George Washington National Forest Hiking
One forest, rocky outcrops, waterfalls & old-growth, across western Virginia.
Three days of George Washington National Forest hiking in western Virginia: the Big Schloss outcrop, Crabtree Falls, drive-up Reddish Knob, Ramsey's Draft old-growth, and Saint Mary's Falls.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
12 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→George Washington Forest: every stop pinned in order.
Big Schloss, Reddish Knob & Crabtree Falls · western Virginia
George Washington Forest in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 3 days in George Washington Forest, one step at a time
How 3 days in George Washington Forest split up
Plan 3 days for George Washington Forest. Total distance: ~180 mi. Difficulty: Moderate. Cost: Free / low. The George Washington National Forest is part of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, a vast spread of Appalachian ridge-and-valley country running down the spine of western Virginia and dipping into West Virginia. It wraps around Shenandoah National Park with over a million acres of public land: long forested ridges, rocky outcrops, cold trout streams, and some of the best old-growth left in the East. There is no entrance gate and almost no crowds away from the headline falls.
Day 1: The northern forest · Big Schloss on the Mill Mountain Trail
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: Shenandoah Mountain · Reddish Knob & Ramsey's Draft old-growth
4 stops · Day two
Day 3: The southern forest · Crabtree Falls, Saint Mary's & Elliott Knob
4 stops · Day three
The northern forest · Big Schloss on the Mill Mountain Trail
Start in the rugged northern reaches of the forest near Wolf Gap, on the Virginia/West Virginia line. From the Wolf Gap area, climb the Mill Mountain Trail to Big Schloss (about 4 miles round trip), the iconic rocky outcrop of the George Washington National Forest. A short wooden footbridge leads out onto the crag, where the ridges of two states fall away in every direction. This is the signature view of the northern forest.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive from~1 to 1.5 hr · gravel roads · fuel up first · DriveHead out from the Shenandoah Valley to the rugged northern forest near Wolf Gap, on the Virginia and West Virginia line. Plan on roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, with the last stretch on gravel forest roads and little cell service. Fill up in town and download offline maps before you lose signal.
Big Schloss via the Mill Mountain Trail~4 mi RT · moderate · iconic outcrop · HikeFrom the Wolf Gap area, climb the Mill Mountain Trail to Big Schloss (about 4 miles round trip), the iconic rocky outcrop of the George Washington National Forest. A short wooden footbridge leads out onto the crag, where the forested ridges of two states fall away in every direction. The footbridge is exposed, so watch your footing.
Trout Run Valley ridgesOptional · quiet Tuscarora-area trails · ViewpointIf you want more than Big Schloss, the surrounding Trout Run Valley and Tuscarora ridges hold miles of quiet trail with long ridge views. It is an easy way to extend the day before you head down to camp, with far fewer people than the outcrop itself.
Camp at Wolf Gap or stay in townPrimitive campground · or valley hotel · lodgeSet up at the cheap, primitive Wolf Gap Campground right at the trailhead, or drive back to a valley town for a roof. Wolf Gap is first-come, first-served with no hookups, so bring water or a filter. There is no lodging inside the forest, so for a hotel base in Harrisonburg or Staunton.
Shenandoah Mountain · Reddish Knob & Ramsey's Draft old-growth
Today is centered on the high spine of Shenandoah Mountain west of Harrisonburg. Drive up to Reddish Knob, one of the highest points in the area at about 4,397 feet, a rare drive-up summit on the Virginia/West Virginia line with a sweeping 360-degree view over endless ridges. Go for sunrise or sunset if you can: the light over the Alleghenies from the bald summit is the best big-sky view in the forest.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Reddish Knob summit drive
~4,397 ft · drive-up · 360° views · ViewpointDrive up to Reddish Knob, one of the highest points in the area at about 4,397 feet, a rare paved drive-up summit on the Virginia and West Virginia line. The bald summit gives a sweeping 360-degree view over endless ridges. Go for sunrise or sunset for the best light over the Alleghenies.
