Buzzard Rocks Trail

The Buzzard Rock trail runs along the northern-most tip of the eastern Massanutten ridge. The trail begins at a small parking lot off SR 619, just south of the fish hatchery. Note that this is a popular trail and the small lot often fills by mid-day on summer weekends. From the parking lot, the trail climbs gradually upwards to the northern-most point, then turns south again more steeply up along the center of the ridge. Along the ridge, the trail becomes very narrow and rocky, with many difficult sections. The ridge is primarily uphill heading south, finally leveling out near the summit, before a slight descent to the intersection with the Massanutten Trail. Most people who hike Buzzard Rock Trail do so from the south end after climbing up Shawl Gap. In this direction, most of the rough rock sections are downhill.