Find the top rated running trails in Harrisonburg, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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TomPark,Thanks for the good review - your unusual rear bike rack caught my eye as well. Would you please tell me more about it and where purchased? Constance
This is absolutely worth the drive from near or far. The tunnel is nearly one mile long and nothing less than amazing. Kids will be astounded by the tiny waterfalls, dripping water, dark tunnel, and Tarzan vines everywhere. Take a headlight for them and you’ll be a hero. You can easily shorten the hike and get rid of almost all the elevation change by starting at the East trailhead and turning around after going through the tunnel. If part of your group want to finish the whole trail, the others can sit on a bench a few hundred feet outside of the tunnel. Enjoy!
We drove down and stayed the night in Waynesboro back in late April. The trail was very close by the town. It is a well maintained trail with ports-potties on either end. We parked at the northern end which is mainly downhill until we reached the tunnel. I recommend bringing a flashlight since the tunnel is nearly 3/4 of a mile and very dark. There are also uneven spots in the tunnel and a flashlight will help you safely pass through. If you down want to walk up the mountain I also recommend parking at the Afton lot. I don’t think this is worth riding bike on but highly recommend walking and enjoy the history boards along the way.
Dogs are allowed on leash. I recommend bringing a flashlight, 300 lumen is recommended. We went in mid-April. The views from the east portal are fantastic and the hike up and down the west portal got the heart pumping. Kudos to everyone who opened this trail for the historical experience. It was worth the over 4 hour drive for me to visit the area.
It was beautiful walk with wooded views along well maintained paths. There is a slight incline that makes it easy to go up hill. Very enjoyable!
seems like half the tunnel was carved out of the existing rock. i walked through the tunnel. you will need a flashlight. short trail for a bike but the trail is in great condition
We hiked about 2.4 miles or so from CATEC to Melbourne Road. A lovely walk along an asphalt trail. This late in the day hike was a good choice for our dog who got excited seeing squirrels, rabbits, and a deer. We also passed several cyclists enjoying the same trail. A great hike for those who want to enjoy a not too long, not too short hike that is not too difficult.
Paved urban trail - not a RT. Plenty of parking at the “Wilson” end, since the other end just stops at a construction site. Many of the road crossings are small and the large ones have signal control buttons. Not flat - comfortable ups and downs past housing developments, medical offices, and hospital. McD and other fast food at the end the route along Tinkling Spring Rd. Augusta Kitchen (closer to trail head) looked like a great place to eat, but only opened at 11:00 and we rode earlier. A pleasant park down a short paved access road off the parking lot with 1/2 mile walking trail around small lake to enjoy after your ride. Also has clean & modern bathroom.
My sweetheart and I did this trail today…it was amazing. Nevermind the part where I thought about calling Waynesboro Police to come pick me up on the way back to the car, LMAO! It was time to bond with nature and there were so many lessons. “The light at the end of the tunnel””gotta get up and climb that hill AGAIN!” Tom Petty ¿
Rode this on a BEAUTIFUL Friday afternoon at the start of the Memorial Day Weekend in May 2022. Encountered about a dozen pedestrians in each direction, but my teenage daughter and I were the only ones on bikes. The gravel trail is easy and smooth when starting in the east (Afton) and through the tunnel. Leaving the tunnel on the western side, there are several fairly steep up and down hills before reaching the trail head (our turn around). We walked our bikes uphill for short sections, but more fit / experienced riders would have no difficulty. The downhills were short and thrilling.
The tunnel is why we came here - and is definitely the attraction. BRING A BRIGHT HEADLIGHT / FLASHLIGHT! We each had cheap (dim) camping headlights - but fortunately I also had a small hand-held flashlight in the car, and I held it on the ride. Posted signs recommended 300 lumen lights. From the entrance of the tunnel you can see the "light at the end" - but it is way in the distance, and the tunnel is VERY DARK inside. For spring / summer visitors - bear in mind the temperature in the interior of the tunnel is cooler (about mid 50s to mid 60s year round) compared to the high 70s on our visit day. For biking it was refreshing, but several of the hikers wore jackets. April and May 2022 were pretty rainy - and the east side of the tunnel had a flowing waterfall and standing water (about 6 inches deep) at the tunnel entrance. Based on comments from some of the regulars we met - the tunnel ceiling sometimes drips extensively. This didn't bother us on our bikes.
Kudos to Nelson County Parks and Recreation for several excellent interpretive signs on each end of the route, as well as safety and regulatory signs, including a reminder to bring a flashlight. It was not crowded when we visited, but based on the "NO PARKING" signs on the east trailhead - be advised to ONLY park in the designated parking lot - which appeared to hold about 20 cars. There was a porta-john on the east entrance, otherwise there were no services. We did not explore the west trailhead parking area and entrance, we turned around at the west trailhead sign.
At 4 miles round trip, this isn't going to be a long workout on a bike. The tunnel IS this trail, so come prepared to read the signs, think about its history, and then experience the beautiful setting immediately adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Rockfish Gap.
If you’re looking to go biking, do not use Azealia Park. The trail is best fit for hiking not any kind of biking. If one person comes the opposite direction you will probably run into a tree because the trail is very thin.
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