Do you want to see some fall color in the mountains, but you want to avoid the traffic on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah? Try Signal Knob on Massanutten Mountain in George Washington National Forest! Just over an hour’s drive from Reston/ Herndon, the Signal Knob trailhead (38.935, -78.320) is your entry to this 10 mile loop on the Massanutten, Meneka Peak, and Tuscarora Trails. The climb is 1500 feet, and the trail can be rocky, so lace your shoes securely and bring your poles. There are plenty of campsites on the trail if you want to do an overnight trip (no permits or reservations required!), and I’ve marked some nice ones on the map. You can also try car camping at Elizabeth Furnace.

Going counterclockwise up the Massanutten Trail (orange blazes) gets the rockiest parts done first. Enjoy the view from signal knob, and retrace your steps for about a mile back to the Meneka Peak trail. If you have the time and ambition, take the Meneka Peak trail (white blazes) to the Tuscarora (blue blazes), then watch for signs to Signal Knob parking on the Massanutten trail. Otherwise, head back to your car on the Massanutten Trail. A map and guidebook is available from the PATC, and this area is also covered by the excellent Purple Lizard map of Shenandoah National Park North.

If you have more time and ambition, try a backpacking trip, either from Elizabeth Furnace or from highway 211. And if you have a lot of ambition, how about a week-long backpacking trip here?

[this content was originally written for goodwolfgear.com]