Tuscarora to Toms Brook: Shenandoah and GW

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Start out on scenic Skyline Drive and work your way down and out of the Shenandoah mountains. A few miles of road will take you over the South Fork Shenandoah River, connect you to the GW National Forest, where you'll work your way up to a ridge which will carry you eventually down to a valley by Elizabeth Furnace.

Make your way back up the mountain on the opposite side of the valley and do another ridge hike until you start your descent down to the North Fork Shenandoah River. This is the terminus for the half way mark, though you can continue further to get to Toms Brook and catch a ride at I-81 if so needed. Turn around and make your way back whenever you are ready.

The ridges of GW National Forest do not have water, so plan on refilling at the valleys of Shenandoah and GW after having made one of the many descents.

Hiking on a rural road is required to cross some communities in between Shenandoah and GW. If you need to bailout and catch a ride, there are is road traffic on that section of roadway (Stonewell Jackson Highway- 340). Take it north to Front Royal where you'll find more development and stores, plus the ability to hitch a ride back to Skyline Drive if you need to retrieve your car. Also the half way mark of the hike is a good area for catching a ride if needed as it is right by I-81, which when taken north will take you to I-66, which can be taken to Front Royal and then to Skyline Drive.