Reviewed by: Dave P ,  Cross Country Rider , from Santa Barbara, Ca

Summary:
I was introduced to the area through the Shenandoah Mtn 100. I came back to live in H-burg for a few months before heading off to grad school in California. I have to say- H-burg and George Washington National Forest are highly underrated and little known. I've lived in boulder, upstate NY, and now California--
For a friendly (relatively) and cheap place to live- you can't beat Harrisonburg- and the riding is far more expansive and potentially technical than most of what colorado (at least the front range) has to offer-; is more accessable than california and is bigger and rockier than upstate (though I still love riding in Ithaca).

You guys are sitting on a diamond mine
(notwithstanding your chicken-rendering plant)that no one is likely to steal for a very long time - unlike other prime riding/boom towns-

Enjoy it while it, and you, are still there.

Ride fast, take chances

Recommended Route:
...

Other recommended trails in the same area:
...

Reviewed by: Scott Ross , from Harrisonburg, VA

Summary:
An overall good trail....and that Jeremy kid from Manasshole needs to get his ass kiced by some local rednecks and be told to squeal like a pig. As far as the trail goes, it's a little overgrown, and once you start going, you can get whipped by branches. Another note...go when it's somewhat warm. Me and a friend went up there and got frostbite near the end of March, not to mention sliding around in the snow. Hey Jeremy...come to my house and I'll show you how it's done arond here, bitch.

Recommended Route:
take 257 west out of Dayton and you're golden

Other recommended trails in the same area:
mud pond, trimble, Long run

Reviewed by: fonseca , from Harrisonburg, VA

Summary:
Jeremy's comments below are utter crap. I have lived here for 6 years because I love it so much. If you are into biking, flyfishing or the outdoors in general, there is no better place on the east coast. The locals are friendlier here by far than most places I have travelled, so I suggest that jeremy try smiling and being friendly himself instead of looking down on the locals as ignorant hicks. Why would anyone want to go bike in the manassas or front royal area, the putrid suburbia of DC? There is not a lot of biking in that area, unless you head southwest and hit the fireroads off skyline drive. I highly recommend california ridge (the left fork just after the powerlines from the trailhead) to anyone making the trip to reddish knob. Although you can climb it, ride the pavement to the top, as it is much more enjoyable as a descent. The singletrack is about 1 foot wide, and in the summer much is not even hikeable, as bushes lean in, a perfect example of a bike-only trail. Shin guards are great but not necessary, just expect lots of scratches as you whip through the branches. Personally I see nothing wrong with taking two cars, so you can fit in two or three trails in one day. I enjoy long climbs, but it's 7 miles up 924, which for me means 2+ hours of climbing for less than an hour-long descent. Stop by shenandoah bicycle company for maps and advice.

Recommended Route:
Just stay on 257 west from dayton and you will arrive. If you own the book "Mountain Bike Virginia" do not follow those directions.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Timber Ridge, Flagpole Wild Oaks

Reviewed by: Chance , from Harrisonburg

Summary:
all of these negative comments about harrisonburg and the people that live here need to stop. I live here, work here and i go to school here and i don't plan on leaving soon. Living in a valley has the advantages of mountains on both sides. I don't see how a place like charlottesville or mannassas can be better. As far as people not being friendly ,well that happens everywhere just try to be nice and you may be surprised at the way people will start treating you.

Recommended Route:
west

Other recommended trails in the same area:
all of the trails in the harrsionburg area, especially around reddish knob. Just take any trail and you'll be happy.

Reviewed by: phil cook , from baltimore md.

Summary:
I stayed at massanutten resort and the trip to reddish knob and hone quarry are worth it .They are about 45 minutes from the resort. just take 81 south to 257 west and you will run right in to them. also ride the west side of massanutten. pretty good trails there too. I rode all the way to kaylors knob and back Tough ride but well worth the ride down. Get map from Mtb. shop in resort.

Recommended Route:
park at briery lake and ride the road to the top of reddish knob. Take a map. I am into cross country and downhill riding, but take my advice and take the road to the top. I took the yellow trail (timber ridge) to the top and it was a lot tougher than I expected. It took me almost two hours to get to reddish knob, but it was well worth the ride ;or should I say hike to the top.I came down timber ridge trail which is a mix of single track and dbl. track trails. It is classic ridge riding which goes up and down for about four miles. It has something for everyone. There was rock sections. Tight twisty single track with a few logs and some off camber. The rocks were shale and in some parts got to be wishy washy if you know what mean. When you are going back down this trail towards the bottom it is 70% down and 30% up until about 4 miles from the top then things get pretty sweet. D o yourself a favor and where the trail splits to the right take this. This is wolf run. This trail is an excellent downhill of singletrack that is fast and twisty with sections where you can really open it up. There is a couple of small climbs but 95% kickass downhill. It drops you out at rt. 101 which is a gravel rd. go left which takes you to 924 and go left again onthe paved rd. back to your vehicle.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
west side of massanutten, hone quarry, reddish knob, wolfs run of of reddish knob. bring an extra pair of lungs.