George Washington National Forest: Massanutten Wildflower Trail (Blog Hike #62)

Trail: Massanutten Wildflower Trail

Hike Location: George Washington National Forest

Geographic Location: west of Luray, VA (38.64260, -78.61142)

Length: 1 mile

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Dates Hiked: April 2000, July 2013

Overview: An out-and-back hike along the eastern slope of Massanutten Mountain with an impressive wildflower display in season.

Area Information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=73679

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940900
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Luray, take US 211 west 5 miles.  As the road nears the top of Massanutten Mountain, look for the Massanutten Visitor Center on the left.  Turn left and park in the small blacktop parking lot. When I last hiked this trail, the Massanutten Visitor Center had closed permanently, but the trail was still open and easily passable.

The hike: Located atop Massanutten Mountain on US 211 some 10 miles west of Shenandoah National Park, the George Washington National Forest Visitor's Center offered maps and other information on the several hundred thousand acres comprising the forest.  The short Discovery Trail also leaves from the center.  On the east side of the parking lot stands the trailhead for the Massanutten Wildflower Trail, which links the Visitor Center with an abandoned picnic area 0.5 miles down slope.  As the name suggests, this is an attractive, short trail to hike in the spring for the nice display of wildflowers.            

Trailhead

            Start by hiking the white-blazed cinder path southward as it descends slightly along the side of the mountain.  In April, look for jack-in-the-pulpit, blue and white violets, tulips, daffodils, and morning glory.  A bit later in the year, flowering mountain laurel provides an impressive display of color.  An interpretive sign informs you that, some 150 years ago during the Civil War, Stonewall Jackson used this very path to maneuver his confederate troops over Massanutten Mountain.           

Upper part of Wildflower Trail

Lower, more rocky part of Wildflower Trail

            After a gentle turn to the right, the trail intersects another orange-blazed hiking trail going up the mountain to the right, and the two trails henceforth share the same treadway.  US 211 can be heard but usually not seen downhill to the left.  All the time in young maple forest, the trail curves gently left before beginning a moderately steep final descent to the picnic area.  After pausing to catch your breath at the picnic area, retrace your steps 0.5 miles back up the mountain to the trailhead to finish the hike.