GET Guidebook 1d

Edition 1/25/2013

Section 1d
SHOCKEYS KNOB
Hampshire Grade Road to Siler, VA (VA 600)
12.4 miles

Viewpoint on Shockeys Knob

Brief Description of the Section

  This section of the Great Eastern/Tuscarora begins in the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area along Hampshire Grade Road (CR 7/13).  The trail generally proceeds southwesterly climbing gradually to an abandoned fire tower before turning westerly to the ridge of Sleepy Creek Mountain and the Wolf Spring campsite.  The trail then follows the ridge in a southerly direction, passing High Rock and then the Shockeys Knob Shelter shortly after leaving the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area.  The trail then descends on a series of switchbacks to VA 671 which is then followed to VA 690 and on into Siler, VA at the low point of the section (650'.)  The total ascent is 970' with a descent of 2710'.
  The forest of the northern portion of this section is made up of black and white oak, hickory and maple.  There is also an abundance of flowering shrubs and berries in the understory.  Wildlife, especially turkey, is plentiful.  See Section 1b, Sleepy Creek, for history of the area and pertinent regulations for hiking the area.
  
Parking

  1. North end of section, Hampshire Grade Road.  From I-81 south of Martinsburg, Inwood Exit 5 take WV 51 west to WV 45.  Go west on WV 45 to Glengary.  At Glengary turn right on CR 7 (Back Creek Valley Road) and go 4.5 miles to Shanghai.  At Shanghai turn left on Hampshire Grade Road (CR 7/13) for 4.5 miles up the mountain.  There is parking along the shoulder.
  2. South end of section, Siler, VA.  From I-81, Inwood Exit 5 take WV 51 west to WV 45.  Go west on WV 45 to Glengary and continue.  4 miles past Glengary, enter Virginia, road becomes VA 681, after 1.5 miles keep right on VA 671, then soon after, turn left on VA 690 and go 1.8 miles.  At intersection of VA 600 and VA 690, there is limited parking available at the country store.  Please park at far end of lot.  The store is located on VA 600, 6.4 miles north of US 522. 

Shuttle

North to south: Go east on Hampshire Grade Road 4.5 miles to Shanghai, turn right on CR 7  (Back Creek Valley Road) and go 4.5 miles to Glengary, turn right on WV 45.  Go 4 miles to state line, becomes VA 681, 1.5 miles more, turn right on VA 671, then left on VA 690 and go 1.8 miles to VA 600. 
South to north: Take VA 690 (north) to VA 671, turn right, then left on VA 681.  In 1.5 miles reach state line, road becomes WV 45, go 4 miles to Glengary.  Turn left on CR 7 and go 4.5 miles to Shanghai, turn left on Hampshire Grade Road (CR 7/13) and go 4.5 miles. 

Maps

  PATC Map L
  USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangles: Glengary, WV-VA; Stotlers Crossroads, WV

Useful Information
  Emergency - In WV or VA, Dial 9-1-1
  Services - Siler, VA, country store at junction of VA 600 and VA 690, 6.4 miles north of US 522.  Open Monday through Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday closed.  Has canned goods, deli, and outside pay phone.

