wurzer
February 28: Old Rag Hike going up the back side (the easier climb). This is a 6 mile roundtrip hike. Hike Leader: John Modolo
March 9: The Trail Head for this hike (PATC Map “F” grid I-6) is at the intersection of Rt 600 (Zepp Road) and Rt 601 (Paddys Run). This is an unmarked trail to Vances Cove through Paddys Gap and on to a Beaver Dam on the Vances Cove Trail and return. This is about a 7 mile hike with little more than 400 feet of elevation. Hike Leaders: Theresa and Ken Erney
March 27: This hike starts at a trailhead on Trout Run Road in West Virginia. We’ll take Half Moon Mountain Trail, a moderate but steep trail of about 6 miles round trip. Hike Leader: John Fienup
April 13: The hike goes to Buzzards Rock from Rt. 619 in Fort Valley (Fish Hatchery Road). We will return via Shawl Gap Trail for a total of 6.5 miles. Hike Leader: John Fienup
April 24: This hike is on Fridley Gap Trail in the Massanutten Mountains south of New Market. We’ll go to the spring and then take a circuit hike for a total hike of about 5 miles. Hike Leader: Anne Tyler
May 4: Trillium Hike. This is a popular short 2-mile hike in G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Area in Linden, VA. Hike Leader: Anne Tyler
May11: Dark Hollow Falls and Rose River Falls Hike. The trailhead is at MP 50.7 on Skyline Drive. We’ll take Dark Hollow Trail to Rose River Loop trail and come back from Fisher’s Gap on a horse trail for a 5.5 mile hike. Hike Leader: Ed Provost
May 22: The Reddish Knob hike is west of Harrisonburg, the highest point in the area (4,600 feet). The hike goes along a ridge and gently slopes down for 6 miles. Hike Leader: John Kreitzburg
June 8: Stack Rock Dillinger Gap Hike. This is a steep 6-mile hike starting on Falls Ridge Trail at Dillinger Gap then turn right on North Mountain Trail, right on Stack Rock Trail, right on Laurel Run Spur and back to the cars. Hike Leader: Dale Wurzer
June 26: This hike is in the North River Gorge southwest of Bridgewater. It is a popular 5-mile level hike with 11 stream crossings. Hike Leaders: Theresa and Ken Erney
July 13: Trout Pond Circuit Hike. This is an easy 6-mile circuit hike at Trout Pond Recreational Area in West Virginia. Hike Leader: John Modolo
July 24: Overall Falls Hike starts at Thompson Hollow off Rt. 340 and goes to the falls and back, a 5 mile hike. Hike Leader: Rick Rhoades
August 10: The Cave Falls hike starts at MP 33.5 on Skyline Drive. We will take Hazel Mountain Trail to White Rocks Trail and turn off on Cave Falls trail. The hike is 5.3 miles with a very steep ¼ mile drop to the falls and climb back up. Hike Leader: John Modolo
August 28: The hike is from Compton Gap to Rt. 522. This is a 5.4 mile downhill hike starting at Skyline Drive MP 10.4. We will preposition cars on Rt. 522. Hike Leader: Dale Wurzer
September 14: The hike is the Pond Run Section of the Tuscarora Trail off Waites Run Road near Wardensville, WV. This is a 6 mile roundtrip hike with 7 stream crossings and a 1700 foot elevation change. Hike Leader: Dale Wurzer
September 25: The hike in Fort Valley goes from Veach Gap to Elizabeth Furnace on the Massanutten Trail. It is a 7-mile hike with a 1200 foot climb to the ridge and a moderate downhill into Elizabeth Furnace. Hike Leader: John Fienup
October 12: Hog Back Mountain Loop Trail. This 4.5 mile hike starts at MP 45.6 on Skyline Drive. It follows Keyser Run Fire Road to Pole Bridge Link Trail to Sugarloaf Trail to the Appalachian Trail which goes back to the starting point. Hike Leader: John Kreitzburg
October 23: From Fetzer Gap on SR 600 we will follow the Tuscarora Little North Mountain Trail across Little North and ending at the Cedar Creek parking area. We will pre-position cars there to return us to the starting point. It is an easy hike of about 5 miles. Hike Leaders: Theresa and Ken Erney.
November 2: The hike in Fort Valley will start at a trailhead on Rt. 774 hiking to Veach Gap, then to Morgan’s Road and return. It is about 4 miles, with 1000 feet of elevation gain. Hike Leader: Rick Rhoades
November 27: The hike will start at MP 55, Booten Gap, on Skyline Drive taking the AT a short distance to Laurel Prong Trail to Rapidan Camp and return by Mill Prong Trail to MP 53, about a 5-mile roundtrip hike. We will need to position vehicles at MP 53 before starting the hike. This camp was created and used by President Hoover. Hike Leader: Susan Chiaramonte
December 7: Doyles River Falls and Jones River Falls. The hike starts at MP 81.1 on Skyline Drive and will end at MP 84.1. Cars will need to be stationed at both locations. The hike is less than 6 miles. The trail to Doyle’s River Fall is downhill after which it flattens out and meets the Jones Run Trail. There are 2 falls on the Doyle’s River Trail, which are 28 and 63 feet. The Jones Run Trail is mostly uphill with a total elevation change of about 1300 feet. There are several stream crossings. Hike Leaders: Theresa and Ken Erney
December 9: Tentative date for Annual Holiday Party
December 10: Tentative date for 2013 Hike Schedule Meeting for Hike Leaders
December 18: The Jeremy’s Run hike starts and the Elkwallow Gap Wayside picnic area at MP 24 on Skyline Drive. We will take the Appalachian Trail to the Jeremy’s Run Trail down to Rt. 611. The total hike will be about 6.5 miles, mostly following the river down at a slight grade. The hike will require pre-positioning a few cars on SR 611 and then returning Skyline Drive to pick up cars left there. Hike Leader: John Modolo
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.
