Description

Whether you're a traveler or a local, Reddish Knob is a must-visit destination in George Washington National Forest.

Typical of many mountain bike trails in the Shenandoahs, this loop pairs a long gravel climb to an incredibly rewarding and lengthy descent. Begin by parking at the trailhead off of Tilghman Road or at one of the many pull-offs along Briery Branch Road.

A small lake up the road makes for another popular starting point, though you will end your ride with a short ride up the road instead of at your vehicle. The climb, nearly all gravel, begins by paralleling a river steadily uphill.

After passing the lake, the climb intensifies as the road roughly follows a ridge.

Briery Branch Road dead ends at the state line where it intersects another forest service road.

Keep left to finish the climb to Reddish Knob.

A paved parking area atop the mountain summit provides some incredible 360-degree views from nearly 4,400 feet.

A painted line on the pavement denotes the border between Virginia and West Virginia.

The parking lot also makes this a popular ride to shuttle. The most common way to descend from the summit is to follow Timber Ridge to Wolf Ridge.

A gap in the guardrail leads into a steep drop-in that is just the beginning of an incredibly-rewarding 9-mile descent that will have you grinning from ear to ear.

Fields of scree intermingle with off-camber cuts as you descent through dense forest lined with laurel. At the junction with Wolf Ridge, keep left to begin part two of the descent.

Leaving the ridge, the trail follows a steep hand-cut trail that leads into a section full of flow and a few opportunities to catch some air.

After a series of switchbacks, the trail ends at the parking lot where you began. For some post-ride grub and drinks, Harrisonburg provides plenty of options for whatever you're into.

Sources: https://freehubmag.com/articles/backyard-frontier https://www.bluestonebikerun.com/blog/2016/7/5/the-top-of-reddish-knob