Trail Description, North to South

Miles Detailed Trail Data
 0.0  Start where Tuscarora Trail crosses Hampshire Grade Road (4.5 miles east to Shanghai and 8 miles west to US 522).  Great Eastern Trail follows Tuscarora Trail south. 
 0.2  Trail jogs to right to avoid wet area. Along this ATV road, potholes contain numerous species of frogs, toads and salamander egg masses.
 0.9  Trail makes turn to left.
 1.0  Abandoned fire tower.  Trail makes two turns to right.
 1.3  Trail turns to left and then to right
 1.6  Trail turns to right joining Pee Wee Point Trail (red-blazed).
 1.9  Protected spring on left (Eagle Scout Project of BSA Troop 25).
 2.2  Trail turns left at end of Pee Wee Point Trail.  Wolf Spring Campsite 0.1 mile to right.
 2.4  Unblazed trail to east.
 3.3  Wildlife clearing on left.
 3.8  Wildlife clearing on left.
 4.2  Rock formation with a view of Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge to east.  Mini Knife Edge Trail (white-blazed) to left leads to a crawl over "knife edge" ridge.
 4.4  High Rock Trail (white-blazed) to left leads to public parking at High Rock Trailhead.
 5.4  Trail turns to right.
 5.7  Overlook with view to west.  Trail is along massive quartzite outcrops on west side, accompanied by shrubby chokecherries.  Notice near vertical bedding of rocks.
 6.0  Trail (white-blazed) to right leads to Shockeys Knob Shelter in 0.2 mile.  White-blazed trail to left leads to spring.
 6.3  Trail (white-blazed) to right is an alternative trail to Shockeys Knob Shelter.
 6.8  WV/VA state line.
 7.1  Millrace Trail (yellow-blazed) to left leads to public parking at High Rock Trailhead.  After passing Millrace Trail, large quartzite boulders are found along trail.
 7.4  Cross woods road.
 7.6  Cross Old Historic Packhorse Trail and footbridge.  The old Colonial road ran between the courthouses in Martinsburg and Romney, Virginia (now West Virginia).
 7.9  Left on trail and cross woods road.
 8.0  Leave woods road and enter trail on left.
 8.2  Left on wide woods road.
 8.3  Left from woods road into woods.
 8.4  Cross woods road.
 8.6  Cross woods road.
 9.1  Reach VA 671 and turn left.
10.7 Turn right on VA 690.
12.4 Siler, VA at intersection of VA routes 690 and 600.  End of Section 1d.  GET turns left and crosses bridge over Brush Creek.  (For water, turn right from VA 600 before crossing bridge.  Water about 100' from bridge running into trough from 750-foot deep well.

Trail Description, South to North

Miles Detailed Trail Data
 0.0  Siler, VA.  From VA 600 just past bridge over Brush Creek, Great Eastern Trail goes straight on VA 690.  (For water, turn left off VA 600.  Water about 100' from bridge running into trough from 750-foot deep well.  Last water until Shockeys Knob Shelter.  Shale outcrops on uphill side of road shortly after leaving Siler.
 1.7  VA 690 joins VA 671; follow VA 671 to left. 
 3.3  GET/Tuscarora Trail turns into woods on right.
 3.8  Cross woods road.  Continue in woods.
 4.0  Join woods road.
 4.1  Turn right at woods road intersection.
 4.4  Turn right from woods road and reenter woods.
 4.5  Cross woods road and right on trail.
 4.8  Cross stream on bridge and Old Historic Packhorse Trail.  The old Colonial road ran between the courthouses in Martinsburg and Romney, Virginia (now West Virginia). 
 5.0  Cross woods road.
 5.3   After passing huge quartzite boulders, Millrace Trail (yellow-blazed) to right leads to public parking at High Rock Trailhead.
 5.6  Cross VA/WV state line.   
 6.1  Trail (white-blazed) to left leads to Shockeys Knob Shelter.
 6.4  Trail (white-blazed) to left is an alternative trail to Shockeys Knob Shelter in 0.1 mile and to Shockeys Knob in 0.2 mile. White-blazed trail to right leads to spring.
 6.7  Overlook with view to west.  Trail is along massive quartzite outcrops on west side, accompanied by shrubby chokecherries.  Notice near vertical bedding of rocks.
 6.9  Trail turns to left.
 8.0  High Rock Trail (white-blazed) to right leads to public parking at High Rock Trailhead.
 8.1  Mini Knife Edge Trail (white-blazed) to right leads to a crawl over "knife edge" ridge to a view to east of Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge.
 8.6  Wildlife clearing.
 9.1  Wildlife clearing.
10.0 Unblazed trail to right.
10.2 Tuscarora Trail makes sharp turn to right.  It is also known as Pee Wee Point Trail (red- blazed) for a short distance.  Wolf Spring Campsite (no facilities) is 0.1 mile ahead.
10.5 Protected spring on right.  (Eagle Scout Project of BSA Troop 25).
10.8 Trail turns left. Pee Wee Point Trail goes straight ahead.
11.0 Trail turns right and then left. 
11.4 Abandoned fire tower.  Trail makes two turns to left.
11.5 Trail makes turn to right.  Along this ATV road, potholes contain numerous species of frogs, toads and salamander egg masses.
12.1 Trail jogs to left to avoid wet area.
12.4 Hampshire Grade Road.  End of Section 1d.  GET Section 1c begins across road.

Trail Condition Report

GET Guidebook Contents

Guide to Section 1c (north)

Guide to Section 1e (south)