Fall Foliage Driving Tour

Shenandoah County

Massanutten Mountain – Fort Valley

Driving time: approximately 1 - 1.5 hours, depending on speed and traffic.

  • Beginning at Interstate 81, utilize the Edinburg exit (# 279)
  • Proceed east on Stony Creek Boulevard to the Town of Edinburg in which fuel, drinks and food can be purchased.
  • Turn left onto Rt. 11 and proceed north for approximately seven-tenths of a mile.
  • At Edinburg Motors, turn right onto Edinburg Gap Road (Rt. 675). This country road will first take you across the scenic North Fork of the Shenandoah River. Soon you will enter the George Washington National Forest and begin to climb in elevation. The tree canopy over the road provides a brilliant display of color. After crossing the first range of the Massanutten Mountain, you will arrive at the sleepy crossroads of King’s Crossing.
  • At King’s Crossing, turn left onto Fort Valley Road. This scenic road will course lazily through the entire length of the long, but narrow Fort Valley. This small valley, located between two ranges of the Massanutten Mountains was named Fort Valley since it was a proposed hiding place for General Washington’s troops during the Revolutionary War.
  • After traveling approximately 12 miles on Fort Valley Road, the road will once again enter the George Washington National Forest. Here the valley becomes very narrow and Passage Creek will be adjacent to the road in various places along the way. As you travel along this winding section of road, you will catch glimpses of a stone wall that separates Passage Creek from the roadbed. The boys of the Civilian Conservation Corps built this stone wall during the 1930’s. This section of the National Forest also contains Elizabeth Furnace campground, a picnic area, and several hiking trails, including an interpretive trail to the ruins of Elizabeth Furnace, an 1800’s iron production facility. This interpretive trail is accessed via the parking lot of the picnic area.
  • Another short drive and the road will intersect Virginia Rt. 55. Turn left on Rt. 55 travel westward around the north end of the Massanutten Mountain range.
  • Once again, you will be crossing the North Fork of the Shenandoah River and quickly thereafter entering the Town of Strasburg. Strasburg has many good restaurants, antique stores and museums.
  • From Strasburg, you can gain access to Interstate 81 via Rt. 55 west or Rt. 11 north.