Reddish Knob

      Reddish Knob
      Summit
      Reddish Knob.jpg
      Looking south along Shenandoah Mountain
      Country United States
      States Virginia, West Virginia
      Counties Augusta VA, Pendleton WV
      Part of Shenandoah Mountain
      Range Allegheny Mountains
      Elevation 4,397 ft (1,340.2 m) [1]
      Prominence 2,017 ft (614.8 m) [2]
      Coordinates 38°27′44″N 79°14′30″W / 38.46222°N 79.24167°W / 38.46222; -79.24167
      Management George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
      Owner USDA Forest Service
      Easiest access drive-up via Forest Route 85.svg FR 85
      Topo map USGS Reddish Knob
      Nearest city Harrisonburg, Virginia
      Location of Reddish Knob in Virginia
      Website: Reddish Knob

      Reddish Knob of Shenandoah Mountain is one of the highest points in Virginia, rising 4,397 feet (1,340 m). No other peak rises higher to the northeast before New York's Adirondacks. A narrow, paved road reaches the summit from Harrisonburg, Virginia.

      Geography

      Reddish Knob is located on the border between Augusta County, Virginia and Pendleton County, West Virginia, in the George Washington National Forest.

      Reddish Knob stands within the watershed of the Potomac River, which drains into Chesapeake Bay. The northwest side of Reddish Knob drains into Stony Run, thence into the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River. To the south, Reddish Knob drains into the North Fork of the Little River, thence into the North River, the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, and into the Potomac River. To the east, Reddish Knob drains into the Briery Branch of the North River.

      From Reddish Knob, a scenic gravel road continues south along the ridge crest that forms the boundary between Virginia and West Virginia, passing Shenandoah Mountain Picnic Area in a couple of miles. Further south lies the Ramsey's Draft Wilderness, which contains several stands of virgin hemlock.

      To the north, a rough road provides access to a number of ridge top balds that have great primitive campsites. Several developed recreation sites are nearby. Hone Quarry has a picnic area, campground with widely spaced sites, and a small lake.

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      Recreation

      The mountain peak is a popular destination for "day-trippers" for students of the nearby James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University, and Bridgewater College. They enjoy the "parking lot in the sky" as a place to relax and enjoy spectacular 360 degree views year round.

      Grindstone 100 Miler run entrants summit Reddish Knob.

      Every year the Blue Ridge Running Camp runs up Reddish Knob.

      Reddish knob is closed until 6/12/12 for road renovations

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      Fire tower

      From at the 1920s to 1975, a steel fire tower stood atop Reddish Knob.[3][4][5]

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      References

      1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey (1999). Reddish Knob, Virginia-West Virginia quadrangle (Map). 1:24,000. 7.5-Minute Series (Topographic). ISBN 978-0-607-93862-3.
      2. ^ "West Virginia Summits". PeakList.org. Archived from the original on 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2008-04-22. 
      3. ^ Bolgiano, Chris (2000-06-11). "Our Once and Future National Forests". Blue Ridge Press. Retrieved 2009-06-11. [dead link]
      4. ^ "Reddish". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved 2009-06-09. 
      5. ^ "High Knob Fire Tower". George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Retrieved 2009-06-09. 
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      Last modified on 18 May 2012, at 00:20