Indian Grave Ridge - Luray, Virginia


Printable Topo Trail Map
   Click for location shots
  Click for location shots
   Click for Parking/Start location
   Hike trail
   Other trail

Sign up for REI Gearmail
and save 15%!

REI.com

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.

Interactive Hike Map Below Printable 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 Indian Grave Ridge hike:

=
Hiker Reviews For The Indian Grave Ridge Hike (5 Most Recent)
Review the Indian Grave Ridge hike here!   Average Review Rating:

By: Doug Rating: Date of Hike: Sunday, June 13, 2010
My wife and I decided to do this hike for our 35th anniversary. We parked in parking area 3 in order to do the climb to the ridge top before it got too hot. We did not see anyone on the entire trail and only 3 cars on the road on a Sunday. Saw plenty of deer and a turtle with bright orange spots. We started around 10 AM and it was already 80 degrees and very humid. Bring plenty of water if you are going to do this hike in hot weather - there is none along the trail. Starting at parking area 3 also means that the road hike at the end is during the heat of the day and there is very little shade. With two decent breaks for snacks, the hike took 4:15. A great hike with wonderful views and a nice breeze on the ridge top.

By: Hokie Hiker Rating: Date of Hike: Saturday, May 29, 2010
First off- once you make it to the dirt road- it is VERY VERY easy to miss the sign for the first parking lot (the 2nd and 3rd are much easier). But we did park at the first (after going all the way to the third and realizing our mistake) and did the roads first- ABSOLUTELY the best way to go. When we came out of the woods it was great to get straight into the car and not have to walk another mile or so down a road. Basically- if you want to park at the first spot- if you go down a hill (not slight down- but semi-steep down)- you've missed it.

As others said- DEFINITELY lots of ticks out there. I brushed about 6-7 off my pant legs- and even though I had been very careful the entire hike and kept checking myself- I pulled 4 off me after I got home.br>
As for the hike itself- it is a good hike for the workout once you get off the roads- but when it comes to views etc- there really aren't many. Based off the other hikes I've been on, I generally agree with the view rating- but this one, in my opinion, should be a 3 at best. When there is a view- it is good- but there really was only 2, maybe 3 (but it also might be that I didn't wander from the path- wasn't wanting any more ticks!)


By: Dean Rating: Date of Hike: Sunday, May 16, 2010
We started at the 1st parking lot, and got the gravel road out of the way first.  Unfortunately, even after entering GWNF after about 2 miles of gravel road, the "old logging trail" is actually a gravel road for another 1 - 1.5 miles.  So, a lot of gravel road.  Other than that, a great hike overall.  Note that you "must" take "business" Rt. 211 out of Luray in order to get on Bixler's Ferry Rd. that road goes over top of the Rt. 211 bypass, and so you can't get on it from the bypass.

By: Rating: Date of Hike: Sunday, November 08, 2009
http://hiking.meetup.com/162/calendar/11769567/  this link will show some photos & comments from 16 hikers who finished Indian Grave Ridge in a little over 3 hours.  Thanks to everyone's comments we were able to find the 3rd parking lot without any difficulty.  I'm glad we started there and headed up to the ridge.  I personally like to get the "up" out of the way.  It was in the 70s & hot as though it was the middle of summer.  Add to that all the leaves on the ground covering the rocks and we had a nice, challenging hike.  I was most surprised when we were @ the 1st parking lot in around 2 hours because this was NOT one of my hard core hiking groups.  I wish there were an alternative for the gravel road although the water was most inviting.  Twelve of us stopped in Front Royal & have finally found a decent restaurant.  The food was great and the wait staff were marvelous.  After we sat down, we learned the restaurant had actually closed for the day, but you wouldn't have known it by the impeccable service we received.  http://www.soulmountainrestaurant.com/

By: Jeff Rating: Date of Hike: Sunday, November 08, 2009
One note on the directions.  If you enter an address from the Washington D.C. area, Google Maps shows a route through Front Royal and south to the hiking area.  DO NOT take this route - after crossing the river, you'll be on a private road that is posted No Trespassing with some strong warnings to turn around.  Instead, go to Luray and find Bixler's Ferry to cross the Shenandoah.  At that point you can use the Hiking Upward directions to find the parking areas.

    View all 13 reviews for the Indian Grave Ridge hike
Late September
about us | home page | terms of use | © 2000 - 2010