LOCATION: Front Royal, VA
TRAIL DISTANCE: 7.1 Miles
TRAIL HEAD / DIRECTIONS: veach gap road
TRAIL TYPE:  In & Out
TRAIL GRADE:  Difficult (3) 
TRAIL PARKING: 10 spots or less
​KEY WORDS: Ages 12+ , Summit views

More Northern VA hikes

TRAIL INFO
What’s to like about the trail:  less traveled, forested trail with water features.
Why go for a hike on this trail: a perch view of shenandoah national park and shenandoah river! 
Best time to go for a hike on this trail:  All seasons.

Summary 
​The trail head and your adventure begins at Veach gap road, A dirt and gravel road with a small parking lot, the local area itself are farms , roaming hills of green all nestled in the mountains of the Shenandoah. 
The trail begins with a yellow blaze and is a single-track, comprised (initially) of dirt and grass before fading into a dirt and rocky rambler. The trail rides the creek's side for the first mile and a half and its important to note that because during wetter periods the trail will become slogged and over run with water from the creek.  There is a small creek crossing, but remain on yellow until the intersection with the Tuscarora trail. Turn left onto the Tuscarora and begin your gradual ascent into the gap itself. The trail is thick with forest and hardwood , while the trail remains a rocky one. Take the trail for 1.6 miles , until you reach a clearing by a former rockslide. The view here is just a teaser of what's to come , but you get a sense of the gap and the beautiful valley you are hiking in. As the treeline thins, the trail wanders up to the summit. The summit is a narrow trail with overlooks, some hugged with trees and others with a small snapshot of the Shenandoah river. Be sure to use the narrow trail for another 0.2 miles until you reach a large campsite, this area has the best perch view of the valley. In the distance straight ahead is Shenandoah National Park and below you is the Shenandoah river. Once you have had your fill, retrace your steps to your car. It is important to note that this entire trail is susceptible to water, even on dry days we found moving water along the trail just enough to make some areas slick.
The beauty of this trail system is not only the beauty of the hardwood forest but the serenity as this trail is secluded and not overtly popular in the area when compared to Signal knob or Buzzard rock.

HIKE ON!

GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS

• 2 water bottles
  
• hiking shoes or boots
  
• Heavy snack / Lunch
  
• Bug spray

LOCAL
​PAIR WITH A LOCAL ATTRACTION, FOOD, BREW OR OTHER HIKES

• FOOD
• NEARBY HIKES
• TOWN
• ACTIVITIES

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PAVEMINT SMOKEHOUSE

ELIZABETH FURNACE CAMPGROUND