Review Date
August 7, 2006

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: dvsnapp1 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I went to Duncun Hollow last summer with friends but instead of turning right off of 675 onto Massenutten trail, we went left and out the back of the gravel parking area.We basically got lost. That was a great ride. The downhill was full of alot of large stable rocks.
This time, I followed the directions and went right off 675. Some people complain than bikes damage the trails. They should see what horses do. I had to dodge horse s##t about every 100 ft and where the trail was wet I had to cross a muddy path with 7" holes from the hooves. The gnats drove me crazy. It was alot of climbing and I never got the downhill reward because the summer gnats made me turn around at 4.5 miles. Maybe the downhill after 5.5 miles or so would have made this ride worth it. As I see it, it is not worth the 90 mile drive from Fairfax. I have more fun at Fountainhead and wish I had stayed home for that trail for my first trail ride on my new "05 Ellsworth Truth which was amazing as it climbed far better than my '99 Scwinn S-10.
The aerobic difficuly is because I am out of shape. The tech obstacles were mostly small loose rocks, gnats from hell, and horse s##t everywhere.

Recommended Route:
Go out the back of the Massenutten Trail parking lot on 675 and get lost or up Massenutten Trail on left side of 675.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Nothing nearby. I like Douthat. I will try Eliz Furnace next Sunday.

Review Date
July 10, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by: markthetaselmore ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I started at the Massenutten visitors center and road the 9 mile Crismon Hollow road which is a 2 mile climb followed by 7 mile fast downhill and turned right at 675,climbed a short hill to Camp Roosevelt and hit the trail from there. the beginning was very skinny and fun until I crossed the first rocky creek. from there it was a 5 mile climb that was nothing but rocks and technical heaven for me. I admit taking quite a few breathers along the way. I did the cut across to Duncan gap but came back and did the last 2 miles to Scothorn gap trail. this was a Super fast very technical section that gave my inner thighs and brakes a good work out. I found that I am a better bike rider than I thought because of this gut check ride. I came away with many scrapes and bruises and a blackeye from a tree branch that barely missed my eye. the creek crossings were excellent after the first one and so were the views. I allowed my self 3 hours but took almost 6 so Id say bring plenty of water or a way to filter some in one of the numerous streams along the trail. the route I took was 23.8 miles and only 9 of it was fire type road. the rest was Va. mt biking at its finest. the ratings I gave for tech. and aerob. are for me as I am not in the best of shape and some others may not find it such an a$$ whipping as I did

Recommended Route:
I took the route as recommended in the book MtbikeVa. but am not a big fan of climbing. next time I will turn r on Massenutten trail off of Crismon Hollow road,do the shorter rocky climb and then do the Duncan Hollow 5 miles downhill and end at camp Roosevelt or maybe turn left onto scothorn gap then go down Crismon Hollow to Duncan gap then cross back in again there to make it a longer but not so climb heavy ride. this could add a few more miles to the ride and eliminate about 3 miles of climbing

Review Date
January 6, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Review Date
August 24, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Review Date
June 5, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once