Big Schloss is another treasure in the George Washington National
Forest. Relatively easy at only 4.4 miles and 1,000 vertical feet,
it's the sister hike to Tibbet Knob which heads to the south from the same parking location. Tibbet Knob has two short rock scrabbles, but a 10th of the hikers, and just as good views.
***NOTE***
Due to the Big Schloss bridge project, the Big Schloss Trail will be closed beginning August 29, 2010 for approximately 2 months. The Mill Mountain Trail will remain open during this time.
Big Schloss peak, named by German immigrants
provides a wonderful view of the surrounding valleys. Make
sure to bring a packed lunch because you will want to linger
at the Big Schloss rock outcropping and soak in the view.
If you want to make a weekend out of it, the Wolf Gap recreation
area has 9 well maintained
campsites with bathroom facilities. If you have some
extra hiking time consider hiking the Tibbet Knob route as well. The views are every bit as good.
Leave the Wolf Gap Campground (near campsite #9) and start
up the orange blazed Mill Mountain Trail to begin the steepest
portion of the hike. The first mile has several switch
backs before arriving at the ridge
line of Mill Mountain.
Once getting to the ridge line, turn left and continue following
the now narrower trail as it follows the ridge before arriving at the junction
of the Big Schloss Trail in 1.9 miles.
Turn right onto the white blazed Big Schloss Trail for another
0.3 miles before crossing a wooden
bridge that will take you to the overlook just 50 yards
further along. Enjoy the view it's one of the best! To return, just retrace your route back to the Wolf gap Campground.
Interactive Hike Map BelowPrintable
Topo Hike Map (PDF) Hike route in Drag the map with your mouse using the icon Zoom with the controls on the left Mouse-over the icons in the map below for location shots
Calculate roughly how many calories you could burn on the Big Schloss hike:
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Hiker
Reviews For The Big Schloss Hike (5 Most Recent)
Hiked Big Schloss on 6/26 - 6/27 with our Boy Scout crew preparing for Philmont. We continued on the Mill Mountain Trail for 2 miles, camped at Sandstone Spring Saturday night and had the area to ourselves. The campsite was fine for our group of 8. Water was available at the spring even with the recent dry weather. Saw very few people on the trail probably due to the heat in the DC area. The trails are very well marked and easy to follow. The first 3/4 of a mile from Wolf Gap Recreation area up to the ridge is a good workout especially with a full pack. Saw several piles of bear scat, digging and other evidence, but no bears. The water from the pump at Wolf Gap looked like tea even after pumping for quite a while. Planning to do this one as a day hike with my family in the fall.
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 12, 2010
This hike was spectacular. It offers nearly 360 degrees of views in Virginia and West Virginia, and in protected forests no less. In addition, the hike itself is not too bad, once you get past the first stretch, and the walk along the ridgeline is terrific in June - lots of butterflies, wild flowers, and beautiful smells in the air. If you had the patience, you could easily stitch together a nearly 360 degree picture of the surrounding vistas, which is hard to find in VA/WV, or anywhere else for that matter. In my estimation, this hike easily rivals Strickler's Knob for views, and should probably be rated a 6 rather than a 5. A terrific hike!
By:
Pete (again)
Rating:
Date of Hike: Tuesday, March 23, 2010
I go on this hike frequently after work during the late winter and early spring. Yesterday I went on the hike and I knew it was breezy, but it was a full blown blow once you got out on the rocks. When I sat down, the wind was so strong that you could feel the rock shaking underneath you. This hike is a wonderful one to go on late in a weekday afternoon. It's relatively short (4 miles or so) and you can complete it and still enjoy the really good views in about an hour and a half. I've hiked this 15 times now with my dog and I have seen only one other pair of people on it.
By:
Pete
Rating:
Date of Hike: Friday, January 22, 2010
I went on this hike yesterday after the snow and ice event the previous night. No one was around. The hike is really easy once you get up on the ridge. Big schloss in the snow and ice was really incredible. This hike is worth the trouble after it snows...
By:
Greg Thompson
Rating:
Date of Hike: Friday, January 01, 2010
Man, What a awesome hike. It was a little on the chilly side but it was well worth the view. There was snow everywhere but it didnt seem to slow me down or make it to bad. Once I got to the ridge line headed toward the overlook, it was great. The wind was a little rought and the rocks a little more icier than I would have liked, but it was a great hike. Everyone should try it. I bet you would like it.
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