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George Washington National Forest
Hiking - Deerfield Ranger District
The North Mountain Trail offers hikers an opportunity for solitude and spectacular views as it winds its way along the Great North Mountain. This 14.5-mile trail though steep in places, is suitable for day hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. The trail passes just below Elliot Knob, one of the highest points within the George Washington National Forest, offering an open, panoramic view of the Deerfield Valley.
From Staunton, take SR 254 west to Buffalo Gap. Continue south on SR 42 for 0.7 mile. Turn right by a white church onto SR 688. Follow SR 688 about 2 miles to the top of North Mountain where the trail begins on the south side of the road.
The Cold Springs Trail is a 2.2-mile trail that descends steeply from the North Mountain Trail, near Elliot Knob, to the Cold Springs Road. It is the route used to reach the fire lookout tower operated during the 1950's. It features a diversity of terrain, several overlooks, and an excellent view of the Deerfield Valley.
From Staunton, take SR 254 west to Buffalo Gap. Continue south on SR 42 for 0.7 mile, turning right at the white church onto SR 688. Follow SR 688 over North Mountain to FDR 77 (Cold Springs Road). Follow FDR 77 south about 3.6 miles to where the trail begins on the east side of the road.
The Shenandoah Mountain Trail (South) is a 23.7-mile remote, backcountry trail which winds through the ridges of the Shenandoah Mountain Range. The trail, which was built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps, features excellent views of the Deerfield Valley to the east and the Cowpasture River Valley to the west. The Shenandoah Mountain Trail intersects several"old woods" roads and other trails to provide shorter loop opportunities or add variety to the hike.
The trail is most readily accessed from the south side of US 250 at a gate on FDR 396, about 0.2 mile east of the Confederate Breastworks.
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