EDITCH GAP OVERLOOP HIKE FULL

I rate the difficulty between a 2 and 3 mostly due to rocky travel.įantastic view of the Shenandoah valley and Luray VA looking east.

EDITCH GAP OVERLOOP HIKE FULL

Relatively easy hike early half (logging road), 2nd half up is full of rocky trail terrain. Great views from the tower and worth the time. Leaves are starting to change but are muted because of the drought conditions. It wasn't a crowd, but more that I'd expected for a weekday. I was surprised at how many other hikers I encountered mid-week.

Taking the time to understand trail markings makes for a better experience and less outrage that it's not Central Park. Still, some people didn't seem to get the hint from the directions on this site or that this was obvious trail maintenance. Intersections had signs that were in good condition and even showed the obvious intersection between the Massanutten Trail (orange blaze) and Kennedy Peak trail (white blaze) The hairpin turn in the trail after the saddle is pretty obvious with a line of boulders and a tree trunk on top. Trail blazes were in good condition and about what i'd expect from any trail in VA. No litter in the back country or parking area, but some horse manure in spots and some almost to the tower.

Trail was in good condition but with some erosion at the trailhead. There is no water source(s) on the trail out or at Kennedy, so take along a couple of liters. Nice short hike for a stretch and with a great view from the tower on Kennedy Peak. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments.

Mile 3.5 - From the fire tower lookout platform there are expansive 360° views of the Luray Valley and South Fork of the Shenandoah River to the east, and the Massanutten Range including Duncan Knob and Kerns Mountain to the southwest.

Mile 3.3 - Turn right and follow the Kennedy Peak trail as it climbs for the remaining 0.2 miles to the Kennedy Peak fire tower.

Return to the Massanutten Trail and continue uphill for another 0.2 miles to the ridge and intersection with the white blazed Kennedy Peak Trail. Follow the trail to the left for 25 yards to a campsite and semi-obstructed view of Fort Valley.

Mile 3.1 - Arrive at a split in the trail.

Mile 2.2 - Descend through a saddle where the trail then climbs around the eastern side of Kennedy Peak before making a hairpin turn back towards the western side of the mountain.

The trail is wide and climbs gradually along the ridge for 1.3 miles. Turn left-north staying on the orange blazed Massanutten Trail as it follows an old forestry road.

Mile 0.9 - Arrive at VA675 and ridgeline.

The trail will make several switchbacks as it climbs towards the ridge.

Mile 0.0 - Near the entrance to the Stephens trailhead parking area the orange blazed Massanutten Trail will start uphill towards the ridge.

If you park there you may be towed or ticketed. Important Parking Note: As of 2020 parking is no longer permitted on the VA 675 ridge. Also before starting out take a moment to check out the paragliding launch area with easterly views of the Shenandoah River and Luray Valley. If you're looking for more of a challenge, add the Stephens Trail to create a 9.2 mile 1,590 ft gain loop hike. It starts with a gentle incline along the ridge, then climbs more steeply around the western flank of the peak. The out and back hike ends with a spectacular 360° view from the fire tower viewing platform at the summit of Kennedy Peak. Kennedy Peak has some of the best vistas in the region.

Park at the large parking area off VA675 at the Stephens

Editch gap overloop hike