Ramsey's Draft Trail · old-growthOut-and-back · hemlocks · stream crossings · HikeHike into Ramsey's Draft Wilderness, home to some of the finest old-growth forest left in the East. The Ramsey's Draft Trail follows the stream up through towering hemlocks and hardwoods, with numerous crossings and no bridges, so make it an out-and-back of any length. After heavy rain the crossings can run high, so check conditions.
Shenandoah Mountain TrailOptional · long ridge trail · HikeFor more miles, sections of the Shenandoah Mountain Trail ride the long high spine nearby with quiet ridge walking and broad views. You can pick up a stretch for an out-and-back of any length before heading to camp or back to town.
Brett VA / CC BY 2.0Camp in the forest or stay in StauntonPrimitive sites · or valley hotel · lodgeCamp at a primitive forest site or in the wilderness, or drive down to Staunton for a hotel and dinner. Staunton sets you up close to tomorrow's southern waterfalls and is a charming historic base in the valley. Store food properly wherever you camp, as this is black bear country.
The southern forest · Crabtree Falls, Saint Mary's & Elliott Knob
Head to the southern end of the forest near the Blue Ridge for the waterfalls. Crabtree Falls (about 3 miles round trip to the top) is the tallest cascading waterfall in the eastern United States, dropping roughly 1,200 feet over a series of steps with overlooks all the way up. It is the most popular hike on this route, so start early. Nearby, Saint Mary's Falls in the Saint Mary's Wilderness is a rewarding stream hike to a waterfall and swimming hole.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Crabtree Falls
~3 mi RT · tallest cascade in the East · HikeCrabtree Falls (about 3 miles round trip to the top) is the tallest cascading waterfall in the eastern United States, dropping roughly 1,200 feet over a series of steps with overlooks all the way up. It is the most popular hike on this route, so start early. The wet rocks are deadly, so stay on the marked trail and overlooks the whole way.
- Saint Mary's Falls
Stream hike · waterfall & swimming hole · HikeSaint Mary's Falls in the Saint Mary's Wilderness is a rewarding stream hike to a waterfall and swimming hole. The trails are unblazed and the access road can wash out, so check conditions and carry a map. It is a quieter, wilder alternative to the crowds at Crabtree Falls.
Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0Elliott KnobOptional · ~4,463 ft · steep lookout climb · HikeIf you have energy left, Elliott Knob (about 4,463 feet) is one of the highest points in the forest, a steep climb to a lookout with broad views. The Appalachian Trail also rides the ridge along the eastern edge near the Three Ridges area by the Blue Ridge Parkway if you want a different finale.
Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0Getting home: SHD, ROA or IADShenandoah closest · Roanoke / Dulles larger · DriveFrom the southern forest, Shenandoah (SHD) near Staunton is the closest airport, with Roanoke (ROA) and Washington Dulles (IAD) the larger options. Each is a scenic drive back out through the valley, so fill your tank and leave with daylight to spare, especially if you have been on remote forest roads.
Book the 2 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for George Washington Forest
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
What we actually learned on the ridges.
No entrance fee, but a few day-use sites charge
There is no gate or entrance fee for the George Washington National Forest. A handful of developed recreation areas and some trailheads charge a small day-use parking fee, so carry a few dollars or a recreation pass. Dispersed backcountry use is free.
Camping is cheap or free
Dispersed camping is free across much of the forest, and primitive campgrounds like Wolf Gap and Todd Lake are inexpensive. There is no lodging inside the forest, so for a roof base in Harrisonburg, Staunton, or Lexington and drive in each day.
Forest roads are gravel and remote
Many trailheads sit at the end of long gravel forest roads with little to no cell service. Some roads are rough, seasonal, or gated in winter. Download offline maps, screenshot your directions, and carry a paper Forest Service map.
Spring and fall are the prime seasons
Spring brings wildflowers and full streams; fall is the signature season, with the ridges lighting up in color in October. Summer is humid and buggy at lower elevations, and winter can close high gravel roads, so plan around the shoulder seasons.
This is black bear country
Black bears live throughout the forest. Store food in a bear canister or hang it well away from camp, never leave food in your tent, and keep a clean campsite. Give any bear plenty of space and never approach one for a photo.
Treat your water and respect the falls
Streams here run clear but should be filtered or treated before drinking. At Crabtree Falls and other cascades, stay on the marked trail and overlooks: the wet rock is lethally slick and has killed careless hikers who climbed off-trail.
