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A Harrisonburg Classic! Pavement climb to Summit of Reddish Knob with a long descent to Tillman Road.


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Map Key

18.6

Miles

30.0

KM

50%

Singletrack

4,385' 1,336 m

High

1,756' 535 m

Low

2,870' 875 m

Up

2,904' 885 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

22%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Don't turn left onto California Ridge, this trail is no longer open. Continue to Wolf Ridge (378).

Overview

Climb the pavement on 257 to Briery Branch Saddle and enjoy the big views on your way to Reddish Knob - 360-degree views at the top. This is a great workout with plenty of climbing!

This route features everything from rocky, technical riding to warp-speed flowing descents. Enjoy!

It is also possible to shuttle this ride since the summit at Reddish Knob is accessible by vehicle via SR924. This approach if you can pull it off logistically gives you about an 11-mile ride.

Need to Know

The paved road up to Reddish Knob is narrow with blind curves; please go slow and be cautious for cyclists and oncoming traffic alike. The trail actually crosses the road about 300 feet from the top at the break in the guard rail.

Description

Begin by parking at one of the many public parking areas (see the map), the SVBC is planning to establish a parking lot for this area sometime soon. If you do park in the single car area at the Wolf Ridge trailhead on Tillman road, head North on Tillman and turn left on SR 924.

This climb keeps going past Dead Deer parking lot and Briery Branch reservoir. Shortly after the reservoir, you pass the gravel road that leads to Lynn Trail (436) across the road from Mines Run. The pavement gets steeper for the next 4 miles until the saddle on Shenandoah Mountain. Turn left onto FR 85 at the top. Continue on 85 until the next intersection, where you turn left, spiral up to Reddish Knob and dead end.

The trail will cross the pavement just before the final 300 yards to the top. Enjoy the view! To the East you can see the Southern tip of Massanutten Mountain, the Shenandoah National Park, Harrisonburg and Staunton. To the west you can see Spruce Knob, North Fork Mountain, Sugar Grove Naval Base and many peaks between you and Canaan Valley.

Timber Ridge Trail (431) begins with a steep descent of rock stairs at a break in the guardrail along the Western corner of the parking lot on top. Rocky technical riding continues until the trail crosses the pavement. The upper section of Timber Ridge Trail (431) is awesome but may require some walking and a good set of brakes. Continue on the ridge until the first marked intersection at Wolf Ridge (378).

Turn left onto Wolf Ridge (378) and embrace gravity! Wolf Ridge (378) also has 31 flavors, steep DH style riding with complex moves and fast descending up top before the Lynn Trail (436) intersection, then transitioning to scenic ridge riding with some steep climbing sections sprinkled in with awesome singletrack descending.

After the final climb, the trail b-lines it down the mountain on steep consistent fast and rocky trail-bed until the final 3 miles. The trail becomes a mountain pump track/IMBA flow, similar to Tillman West. Riders finish Wolf by wrapping around a cliff band and crossing a creek. After the creek crossing, there is another final intersection with signage. Turn left at the final intersection to get another .5 miles of playful singletrack to Tillman road.

History & Background

There used to be a fire tower at Reddish Knob and power lines on Timber Ridge. Evidence can be seen on the summit and along the ridge.

Contacts

Shared By:

Shenandoah Bicycle with improvements by Kyle Lawrence

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 44 votes

#316

Overall
  4.7 from 44 votes
5 Star
80%
4 Star
16%
3 Star
2%
2 Star
2%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#8

in Virginia

#316

Overall
87 Views Last Month
24,035 Since Jan 27, 2015
Difficult Difficult

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11%
81%
8%

Photos

View from Reddish Knob. The rock to the right of the bike is the top of Timber Ridge Trail.
Oct 2, 2016 near Franklin, WV
Biking Bad - Mountain Biking 1st time Reddish Knob | Downhill, mostly.
Aug 8, 2022 near Dayton, VA
Timber ridge to wolf ridge ride!  Epic!
Jul 8, 2021 near Franklin, WV
quick shot of reddish knob and the rocky section on Timber Ridge Trail.
Dec 17, 2014 near Franklin, WV
Left to Tillman.
May 19, 2014 near Dayton, VA
Lake on the Way Up to Reddish Knob
Apr 1, 2018 near Dayton, VA
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Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 80 days ago
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