Hike Fridley Gap Loop George Washington National Forest, VA

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Fridley Gap Loop GPX Track

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Jun 24, 2018 — Fridley Gap is a loop hike in Virginia that weaves around forested ridges. It doesn't really have a destination, but serves as a nice hike through the area. The hike begins by passing the Mountain Run Swimming Hole. I chose to do the loop clockwise so I took a left at a junction, where I followed the pink-blazed Fridley Gap Trail. It ascended a hill to a ridge, passed over the ridge and then descend the other side. Here I picked up a forest road heading south that leads to the Massanutten South Trail, and back up the same ridge I previously descended. The trail continues west through the forest and the road/trail gets more narrow and becomes a nicely wooded and lush trail as it passes Fridley Run's tributaries. Along the descent on the Massanutten South Trail leading back to the trailhead, I passed a pretty overlook which I marked on my attached map.

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Starting along the Fridley Gap Trail.

Mountain Run Swimming Hole.

Junction with the Fridley Gap Trail / Massanutten South Trail. I headed left first.

Ascending the trail.

Near the top of the ridge.

At the bottom of the other side of the ridge, following a forest road.

Forest road ascends back up the ridge along the Massanutten South Trail.

It's not very interesting for a while.

Some views along the forest road/trail.

The Massanutten South Trail narrows from an old roadbed into a trail.

Flooded trail next to one of Fridley Run's tributaries. It was drizzling, so ignore the water splotches on my lens.

Crazy moss-covered rocks along the way.

Light coming through the trees.

Approaching the high point of the hike, just before descending to complete the loop. The high point isn't a peak or anything, just a point along a slope.

Go slightly off-trail to get to a pretty overlook.

Close-up from the overlook.

View looking north-ish from the overlook.

Continuing back down the trail.

Forested ridge walk to get back to the trailhead, completing the loop.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!