Hike: GWNF – Shawl Gap/Sherman Gap/Elizabeth Furnace

$5. Long hike: 10 mi., 2200 ft. ascent/descent. Moderate hike: 8 mi., 1800 ft. ascent/descent.

The upper end of the rugged Massanutten Mtns. offers some of the best hiking in George Washington National Forest. We’ll cover several of the network of trails today on our route that starts on Rt. 678 on the east side of Massanutten Mtn. We’ll first take the Botts Trail and then ascend the Sherman Gap Trail to the ridgeline, head north on the Massanutten Trail, and finally take the Shawl Gap Trails to descend down to Elizabeth Furnace. Long hikers add a loop on the Tuscarora, Bear Wallow, and Mudhole Gap Trails.