Hunting is legal here, so wear orange in fall
Unlike Shenandoah National Park next door, hunting is allowed across the national forest, and the fall seasons overlap the best foliage weeks. Deer, bear, and turkey seasons generally run through autumn and into winter, so wear blaze orange, keep dogs close and visible, and stay on established trails during those months. Check the current Virginia season dates before you go.
George Washington Forest: questions before you go
Wolf Gap: the questions people ask most.
For George Washington National Forest hiking, the standouts are Big Schloss (about 4 miles round trip to an iconic rocky outcrop on the Mill Mountain Trail), Crabtree Falls (about 3 miles round trip up the tallest cascading waterfall in the eastern US), Reddish Knob (a rare drive-up summit with 360-degree views), the Ramsey's Draft Trail through rare Eastern old-growth, and Saint Mary's Falls in the Saint Mary's Wilderness. Elliott Knob and sections of the Shenandoah Mountain Trail and Appalachian Trail round out the best George Washington National Forest trails.
Three days is ideal and lets you see the forest end to end: a day for Big Schloss in the rugged north, a day on Shenandoah Mountain for Reddish Knob and the Ramsey's Draft old-growth, and a day at the southern waterfalls of Crabtree Falls and Saint Mary's. The forest is huge and spread along western Virginia, so a single day only scratches the surface.
Spring and fall are the prime seasons. Spring brings wildflowers and full streams, while fall, especially October, lights the ridges with color and is the signature time to visit. Summer is humid and buggy at lower elevations, though the high ridges stay cooler, and winter can close high gravel forest roads, so the shoulder seasons are best.
Yes. Big Schloss is the iconic view of the George Washington National Forest, a roughly 4-mile round-trip hike on the Mill Mountain Trail from the Wolf Gap area up to a rocky outcrop reached by a short wooden footbridge. From the crag the forested ridges of Virginia and West Virginia fall away in every direction, and the moderate distance makes it one of the best views-per-mile hikes in the forest.
Yes. Reddish Knob, at about 4,397 feet on the Virginia and West Virginia line, is one of the few summits in the area you can drive to the top of, by a paved road off Shenandoah Mountain. The bald summit gives a sweeping 360-degree view over endless Appalachian ridges, and it is a favorite spot for sunrise, sunset, and stargazing.
Crabtree Falls in the George Washington National Forest is the tallest cascading waterfall in the eastern United States, dropping roughly 1,200 feet over a series of cascades and steps. The trail to the top is about 3 miles round trip with overlooks all the way up. The wet rocks are extremely dangerous, and several people have died climbing off-trail, so stay on the marked path and overlooks.
There is no lodging inside the forest, so most visitors base in Harrisonburg, Staunton, or Lexington in the Shenandoah Valley and drive in to the trailheads. For camping, dispersed sites are free across much of the forest and primitive campgrounds like Wolf Gap and Todd Lake are inexpensive. Fall weekends book up fast across the valley, so reserve a room early for leaf season. For the mid-October foliage peak, it is worth booking a Harrisonburg or Staunton room roughly six months ahead.
Yes. Virginia carries a heavy tick load from spring through fall, and Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are a real concern in the Appalachian ridge-and-valley country. Treat clothing and boots with permethrin, use repellent, wear long pants tucked into socks on grassy or brushy stretches, and do a full tick check after every hike. The thick trailside vegetation along the Ramsey's Draft and Saint Mary's stream trails is exactly where ticks wait, so check carefully after those.
Day hiking does not require a permit and there is no general entrance fee. A few developed recreation areas and trailheads charge a small day-use parking fee, so carry a few dollars or a recreation pass. Dispersed camping is allowed for free across much of the forest, though some areas have local rules, so check the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests site before you go.
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 3-day route. Same 8 stops.
- 1 night, a campsite near Harrisonburg
- $20
- 1 night, a campsite near Staunton
- $20
- Rental car, 3 days
- $180
- 1 night, a room in Harrisonburg
- from $90
- 1 night, a room in Staunton
- from $85
- Rental car, 3 days
- $180
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
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