FW: Vigorous Hike Dec 2, 2025 Buzzards Rock Trail and West
Steve Brown
Subject: Vigorous Hike Dec 2,2025 Buzzards Rock Trail and West
Buzzard Rock (PATC Map G). Starting at the Buzzard Rock trailhead on Route 619 (3087 Mountain Road), we will take the Buzzard Rock Trail for 4.7 miles to Shawl Gap, continue straight on the Massanutten Trail for 2.1 miles, turn right on the Sherman Gap Trail for 2.6 miles, then right on the Botts Trail for 0.7 miles to the Elizabeth Furnace picnic area for lunch. After lunch, we will return to Shawl Gap via the Massanutten Tuscarora Trail for 2.6 miles and at Shawl Gap turn left take the Buzzard Rock trail 4.7 miles back to the trailhead. About 17 miles with 3500 feet of elevation gain.
The forecast weather looks potentially miserable for this hike: at start one-inch of snow on the ground with temperature near freezing, high of 37 F with wintery mix in the morning and rain and snow in the afternoon. Probability of precipitation is 100 percent.
I will plan a less-aggressive backup hike on Sunday, if it seems like a smart thing to do.
Email me if you plan to attend, then we can depart the trailhead once everyone has arrived.
Leader: Steve Brown, swbm...@verizon.net (cell) 703-585-3669
I will drive to the Centreville Park and Ride on Tuesday morning. For Carpooling meet at the Centreville park and ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA 20120 at 7:00am, It is a one hour drive to the trailhead, so we will depart the Buzzard Rocks trailhead, 3087 Mountain Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, at 8:15 am.
Steve Brown
I’ve communicated with a few people, but please let me know (swbm...@verizon.net or 703-585-3669) if you plan to attend.
NOW, THE CHANGES to my original plan that is included below:
Weather Update: Tuesday weather forecast isn’t terrible, but it’s not great. Morning temperatures are forecast near-freezing and then slightly above zero in Front Royal. There’s some light rain early in the morning, turning to light snow from 7:30am to 9:30am, snow accumulation appears to be under 0.5 inch, followed by light rain ending around noon.
Start Time Adjustment: By starting to hike at 9:15am, we should see less than 0.1” rain while hiking in the late morning. I now plan to depart the Centreville Park-n-Ride at 8:00am
Route Adjustment: The original extended lollipop hike of 17 miles works in good weather but probably isn’t ideal for this weather, the later start, and the early sunset, so we’ll do the hike as an out-and-back to Shawl Gap (~4.7 miles one way) and then direct to Elizabeth Furnace(2.6 miles). Hikers that turn around at Shawl Gap will hike ~9.4 miles round-trip and those that continue will hike ~14.5miles total
