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This hike is a part of the PATC CentennialFest 2026-Celebrating 100 Years of Volunteers. This is a moderately strenuous 5.3-mile out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 1325' on the Massanutten Trail (hiking north from parking). Parts of the trail are rocky and steep. We will hike about 1.7-2 mph on average, slower uphill and breaking as needed.

Trailhead Location: The parking is located less than 5 miles, 10 minutes, from Caroline Furnace Camp at Peters Mill Run/Taskers Gap OHV System Parking Area at Edinburg Gap (Forest Rd 374, Edinburg, VA 22824)
GPS 38.78867, -78.52153

RESTROOM: Vault toilet near OHV parking.

AGENDA: From the parking area, we will cross Edinburg Gap Road/675 and make a left onto the orange-blazed Massanutten Trail. One-tenth mi from the intersection of Bear Trap and Massanutten Trail, a rock cairn will mark the spur trail on the left to the Bill Kruszka Overlook. Then we'll retrace our steps back to the parking area.

WHAT TO BRING: The Ten Essentials. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and warm/cool layers. Bring plenty of water, snacks/meals, and trekking poles if you use them. https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html

Attendance will be limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. Preference will be given to PATC members. PATC rules do not permit children under 18 years to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present.

The PATC requires hikers to sign a liability waiver; you can review the waiver at PATC Forms, Hike Sign Up Sheet, and Liability Waiver (http://patc.net/patc-forms-and-policies). I will have the waiver at the hike for you to sign.

Tidbits:

  • The Bill Kruszka Overlook, located in George Washington National Forest, is named for a longtime Forest Service employee who, along with Don Sawyer, helped develop many trails in the Lee Ranger District. The rocky outcrop offers sweeping views of Short Mountain, Edinburg, and the Shenandoah Valley.
  • The Massanutten Trail is a 71‑mile National Recreation Trail in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of central Virginia, forming a loop around the inner Fort Valley of the Massanutten Mountain range.
    Revolutionary War origins
  • Massanutten Mountain Trail, Virginia - American Trails
    The trail’s roots trace back to the American Revolutionary War. In 1781, after the Continental Army’s defeat at Yorktown, General George Washington ordered General Daniel Morgan to build a road over the eastern ridge into the valley — now known as Morgan’s Road and part of the Veach Gap section of the Massanutten Trail. This was intended as a potential retreat route if the army had been overwhelmed

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