Some of the best vistas in the mid-Atlantic. The new Strickler Knob trail is a challenging rock hopping/scramble that has beautiful views of New Market Gap, the Luray Valley, and a 360 degree picture perfect panorama from the Strickler Knob summit. A nice hike with a great little rock scramble on the ridge.
The Strickler Knob hike is now one of our favorites. The rock scramble on the last 0.2 miles of the Strickler Knob trail is just as much fun as Old Rag and Duncan Knob, requiring several 12ft climbs over and between the cracks of the boulders. You can also shorten the hike by two miles and park at the Scothorn Gap trailhead on Crisman Hollow Rd/VA211.
Note: The Strickler Knob trail is no longer blazed, and is considered a bushwack. This hike is not suitable for young children or dogs.
From the Massanutten trailhead on Crimson Hollow Rd/VA211 start east towards Waterfall Mountain on the orange blazed Massanutten trail, immediately passing a campsite on the left. In 0.2 miles there is a vista of the Luray Valley. Continue for 0.3 miles at which point the trail turns steeply downhill. Make several switchbacks, then the trail becomes less steep before reaching the intersection of the white blazed Massanutten Connector trail in 0.6 miles from the ridge.
Turn left on the orange blazed Massanutten trail as it begins to climb alongside Big Run, passing a campsite in 0.1 miles. Cross the run where the trail becomes steeper, then re-cross the run, make one large switchback, then level out and arrive at the intersection of the yellow blazed Scothorn Gap trail 2.0 miles from the last intersection.
Now the fun starts. Firstly, thank you to the trail builders! This used to be a formidable bushwhack. The Strickler Knob trail was marked with both pink and red blazes on the rocks, but they have been removed. The trail will also appear to end in a couple of places, but keep heading along the ridge, and you'll pick the trail back up. You'll know when you get to Strickler Knob :)
After 0.3 miles pass a rock outcrop and view to the west and north. From this vista, continue on the trail rock hopping for another 0.4 miles to another opening, and beautiful vista to the southwest. From this point the rock hopping and bouldering becomes more intense. The first obstacle is a 12ft climb over a small rock wall, then just before the the main summit pass through a group of three boulders. This is not the summit stack! Once through the crack continue to follow the blazes, pass a small overhang, and climb a 6ft ledge.
The main summit is accessed through a rock crack on the left. Continue for another 30ft to the southern summit overlook. A hiker has left a trail journal in a waterproof bag here, add you thoughts! Climbing to the main summit provides a 360 degree view of the Luray Valley and New Market Gap.
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Reviews For The Strickler Knob Hike (5 Most Recent)
I did this hike in December (obvious by the hiked date) so the view wasn't as nice as it may be in the spring/summer. However, the trail markers were easily seen and the trial was just as easy to follow. There is no technical difficulty with this hike and if your dog is in shape enough, you can bring the little friend along. I believe the difficulty level is based on the workout factor the steep hill at the beginning doesn't seem tough until your heading back and have to hike back up it. Good hike and I certainly would do it again. My only complaint is the road marker off 211 isn't too obvious its marked by a brown wooden post.
By:
Joe of MD
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, September 06, 2009
The description and reviews here said that the trail was no longer blazed, but it certainly is now, right to the top of the knob. It was a strenuous hike even though it's not very long. I met only one couple who passed me on the Massanutten trail between the Massanutten Connector and the Scothorn Gap trails.
But after I reached the ridgeline and began following the (apparently restored) red and pink blazes, I met over a dozen people! No solitude up there yesterday! They were all headed back, so when I got out to the last boulders, it was just me and the hawks. :)
The day was hazy and I expected to be caught in the rain on my way back to my car. Despite the clouds, the view was spectacular. This is the kind of hike that makes me want to invest in a good camera, but in truth, no pictures, no words, can do justice to the view.
A couple notes about the directions. The link to google maps gave me directions coming out from the DC beltway on I-66 to US 340. That's fine, but when 340 and 211 split, the directions said to continue on 211 East when in fact I had been traveling on 211 West. No U-turn required. So continue with 211 West.
The sign for the Forestry Development road is not visible from 211 heading west, and there is some other name on the sign that is visible. However, if you take the immediate right after crossing into Shenandoah County from Page County, you're on it.
