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Length	Difficulty	Streams	Views	Solitude	Camping
8.6 mls
Hiking Time: Elev. Gain: Links: Resources:	4.5 hours plus a half hour for lunch 1,550 ft George Washington National Forest Printable Topo Hike Map (PDF) Luray 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 At VA684/S Page Valley Rd. and the Shenandoah River proceed along VA684 7.5 miles. VA684 turns into gravel/dirt road named Page Valley Road.  About 0.5 miles after it becomes dirt veer left uphill onto VA717 (VA684 veers right into a dead end holler by the river), Continue 3.0 miles on VA717 where the first parking area is on your left (sign on tree 'Indian Grave Trail'). 1.3 miles further along is the second parking area which is a boat ramp. The third parking area is found 0.8 miles further along VA717, left on 236 0.2 miles, and on the right just before the gate.

This hike has great views from the valley as it winds alongside the Shenandoah River, and wonderful views from the ridge line as well. Also, as as a section of this loop hike utilizes dirt road VA717 there are three parking options. We prefer to use the first so we get the flatter road section out of the way. The second parking spot is a public launch area for the Shenandoah River, and the third is at the end of VA236 right before entering the GWNF and beginning the uphill portion of the hike.

If you parked at the first area walk 30 yards back to the road and turn left along dirt road VA717. In 0.25 miles the river will come in on your right, and in another 0.75 miles you will pass the second parking area and public river access point. There are spectacular river and valley views for the next 0.8 miles before you turn left onto gravel road VA236.

Climb VA236 for 0.2 miles before arriving at the third parking, option and entrance to the GWNF. Enter the forest on the orange blazed old logging road and in 0.4 miles pass a small unmarked trail (not marked on the map) that splinters off to the left. Continue on the orange blazed logging trail uphill for another 1.0 miles arriving at the junction of the Toliver Trail that turns left uphill.

At this junction the old logging trail continues straight, you want to turn left uphill through the closed gate on the orange blazed Toliver Trail. The trail becomes steeper and in 0.6 miles a connecter trail comes in from the right. Continue straight uphill on the now white blazed trail as it wind back to the left before arriving at the ridge line and intersection of the Massanutten Trail in another 0.2 miles.

Veer left uphill in 50 yards staying on the orange blazed Massanutten trail as the Milford Gap Trail descends to your right.

Continue along the ridge and in 1.3 miles the trail splits. Stay left on the orange blazed trail along the top of the ridge and in another 0.1 miles arrive at the intersection of the purple blazed Indian Grave Ridge Trail that descends to your left.

Turn left downhill on the purple blazed Indian Grave Ridge Trail as it steeply descends the mountain. In 2.3 miles the trail makes a hard left and a old logging road comes in from the right. Stay left on the purple blazed trail as it now gently descends Indian Grave Ridge before arriving back at the first parking area in another 0.7 miles.

Caution:  Bruno, our 32-lb puggle, yakked at MP 8.1 (roughly 1000 yards from parking area #1).  Look closely and you'll notice the havarti and hummus concoction we gave him for stamina.