Duncan Knob/Strickler Knob-10.5 miles-Strenuous

Two magnificent overlooks in the George Washington National Forest, this hike is richly rewarding, but you’ll have to work for it. The elevation gain is a little over 2,000 ft and you’ll also find yourself doing some rock scrambling for those views.

We’ll be meeting at Scothorn Gap, where we’ll ascend on Scothorn Gap trail (about 1.3 miles). At the junction with Massanutten trail we’ll continue with Scothorn Gap (about 1.6 miles) trail until we reach Gap Creek trail. We’ll take a right and hike (about 0.3 miles) until we reach Duncan Knob trail, where we’ll detour (about 0.3 miles total) to do a rock scramble for a view of the valley. We’ll retrace our steps back to Gap Creek trail (another 0.7 miles) and continue to take Massanutten trail, about 2 miles until we reach Strictler Knob trail, where we’ll break for lunch. From there, we detour again on Strictler Knob trail out to another rock scramble for another great (and slightly different) view of the valley (about 0.7 miles total). Retracing our steps from Strictler Knob, we continue on Massanutten trail. It’s a little over half a mile until we reach the junction with Scothorn Gap trail, where we’ll take a slight left (yellow blaze trail) to retrace our steps back to the parking area where we started.

Notes about Strenuous Hikes: While I encourage people to hike at a pace that is comfortable for them, strenuous hikes do require us to pick up the pace a bit to ensure we’re off the trail well before dark. I’m not talking about jogging here, but an average pace of between 2-2.5 mph is a good baseline. Be sure of your abilities before signing up for this. If you aren’t used to hiking in the mountains, I would start with something shorter and build up your stamina. If you would like suggestions on where to start, I am happy to suggest a few hikes that might work; just message me.
What to Bring: Weather-appropriate clothing (layers will likely be necessary), hiking boots/shoes, a pack with plenty of water (minimum 2 liters), lunch, and snacks, trekking poles

Difficulty: Strenuous, approximately 10 miles with about 2100 ft elevation gain, with 2 rock scrambles

Hike Type: Loop, with detours

Where to Meet: For parking, use these coordinates. The parking is off Chrisman Hollow Road, but doesn't have an easily searchable address, though you can find it by searching for Scothorn Gap Parking. Coordinates are 38°41'32.0"N 78°34'46.7"W
We can coordinate a carpool in the comments if any are interested.

Weather: Severe weather will prompt me to postpone my next available weekend day. I’ll update in the comments if necessary.

Dog Policy: Dogs are welcome. Please keep them on a leash. Not only is it law, but wildlife don’t appreciate being terrorized by dogs (no matter how cute and friendly they may be) and other hikers may not be comfortable with unleashed dogs. Also keep the terrain in mind, as it will be more difficult to navigate with a furry friend.

RSVP: If you find that you're not going to be able to attend the hike, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible to allow anyone who might be on the waitlist the chance to attend. Please be courteous to those on the waitlist and allow them ample time to make plans for this if you find you can't go. Be aware that dropping at the last minute does not give waitlisted folks enough time to prepare.