By:
tuff
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 29, 2009
This was a beautiful hike and not as difficult as they say. The bouldering was short lived and not as outstanding as old rag but it was entertaining. I wish i brought my dogs, they would of been fine, but they' re very athletic and can climb like cats. The view was spectacular! I loved how remote and private it was...not a soul there on a beautiful sunday. I did probably take down 1000 spider webs though along the way. Looks like someone is trying to hide the pink blazes. I found a lot covered by rocks and some of them are painted over with brown. A lot of the tree markers have been ripped off too. The last mile coming back was a nice 1000ft. climb. It wasn't too bad, short and sweet. I think it was more painful going down it. Saw lots of bear shit, so beware. I'll definately go back, next time with the bitches.
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 01, 2009
Ok. What Strickler Knob did everyone else hike? Because "5 Stars" is insanely generous.
My partner and I are mid-20s, athletic, avid hikers. A 10 mile hike is our usual Saturday activity. We typically cut estimated times down in half. We love Old Rag, and after reading the reviews about Strickler Knob, were excited for an even more incredible view and fun rock scramble. (For comparison purposes, we climbed Old Rag just a week before this hike-- the positive memory fresh in our minds)
For this hike, we followed the directions to start at MassanuttenTrail, not what most people who hike this trail do. After re-reading the reviews, most people who enjoy this trail start from Scothorn Trail, a shorter and MUCH easier hike than the miserably steep descent followed by an up and down trek through jungle-esque conditions. Think insane humidity, horseflies, gnats and massive spiderwebs covering the extremely narrow and overgrown trail. We love wildlife, but don't love swatting down spider webs every 20 feet for two miles. We started early (8am) to avoid the midday heat and other hikers, and to our regret, an early start meant miserably damp, slick conditions--making the steep descent particularly slow going.
The hike from where the Massanhuten and Scothorn Trails intersect to the start of the Strickler Knob trail is uneventful, and frankly, quite boring. A new-growth forest on the left does not hide the scars of a fire, and there really is nothing to see. The final ascent to Strickler Knob is nothing like the Old Rag scramble. It's not a 'fun challenge' -- it's the unpleasant navigation of small, loose, angular rocks that becomes a chore rather than a challenge. Maybe if we had a breeze, or any bit of wind to help counteract the incessant swarm of gnats and flies, we could have actually enjoyed the views. Oh wait, actually, the views aren't that impressive anyways. Compared to the awe-inspiring rock outcropping at Old Rag, Strickler's Knob is underwhelming. While the 360 degrees is nice, the main take away for us was how far away our car was. As a hiker posted previously, the main companion at the top is an old, dead tree and a bunch of circling vultures. Not exactly inspiring in fact, it was both depressing and anti-climatic. Reading the hiker's log book, we were struck by how positive and inspiring the hike and views were for them, and how this hike clearly beat Old Rag. We just don't get it.
We hiked back down to the intersection of the Massanuten and Scothorn trail. Rather than bushwack our way through the jungle undergrowth of the Massanuten Trail and hopeful that a trail not yet taken would bring redemption to the hike, we chose the easier descent down Scothorn Trail. Again, we were disappointed with the "scenery." If a hike down a gravel road/burned out forest is what you like, then this hike is for you. If you want to see actual wildlife besides swarms of gnats and flies, and some green forest, go elsewhere. We returned to the road where we walked an unpleasant 2+ miles back to our parked car. Never again.
Bottom line: Someone please tell us where the real Strickler's Knob is that everyone keeps raving about. We'd like to hike that, please.
By:
Ron
Rating:
Date of Hike: Monday, July 27, 2009
Were E&H reviewing Strickler Knob or their humid, buggy August day? Strickler Knob is exhilarating on a clear, low-humidity day when the 270-degree views (especially of the Blue Ridge and Page Valley) are so spectacular. There is a great sense of surprise and discovery as you wend your way along the path -- it's not really a trail -- around rock formations and outcroppings and then emerge from a schism between formations to the final redoubt and scenic vista.
Unfortunately, though, I have it on good authority that the Forest Service has suppressed use of the path by removing the trailhead sign, removing the red plastic tree blazes, and painting over the lavender rock blazes with gray paint. So, as of mid-August, anyone going out there will have to follow the path without the aid of blazes. They also removed the Strickler Knob Log which was in a dry bag hanging from a tree at the terminus. There were hundreds of entries in the tattered log, almost all expressing writers' delight with the hike and the splendor of the final destination.
Apparently the Forest Service will consider making this an official trail in the future. In the meantime, adventurous souls can still go up there. Although the path meanders, it follows the top of the narrow ridge and you can't likely get lost. Near the end, among the big rock formations, you have to be more careful. The main route is not dangerous, so if you come to a dangerous spot, retrace your steps and try another route. The final formation has three "towers." You climb through the rock jumble between them until you emerge at the final lookout. Happy exploring!
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