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 At 12.7 miles the Mudhole Gap loop isn't
as difficult as a lot of shorter hikes. After you compete
the first 3.8 miles to the ridge line near Meneka Peak the
remaining 3/4 of the hike is either downhill or mostly flat,
with the exception of a gradual ascent on the back loop. Little
Passage Creek that runs through Mudhole gap is beautiful in
the spring when the water is running with snow melt. One thing
to keep
in mind is the area is very popular with mountain bikers,
so make sure to keep an ear out for them as they come up from
behind.
Start by crossing the road taking the blue blazed Tuscarora
Trail uphill for .2 miles to the first
intersection. Turn
left .9 miles continuing on the blue blazed trail as
it winds around small ridges and crosses two small streams
passing the
white blazed connector trail that comes in from your left.
Continue uphill on the blue blazed trail as
it traverses the mountain and passes the pink blazed Sidewinder
Trail in another 1.2 miles on the left. Continue
straight on the blue blazed trail as it enters the
Bear Wallow area and and traverses the mountain until it reaches
the ridge line and the junction
of the Meneka Peak Trail in another 1.5
miles from the white blazed trail.
Continue straight downhill on the blue blazed trail
as it descends for another .9 miles where it crosses Little
Passage
Creek
and intersects an access
road that leads up to the Transmitting
tower on Signal Knob.
Turn left following the orange blazed forestry service road
that is part of the Massanutten Trail and in .5 miles the orange
blazed trail will turn right, stay straight, a little
further
you will pass
the reservoir. 2.2 miles further on the access
road you will come to a gate with
a small
parking
area. Continue straight
100 yards passing a small road and two cabins on your right.
Turn left
off the access road onto the purple blazed Mudhole
Gap Trail. This will immediately cross Little Passage Creek
as it heads down through the gap. Cross Little
Passage Creek three more times before
the trail turns left uphill in
1.0 miles.
Stay on the purple blazed Mudhole Gap Trail as it
widens into an old access road and traverses and descends the
mountain for another 3.1 miles passing the pink connector trail
then white
blazed connector trail will come in from your left.
Turn left uphill on the white blazed trail for .1 miles to
meet the orange/blue blazed trail you ascends earlier. Turn
right
traversing
the mountain and re-crossing the two small streams before meeting
the Tuscarora intersection in .9 miles. Turn right
descending the remaining .2 miles back to the parking lot. |
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