LOCATION: New Market, VA
TRAIL DISTANCE: 8.4 Miles
TRAIL HEAD/ DIRECTIONS: Wildflower Trailhead / Route 211
TRAIL TYPE: Loop
TRAIL GRADE:  Strenuous (4)
TRAIL PARKING: 15 Spots or less
KEY WORDS: Swimming hole, Camping, Summit views

More Central VA & SNP Trails

TRAIL INFO
What’s to like about the trail:  mountain spring fed pond, beautiful tapestry linking hardwood and pine forests
Why go for a hike on this trail: swimming hole! ridge rambling, summit bagging hike in GW national forest!
Best time to go for a hike on this trail:  spring, summer, fall

Summary  
Your adventure begins at the Welcome Center parking lot, where you will find the wildflower trail (white marker). The trail will gently lead you down for 0.3 miles to the intersection with the Massanutten trail (orange marker), take a right to join this trail. from here its 2.7 miles until you reach the intersection with Bird Knob trail in the meantime its time to climb. The next 2.7 miles you will climb, have lung burn and consistent water breaks as you trek over 1000ft in elevation gain via single-track. Your trail will be blessed with groves of pine trees and a boulder field but your payoff is multiple summit outcrops (mm 1.9) of the New Market valley region!  Once you have had your fill of the summit, continue to the intersection of Massanutten and Bird Knob. Make a right onto Bird Knob and continue on this pleasant descent as you make your way to Emerald pond. The trail is narrow, quick paced and feels amazing after your tough climb on the Massanutten. Bird Knob reaches a large open field, stay to the left of the field and join with a former fire road. The fire road will lead for 0.2 miles to an intersection with another fire road. take a left and Emerald pond is less than 0.1 miles. Emerald pond is spring fed, depending on the season the waters can appear light blue to light green and is swim friendly (however cold regardless of season). Along the banks of the pond are several primitive camp sites for use. once you have had your fill of emerald pond, its time to head back to your car. Please read the back end of this trail summary a few times because the return trip initially can be tricky.  From Emerald pond retrace your steps to the intersection with the initial fire road, make a left and head uphill until you reach a gate and a large gravel Service road. Here you will find the Massanutten (orange marker). turn left on the service road and go uphill for 0.5 miles until you reach another gate and an intersection. Please continue passed the gate, heading straight on the Massanutten (orange marker) , the trail narrows and the forest becomes thicker as you trek the mountainside for another half mile. At the half mile comes another junction, continue by making a slight right onto the Massanutten. the trail continues for just under a mile headed south towards a rendezvous with the Bird Knob trail. Along this stretch of trail you will find enormous ant hills, remember to observe only. As you reach the intersection with Bird Knob, this should all look familiar , veer right and continue headed back to your car on the Massanutten (orange blaze) for 2.7 miles. Oh its these 2.7 miles again!  However its now become a quick venture down the mountain filled with ankle twisting rocks, tight turns, roots and a few places to shock your leg muscles at the change in terrain and elevation. The trail humbly returns you to the Wildflower trail, make a left here and return the 0.3 miles to the welcome center.

HIKE ON!

GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS

• 2 water bottles or a camelbak
  
• hiking shoes or hiking boots
  
• Heavy snack
  
• Lunch
  
• Bug Spray
  
• ​Swim trunks/ change of clothes
  
• ​first aid kit

LOCAL

• NEARBY HIKES
• THINGS TO KNOW
• EATS

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• welcome center is now closed permanently closed, parking lot is open
• Bears & snakes frequent this trail​