Tuscarora-Doll Ridge Trail

Tuscarora-Doll Ridge Trail (Forest Trail #405.3) is a short, blue-blazed but difficult hiking route in Virginia’s George Washington National Forest. It’s mapped as a long-distance member route (TR 405.3) and is built for hikers who want a steep push up to a mountain ridge before continuing into the Tuscarora Trail system.

The climb is the main event: the trail ascends to the ridge of Three Top Mountain. Expect a sustained uphill on a steep foot tread, then a transition to ridge travel.

Once on the ridge, the route turns south and connects with Forest Trail #408 (Massanutten Mountain National Recreation Trail) after leaving the Three Top Mountain area. From there, it routes west toward county roads.

The descent is not a simple “down and out.” The route leaves the ridge and descends west through private land to county roads; plan on staying on the designated trail route where it runs across private property while hiking.

Distance is listed as 3.5 miles (one-way) with elevation gain rising from about 1,520 ft to about 1,720 ft. Water isn’t available on the route, so carry enough and purify any water you source from natural areas.

Trail etiquette supports multi-use areas: horses have the right-of-way, and hikers should yield to horses; bicyclists should also yield to both horses and hikers.

More information: Visitor information, Tuscarora Trail, Tuscarora - Doll Ridge Trail | Shenandoah County | Virginia