Hone Quarry Ridge Hike

Hone Quarry Ridge - Hone Quarry, Virginia


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Length	Difficulty	Streams	Views	Solitude	Camping
5.0 mls
Hiking Time: Elev. Gain: Links: Resources:	3 hours with 1/2 hour for lunch 1,480 ft George Washington National Forest Hone Quarry Campground (vid) Printable Topo Hike Map (PDF) Harrisonburg Weather Forecast Graphic Precip/Temp Forecast Current Weather Radar Loop (Java) Garmin (GDB), GPS eXchange (GPX) (What's this?) 3D View of Route!
From:	e.g.. 12000 Government Center Parkway 22035 or Fairfax VA Park at the Hone Quarry Campground.

The Hone Quarry area is nestled in a quiet area of the GWNF just west of Harrisonburg VA. With two beautiful loop hikes, one up Oak Knob and Pond Knob with two overlooks, and the other on the opposite Hone Quarry Ridge also with a beautiful vista at the Abbie Point overlook. The valley also has great camping at the Hone Quarry Campground (vid).

Turn left out of the Hone Quarry Campground on Hone Quarry Rd/FR62 and shortly cross Hone Quarry Run over a spillway. In 200 yards turn left on the yellow blazed Big Hollow/430 trail. In 0.1 miles arrive at the intersection of the Heartbreak/435A trail.

Stay right on the Big Hollow trail as it starts ascending the mountain next to a stream for 0.8 miles before making a switchback to the right. In another 0.3 miles the trail will cross an abandoned fire road, then pass back around a spur before heading uphill and joining the abandoned fire road in another 0.4 miles.

The Big Hollow trail becomes wider where it joins the abandoned fire road, and also steeper without any switchbacks for the remaining 0.7 miles to the ridge, and intersection of the Hone Quarry Mountain/435 trail.

Turn left on the yellow blazed Hone Quarry Mountain trail, immediately passing a campsite, then descending through a saddle and climbing steeply to the best vista on the hike at the Abbie Point overlook in 0.6 miles.

From the overlook continue on the trail as it passes through another saddle, climbs the next knob, again passing through a saddle then arriving at the intersection of the Heartbreak/435A trail. The Hone Quarry Mountain trail is closed from this point.

Turn left on the yellow blazed Heartbreak trail as it begins to descend the mountain. Pass several rock slides before the trail begins to level out reaching Hone Quarry Run and the Hone Quarry Run Campground on the opposite bank in 1.0 miles.

The Hone Quarry Run trail will continue for another 0.1 miles back to the intersection Big Hollow trail. Stay right on the Big Hollow trail for 0.1 miles to return to Hone Quarry Rd/FR62.

Stay right on Hone Quarry Rd/FR62 for the remaining 300 yards to the Hone Quarry Campground.

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Hiker Reviews For The Hone Quarry Ridge Hike (5 Most Recent)

Review the Hone Quarry Ridge hike here! Average Review Rating:

By:	Rating:	Date of Hike: Thursday, April 29, 2010
A note that the Forest Service is starting a controlled burn in this area on 4/30 and it may close the trail for up to a week. We hiked on a cool morning and warm afternoon taking time to really enjoy the varied views and plant life. We camped at Hone Quarry campground which is very nice and hiked the Ridge on the second day. I would rate this hike as good for early season views before all the leaves come out. The difficulty rating of 3 is fair as there are a couple of steep areas without switchbacks. It is not too long but a good workout. There are a couple of camping sites on the ridge but no water source that we found.

By: Jen	Rating:	Date of Hike: Wednesday, April 07, 2010
I didn't hike this exact path, but if you go past the recreation area there is a trail marked with yellow lines on the trees. If you hike up there about a mile you will find amazing waterfalls.

By:	Rating:	Date of Hike: Sunday, April 04, 2010
This was a nice hike overall. The view from Abbie Overlook is great. I forgot my directions at home but the trail is marked well enough that you don't really need them. Me and the dog didn't see any animals the whole time but found lots of deer droppings.

By:	Rating:	Date of Hike: Sunday, March 07, 2010
Hike was first one of the year with family. had to wade across stream and IT WAS COLD! Wife had to stop on a rock halfway across to let her feet warm up a bit. after drying feet and putting boots back on we moved up into the snow. We had Mnt. biked this trail when the kids were younger (I do not advise that unless you are J. Bishop), but now, on foot it is a very nice hike. Daughter (16 yr. old) set a nice pace and took lead post-holing in the snow (usually about 6 in. to a ft.) and giving the rest of us steps in the steeper sections. After turning onto ridge trail we encountered mostly melted trail and were able to walk on leaves dirt and pine needles. the smell was of spring even with snow all around. Dog was crazy being on the trail again--he's a shepherd and loves being out in the wood. Stopped for lunch on the rock outcrop on the south side of the trail just before dropping down onto the saddle. We were in shirt-sleeves for most of the hike, snow was as deep as 2 feet in areas and completely absent from the trail in others. Took 3 hours, including a 1/2 hour for lunch. saw a couple of mtn. bikers and some campers, on the road below. Really enjoyable day and a great snow walk

By: Brad	Rating:	Date of Hike: Saturday, January 31, 2009
This is a great loop hike with some marvelous views, especially in the winter. The trails are well marked and the route guide on this site is accurate. The trail was icy in some spots from the last snowfall my yaktraks were a great help.

Early August