The Experience
You will love: Dense Forest canopy leads this short distance banger to a summit Class III rock scramble to test your wits and courage..
You need to know:
The Duncan Knob hike is short, feisty and punctuated by a Class III rock scramble to a summit view of the Massanutten Mountain range. The hike starts at the Gap Creek trailhead on Crisman Hollow Road. The Gap Creek Trail uses a blue marker until the summit. It is well marked and easy to navigate through glorious dense forest. The trail terrain is a mix of rocks, stones and packed dirt (be weary of those stones on the way down). The trail has consistent lung burn for the first mile as it climbs steadily for over 1000 ft. The middle part of the hike is more rolling wander until a second ascent begins at the intersection of the Gap Creek Trail and Strickler Knob Trail (yellow). The Gap Creek trail continues on the blue and begins a fairly short, but direct ascent to the summit area. The summit area starts at the large campsite and here is where you will pick up the white trail (on the left) to head up to the rock scramble and summit. The white trail is poorly maintained as most of the white marks are barely visible. The trail goes for another 0.2 miles until the class III scramble up. The scramble should be taken with care and with fun. It’s an adult playground of crevices, boulders and pivots to use all the way up to the top. Previous hikers have left cairns for directional use. The summit is a showcase of the Massanutten Range with views of Strickler Knob in direct sight. This trail is for kids 10+, dogs until the rock scramble.
Important notice: This trail is frequented by copperhead and timber rattlesnakes. be mindful.
HIKE ON!
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
You need to know:
- Small parking lot
- Be aware of copperheads and rattlesnakes
- Trail access floods easily
The Duncan Knob hike is short, feisty and punctuated by a Class III rock scramble to a summit view of the Massanutten Mountain range. The hike starts at the Gap Creek trailhead on Crisman Hollow Road. The Gap Creek Trail uses a blue marker until the summit. It is well marked and easy to navigate through glorious dense forest. The trail terrain is a mix of rocks, stones and packed dirt (be weary of those stones on the way down). The trail has consistent lung burn for the first mile as it climbs steadily for over 1000 ft. The middle part of the hike is more rolling wander until a second ascent begins at the intersection of the Gap Creek Trail and Strickler Knob Trail (yellow). The Gap Creek trail continues on the blue and begins a fairly short, but direct ascent to the summit area. The summit area starts at the large campsite and here is where you will pick up the white trail (on the left) to head up to the rock scramble and summit. The white trail is poorly maintained as most of the white marks are barely visible. The trail goes for another 0.2 miles until the class III scramble up. The scramble should be taken with care and with fun. It’s an adult playground of crevices, boulders and pivots to use all the way up to the top. Previous hikers have left cairns for directional use. The summit is a showcase of the Massanutten Range with views of Strickler Knob in direct sight. This trail is for kids 10+, dogs until the rock scramble.
Important notice: This trail is frequented by copperhead and timber rattlesnakes. be mindful.
HIKE ON!
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
- 2 water bottle
- heavy on the trail bars or lunch
- Hiking shoes with grip
