George Washington National Forest: Strickler Knob! A Strenuous 9.5 Mile Hike with Rock Scramble!

Please note that this is not only a strenuous hike, but in the middle of the strenuous catagory and not appropriate for new hikers or hikers who have not hiked in a while.

Situated at the southern end of Massanutten Mountain near New Market Gap, Strickler Knob rises over 2000 feet above Luray Valley to its East. The summit offers incredible views of New Market Gap, Hawksbill, Stony Man, and Mary's Rock. The last quarter mile of the Strickler Knob Trail offers some short but exciting scrambling. Though the scrambling is not anything like Old Rag Mountain it does have one advantage over Old Rag and Bearfence. Crowds. You will want to wear hiking boots for this hike!

One of our leaders on a past hike had this to say about this fantastic trek with awesome views, " This is a great hike! You get started right away by dropping 1000 feet over a half a mile or so. The hike then begins to climb out of the valley and onto the ridge. The rock scramble up to Stricklers Knob is fun and challenging and the 360 degree view is amazing. It is a strenuous hike and hikers need to know to bring plenty of water (at least 2 liters per person) and to wear the right shoes. Sneakers or hiking shoes are not ok footwear for this hike in my opinion."

This is certainly not the most strenuous we hike, but also not the least. There is also a rock scramble with a reward of a vista offering an amazing 360 degree view! Note that there is one big hill at the end for a great leg workout with 1000 feet of elevation gain in 1/2 mile so it ends with a real butt kicker!

Click here to see pictures from a past hike on this trail.

Hike Pace
There is one pace for this hike which is that of an average hiker, about 2.0-2.5.

Trail Information

Nearby City: New Market
Length: 9.5 Miles
Trail Type: Loop
Area Type: Mountain/Rock
Activities: Hiking, Rock Scrambling
Average Time to Hike: 6-6.5 Hours Due to Elevation Changes and Rock Scrambling
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Elevation: 2661 ft
Skill Level: Middle of the strenuous category, not the most strenuous we hike, but not the least. There is also a rock scramble with a reward of a vista offering an amazing 360 degree view! Note that there is one big hill at the end for a great leg workout with 1000 feet of elevation gain in 1/2 mile so it ends with a real butt kicker!

Trail Notes for Leaders

Weather Information
We hike rain or shine. Click here to see an up to the minute forecast for where we will be hiking.

Our RSVP Policies and Group Etiquette

Click here to review our policies

Carpool Information
There are 3 carpools for this hike!
Savage Station Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the Columbia area, meet at Savage Station. Click here for directions to Savage Station.

DC Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the metro DC area, meetup at the Centerville Park and Ride. Click here for information and directions to the Centerville location.

Baltimore Area Carpool (Security Blvd. I-70 Park and Ride)
To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore metro area, meet at the Security Park and Ride. Click here for directions to where we meet for this carpool.

If you can drive or want to carpool from additional locations, please post your location in the comment section below. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment - by just offering a ride!

Directions to the Trailhead
Click here for directions to where we meet for this hike.

Meetup Time is 9:00 a.m.

Carpool meetup time from Security Park and Ride is 5:30 a.m.

Carpool meetup time from Savage Station is 5:30 a.m.

Carpool meetup time at Centerville Park and Ride is 6:30 a.m.

Please remember we are a social hiking group that values fellowship and camaraderie and practice good hike etiquette. We take breaks as necessary and have at least one guide in the front in addition to a "sweeper" in the back which means that no hiker is left behind. If you get upset because someone has to rest at the top of a hill etc. then please find another group! We are very supportive, encouraging, and focus on safety while getting or staying fit on the trail and practicing Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.

Fido is Welcome on this Hike only with leader approval due to hike difficulty!

Let's have good times and see you there!

Steve: [masked]