George Washington National Forest

Visitor Information

The Massanutten Visitor Information Center, on U.S. Route 211, three miles east of New Market is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April through October. The center is fully staffed and provides information on forest activities and recreation opportunities. Maps, books, and field guides are available for sale. Three interpretive trails, the Discovery Way, the Massanutten Story Book, and the Lion's Tale Trails are nearby. You can get more detailed information from district ranger stations.

Weather

The mountain areas are cooler and wetter than the surrounding lowlands. A good rule of thumb is to find out the temperature in Washington, D.C. or Richmond and subtract 15 degrees. Spring arrives late in the park compared to the lowlands. The first wildflowers don't begin blooming until April, and trees leaf out in May. Area residents talk about the "green line," that climbs as trees leaf out at successive elevations. Summer days are pleasant and the nights are cool—pack a sweater.

The summer can also be disappointingly hazy, blocking the views you came miles to see. Wildflowers blaze all through the summer. While not the brilliant displays of a maple forest, fall colors are deep and rich. The foliage changes start with the Virginia Creeper in September, then the oak and hickory turns turn a deep brick-red. Many flowers bloom, including the asters, goldenrod, and white snakeroot. Winter snowfall is modest, but the mountains serve up lots of ice and frost. The air is clearest, and you can see for miles through the bare branches of trees views you could never see in summer.

Transportation

The Forest includes over 2,000 miles of roads, ranging from wide-paved interstate highways to narrow and rough old woods roads. In addition to the paved interstate highways (I-64), U.S. highways (US 30 and state routes (SR 42), the George Washington National Forest has over 1,700 miles of forest development roads, identified with a Forest Development Road number (for example, FDR 632).

All of these roads are open to hikers, bikers, and all-terrain vehicles. Some roads make better rides than others—check at the ranger's office. Road standards range from paved highways to non-surfaced roads designed for high-clearance vehicles. Management includes year-long, seasonal, and emergency closures. Maintenance of the transportation system is accomplished by ranger district crews and contracts/agreements with private businesses and other agencies.

In addition, the forest highway system includes state roads necessary in the use of National Forest System products such as hauling timber or traveling to recreation attractions. This system is agreed to by the Forest Service, the state, and the Federal Highway Administration, and currently consists of more than 1,200 miles in Virginia and West Virginia.

Most of the forest's developed recreation facilities are easy to reach with standard two-wheel-drive vehicles. Many are accessible from nearby paved highways, but some require journeys on gravel roads. These roads are usually in good condition, but in some cases, extensive use can cause a rough, washboard surface. Reducing your speed will allow a more comfortable ride as well as a better opportunity to view and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.

A number of forest roads are rough and unsurfaced and are only suitable for high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles. Some roads are closed by gates either year-round or seasonally to protect wildlife or other resources. Temporary roads built for logging or other projects are usually closed when the project ends. These roads are usually not designed to support continuous use and are generally gated or blocked.