The Experience
You will love: small waterfalls, swimming hole and a birds eye perch summit view
You need to know:
Welcome to a beauty and the beast trail. the Fridley Gap trail resides in George Washington National Forest just east of Harrisonburg & follows along the Massanutten range. The trail is best suited during the spring and fall months as summer can be quite buggy. The trail is not well marked so be prepared for a day of faded paint swashes .
The beauty: The Fridley gap trail is filled with natural wonders from rolling ridgelines, thick groves of trees, mountain laurel, small waterfalls and a swimming hole.
The beast: The 6.1 miles will work you, this trail is all business in the back with multiple difficult ascents coupled with difficult descents down loose rock (ankle busters)
Your adventure begins at the trailhead off Airey lane. the small gravel lot can hold 20 cars or less. the Fridley gap trail begins immediately with a small ascent to a private forest road, here hang a right and meander for a quarter mile to the mountain run swimming hole. The swimming hole is 2 to 4 feet deep and the bottom is a mix of sand, branches and forest material. remember to save this spot for last!
Just after the swimming hole is where you will find (lightly orange blazed) Massanutten trail, take a right and begin your ascent for the next 1.5 miles until the summit of fourth mountain (yes its called fourth mountain). Enjoy the valley views via the rock outcrop as this will be your best perch view of the entire trip! From here continue on the orange blazed trail as it slithers through forest grove, small creeks and heavy helpings of flora and fauna. The trail also begins to shift away from single-track to a forest road. After two miles, take a left onto the purple blazed Fridley gap trail and follow for just under a mile before the trail shifts to ascent mode. The ascent will return the trail to single-track with a mix of rocks, roots and compacted dirt. at this point, your legs will feel the ascent. remember what goes up must come down, Once at the ridgeline, follow for 0.2 before heading down a tough descent. The descent has loose material , rocks and dirt begging to sprain an ankle. After 0.6 miles re-meet the orange blazed Massanutten trail and hang a left as this will be the final leg of your trip. The orange trail will return you to the swimming hole area, at this stage toss the socks and shoes and go ice down those puppies in the brisk mountain water. Once your ready to go home, continue back down the Fridley gap trail to the parking lot.
HIKE ON!
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
You need to know:
- Fridley Gap trail resides in George Washington National Forest
- Be aware of copperheads and rattlesnakes
- Swimming Hole found at the beginning of the trail... take a dip at the end.
Welcome to a beauty and the beast trail. the Fridley Gap trail resides in George Washington National Forest just east of Harrisonburg & follows along the Massanutten range. The trail is best suited during the spring and fall months as summer can be quite buggy. The trail is not well marked so be prepared for a day of faded paint swashes .
The beauty: The Fridley gap trail is filled with natural wonders from rolling ridgelines, thick groves of trees, mountain laurel, small waterfalls and a swimming hole.
The beast: The 6.1 miles will work you, this trail is all business in the back with multiple difficult ascents coupled with difficult descents down loose rock (ankle busters)
Your adventure begins at the trailhead off Airey lane. the small gravel lot can hold 20 cars or less. the Fridley gap trail begins immediately with a small ascent to a private forest road, here hang a right and meander for a quarter mile to the mountain run swimming hole. The swimming hole is 2 to 4 feet deep and the bottom is a mix of sand, branches and forest material. remember to save this spot for last!
Just after the swimming hole is where you will find (lightly orange blazed) Massanutten trail, take a right and begin your ascent for the next 1.5 miles until the summit of fourth mountain (yes its called fourth mountain). Enjoy the valley views via the rock outcrop as this will be your best perch view of the entire trip! From here continue on the orange blazed trail as it slithers through forest grove, small creeks and heavy helpings of flora and fauna. The trail also begins to shift away from single-track to a forest road. After two miles, take a left onto the purple blazed Fridley gap trail and follow for just under a mile before the trail shifts to ascent mode. The ascent will return the trail to single-track with a mix of rocks, roots and compacted dirt. at this point, your legs will feel the ascent. remember what goes up must come down, Once at the ridgeline, follow for 0.2 before heading down a tough descent. The descent has loose material , rocks and dirt begging to sprain an ankle. After 0.6 miles re-meet the orange blazed Massanutten trail and hang a left as this will be the final leg of your trip. The orange trail will return you to the swimming hole area, at this stage toss the socks and shoes and go ice down those puppies in the brisk mountain water. Once your ready to go home, continue back down the Fridley gap trail to the parking lot.
HIKE ON!
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
- 2 water bottles
- hiking shoes or hiking boots
- heavy snack or lunch
- Bug Spray
- towel
