Buzzard Rock Hike
The Buzzard Rock hike is a shorter out and back hike in the Elizabeth Furnace section of the GWNF near Front Royal Virginia. There are several other great loop hikes that start from this same area: High Peak, Mudhole Gap, Signal Knob and Meneka Peak. The Shawl Gap Hike also uses this mountain but starts from the other side of the ridge.Finding the trail head through the picnic area is a little tricky. From the main parking area take the path from the top left side straight for 100 yards (two other paths cross it) before you arrive at Elizabeth Furnace. Continue around the furnace staying on the blue/orange blazed Tuscarora/Massanutten Trail. Immediately after passing the furnace stay straight DO NOT take the unmarked trail that heads to the right uphill.
Follow the blue/orange blazed Tuscarora/Massanutten Trail and shortly cross a small wooden bridge before starting uphill. The trail will cross a non-maintained yellow blazed trail twice before arriving at the ridge line and four-way trail intersection 2.3 miles from your starting point.
At the ridge and intersection turn left on the white blazed Buzzard Rock Trail is turns uphill for 2.0 miles before reaching Buzzard Rock. The views here are obstructed by trees so for a better vista continue for another 100 yards along the trail where there is a spot that looks out towards Front Royal and the Shenandoah Valley.
To return retrace your steps back down the Buzzard Rock Trail to the four-way intersection. At this point you can either turn right going back down the Tuscarora/Massanutten Trail from where you came or continue straight through the intersection for 25 yards then turning downhill on the old yellow blazed trail.
If you should choose the yellow blazed trail it is considerably shorter as it heads almost straight downhill but therefore very steep as well. This trail is only blazed at the top and before crossing the Tuscarora/Massanutten Trail for the first time, so just stay straight, it will end back at the picnic area.
