BIKE RIDING IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY IS Spectacular
We are happy to give you all the information you need for a successful ride in the area.
There are experience-rich opportunities throughout Rockingham County in every direction from Harrisonburg. Extensive park trails and cycle-oriented routes in Harrisonburg, country road loops in the county, gravel loops and mountain trails. There is something for everyone.
Mountain Bike Trails
In 2012, IMBA recognized Harrisonburg as a Bronze Level Ride Center because our community harbors a trail building culture, which in turn, provides amazing routes for all types trail users. We sell maps and ride information packets in the shop and we’re happy to share all of our trail knowledge with you. Give us a call or swing by if you are looking for ride info and or trail suggestions.
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Only a short and pleasant 2 mile ride from the shop the Rocktown trail system is a great in town mountain bike experience. The 6 mile trail system consist of all single track trails ranging from smooth and flowing to technical and rocky. This is also a small pump track kids love and power line jump trail for those wishing more air time. The trail system is the areas most sensitive trail system to wet conditions so don’t plan on a ride after a rain event. Trail system is also easily accessible from the Friendly City Tail.
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Located in Keezletown, VA the Western Slope Trails are located within the Massanutten Resort property, but with a purchase of day or annual pass you can get access to this incredible network of trails located only 7 miles from SBC. This trail network offers a wide variety of trails great for mountain biking, family hiking or trail running. With a significant elevation change over the 800 acre trail network you will find yourself potential doing a lot of climbing and descending. The mountain trail system is also one of the rockiest in the area but also holds up the best to wet conditions. If you are interested in shuttles to avoid some of the climbing Massanutten offers a shuttle service during selected days of the week. For mor e info visit the Resort website.
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Mountain biking is not permitted in the Park. Bicycling is permitted along Skyline Drive and on paved areas in the park. Bicycling (road and mountain bikes) is not permitted on trails, unpaved roads or in grassy areas. Because Skyline Drive is a two-lane road with steep hills and numerous blind curves, cyclists are urged to use extreme caution.
Lift Service Trails: If you are a more gravity oriented rider or want to try some downhill mountain biking for the first time there are two great resorts offering lift service mountain bike in the area. Massanutten Resort has the most elevation of the two local lift offerings and is about a 25 minute drive from downtown Harrisonburg. Bryce Resort, about a 40 minute drive from the City, has been providing lift service for it’s mountain bike trails for over a decade. What Bryce does not have in elevation it makes up for in it’s diversity of trails and wood features. There is a joint pass available if you would like to check out both offerings while in the area.
George Washington National Forest Trails
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The orange-blazed Massanutten Ring is a 68-mile loop along the ridges of the eastern and western Massanutten Mountains, encircling Fort Valley. The Ring is hard, rocky, and brutal with long stretches of ridge line singletrack overlooking the Front Royal and Shenandoah River valleys
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One of the most difficult, yet still rideable, climbs on the Massanutten Trail, Signal Knob is a favorite of riders looking for a challenge. There are multiple rock gardens that feature plenty of terrain for repeating, while the descent down Bear Wallow is one of the longest and most exciting in Fort Valley.
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This ride provides a great ridge ride to the Big Schloss Overlook. This overlook is unique and provides a unique 360° view into Virginia and West Virginia. Big Schloss Cut-Off is a fast downhill with technical pockets. You can reach high speeds coming off the ridge where there are straight segments.
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Level - Beginner and Intermediate
With plenty of goods to chose from in this area, its hard to keep it to a short list. Although many people will say you just cant go wrong, some of the trails on this featured ride do usually come up as must-ride suggestions.
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Level - Advanced
This ride has a bit of everything including easy climbing, fast descents and technical rocky areas. It has one large rerouted section that is one of the highlights of the ride. There are some nice views on exposed ridgelines and a great overlook near the finish.
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Level - Backcountry
This is a big mountain backcountry section of the Wild Oak National Recreation Trail. This ride includes a pavement section on FR 95, a gravel climb on Leading Ridge Road FR 95A and a gravel approach to Camp Todd on FR 95. It features a singletrack climb up Horse Trough Hollow aka Camp Todd and a descent on Chestnut Ridge. The final descent is on Grindstone Ridge.
Shenandoah Mountain 100 Trails
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A Harrisonburg classic, Reddish Knob is a popular spot for sightseers, hikers and all types of cyclists. Timber Ridge descends from Reddish Knob off Shenandoah Mountain towards Tillman Road.
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It’s an awesome trail for a short ride, hot lap, or an introduction to some of the more challenging GWNF riding. If you are looking for a logical step up from Tillman West and Narrowback Mountain Loop, this one is worth a try.
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This is a big, fast, off-camber descent dropping down to Route 250. There are some amazing views of Shenandoah Mountain along the exposed sections of the trail. Expect rocky technical sections up top, with sharp turns, rock drops, exposed high speed sections and creek crossings at the bottom.
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North Fork Mountain Trails
Road Bike Rides
Good rides can be found in every direction from Harrisonburg. There are country road routes, gravel loops and big remote mountain days. Give us a call or swing by if you are looking for ride info and or trail suggestions.
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Bicycling is permitted along Skyline Drive and on paved areas in the park. Bicycling (road and mountain bikes) is not permitted on trails, unpaved roads or in grassy areas. Because Skyline Drive is a two-lane road with steep hills and numerous blind curves, cyclists are urged to use extreme caution. Stay on the pavement!
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This route takes you on mostly very scenic and low-traffic back country roads. At mile 10.3, you arrive in the picturesque and historic village of Singers Glen, so called because of the Mennonite singing school that was founded there in the early 19th century. Many of the buildings in Singers Glen date from the middle-to-late 1800s.
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This route was used for the 2014 Dr100 100k route. It is a challenging route with very low traffic, beautiful scenery and plenty of rolling hills.
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The Harris-Roubaix takes place every spring on the same day as the Paris-Roubaix. The group leaves from the center of Harrisonburg at noon for a casual ride to a family farm about 7 miles to the north. From the farm, you can ride either 10-miles or 18-mile loops marked for your enjoyment.
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Jeremiah Bishop nicknamed his favorite training route after the glorious mountain top meadows, winding climbs and hillside farms reminiscent of the Austrian, German and Swiss settings where he has competed. Now this magnificent scenery is the backdrop for the most challenging and adventurous Gran Fondo in the United States. The namesake route begins in Harrisonburg, Virginia and covers 107 miles featuring 11,500 feet of climbing.
