Trails / Virginia / George Washington National Forest

Massanutten Trail: Signal Knob Loop

Massanutten Mountain, George Washington National Forest (Fort Valley Road near Strasburg and Front Royal)

The orange-blazed Massanutten Trail follows the northern ridges of Massanutten Mountain and encircles Fort Valley for 71 miles, according to Go Hike Virginia. The Signal Knob loop is one overnight option, and Go Hike Virginia calls its primitive sites a good choice for backpackers.

The loop climbs a ridge past Buzzard Rock to the knob, then returns on the Tuscarora Trail across Little Passage Creek. Sources agree it’s rocky and often dry, and reviewers describe many established sites.

The hike

Virginia Trail Guide started at the large parking lot off Fort Valley Road (State Route 678), going north on the orange-blazed Massanutten Trail past a Forest Service board and a stone cottage, then crossing a small stream. At 1.5 miles, Buzzard Rock overlook looks back across the valley. From there to about 2.75 miles, the guide warns, the trail is rocky and loose: “It also has rocks – lots and lots of pointy rocks.”

The trail passes the mostly overgrown Fort Valley Overlook and the Meneka Peak Trail junction at about 3.5 miles, then reaches a broadcast tower at about 4.3 miles. A short walk past the tower leads to Signal Knob, which Virginia Trail Guide calls “a nice overlook, but not a spectacular one.” MyHikes notes views north toward the Shenandoah Valley and Strasburg, and reviewers mention power lines and a loud transmission tower.

The return follows a fire road downhill for almost a mile to the blue-blazed Tuscarora Trail. Cross Little Passage Creek on rocks and climb past the other end of the Meneka Peak Trail, then descend through the Bear Wallow area past the pink-blazed Sidewinder Trail and a spur to Elizabeth Furnace. The last stretch rejoins the orange blazes back to the lot. Virginia Trail Guide found the final half mile confusing because of unmarked trails and reroutes. MyHikes reviewers say the white-blazed Meneka Peak Trail along the ridge makes a shortcut of about 2 miles.

Johnny Molloy’s version for the state tourism office makes a longer loop, continuing past Strasburg Reservoir and returning by the Mudhole Gap Trail, with backcountry sites on the ridges, along upper Little Passage Creek, and near Mudhole Gap. He calls the area drier than other Virginia backpacking spots, and MyHikes reviewers mention the reservoir as a swimming and water stop about 0.4 to 0.5 mile off the loop.

For a bigger trip on the Blue Ridge to the east, see Neighbor Mountain and Jeremys Run in Shenandoah National Park.

Tips

Wear boots with ankle support. Guides and reviewers describe sharp, loose rock.
Carry water for the night. Streams near the ridge are small and dry up.
Expect bears in blueberry season, MyHikes reviewers say.
Watch for bikes on the Tuscarora section, with blind curves.
Use the signed lot. A reviewer warns of an unmarked lot about 0.1 mile north.

Camping

No permit requirement was found. Forest-wide rules under order 08-08-00-23-3 limit camping to 14 days in any 30-day period and prohibit camping within 300 feet of a developed parking area. Go Hike Virginia says the primitive sites have fire rings and are first come, first served. Pack out everything, and store food where bears can’t reach it.

Inside Intel: Go Hike Virginia points to the first primitive site at the 1.5-mile mark near Buzzard Rock Overlook, which faces east toward the sunrise. MyHikes reader Ennuienthusiast (2017) found well-built stone fire rings on the upper ridge with flat ground for hammocks, though little water nearby, and Aditya Gaddam (2019) found the site at Signal Knob small but close to the overlook, with a good sunrise and sunset view.

Trail facts

Distance: 10.2 miles (Virginia Trail Guide); 10.0 to 10.7 by source
Route type: Loop (Massanutten Trail and Tuscarora Trail)
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous; about 2,159 to 2,340 feet of elevation change by source
Campsites: Dispersed sites near Buzzard Rock, along the ridge, at Signal Knob, and off the Tuscarora Trail
Water: Small stream near the start; Little Passage Creek; Strasburg Reservoir side trip; often dry in late summer
Permits: None found
Dogs: No restriction found
Trailhead: Signal Knob parking area, Fort Valley Road (VA 678)
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Sunrise from the Buzzard Rock site:

The first campsite on this loop faces east from an exposed Massanutten ridge, where a warm bag makes the early alarm easier. See the sleeping bags testers rate.

See what testers chose →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.