High Knob Fire Tower in Brandywine, WVA
Finally! We got our first hike in of the year. Though, alas, I think they will be few and far between this spring. With both boys in Boy Scouts now, and with baseball season starting to heat up, our open weekends will be rare for some time. All the more reason to enjoy the down time we will have together; and really, is there a better way to spend it than hiking?
Trying to get the dogs in an ‘usie’ with the fire tower in the background proved too difficult a task! But, we had fun trying.
The High Knob Fire Tower hike was a perfect choice for our return back to the trails: fairly close to Harrisonburg, and the reward was spectacular: a 360 degree view that included Switzer Dam, Reddish Knob, Mole Hill and most of Rockingham County, VA to the East and Pendelton County, WV to the West. Spring is just making its way into the valley, so our view was extended with most bare trees and a nice crisp, clear day.
Billy took this beautiful picture on the catwalk of the Fire Tower. The 360 degree view could not be beat.
Follow the yellow blazes
This is an easy hike to find, from Harrisonburg, follow 33 West. Right after you cross the state lines, you will see the parking area on your left. The hike is just short of 3 miles round trip, but is not easy. The terrain is fairly rocky throughout, and it is a pretty steep climb. There are a few sections that really get your legs and lungs burning. At just over 4,000 feet in elevation, this is one of the ‘highest hikes’ in our area. You also need to pay attention to a few twists and turns and side trails from the hike as you make your way up; so that you do not get lost on the way down! The trail is marked with yellow blazes, so keep an eye out for those, and you will be fine.
Our main reason for picking this hike was to see the fire tower up close. Mickey spent over 15 years as an active fire fighter, so he was especially keen on checking it out. The High Knob Fire Tower is just one of three remaining fire towers in the George Washington National Forest, down from 24 when they were actively used to watch for fires. Its amazing to think of its past and how people would live in these towers and spend their days watching for fires. Fire towers are no longer operational in Virginia. And they quickly fell into dis-repair and were removed or sold. But the ones that remain are an interesting look into the past, and a birds eye view into nature at its finest. And High Knob is a real beauty.
Billy, as he often does enlightened us even more on the topic of fire towers on our hike to the top. They are still used in the more remote areas out West. He read how they are offered up as summer jobs for college students. It does seem quite a romantic notion, being all alone, high atop the world. We all decided though, not for a whole summer. There would be no chance of watching Cubs games, or even really keeping up with their box scores. So, while appealing as it may sound, Billy wont be sending in his application.
This short article highlights fire tower hikes in the Mid-Atlantic region:
http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/go-outside/hiking/fire-tower-foliage/
A neat carin at the base of the fire tower.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that High Knob Fire Tower is in great shape. While you cannot go in the actual tower itself, it has a nice ‘catwalk’ around it to take in the view. And two separate fire pit areas on the ground. The area was clean, and free from any graffiti or other misuse. We encountered more hikers on the trail, and at the top than I expected. I hope people continue to respect structure for years to come so that High Know Fire Tower can remain a popular hiking destination. For the history, and for the views:
A pano from the tower.
I was also pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the process of this hike and not just the reward of the tower and its views. Much of the hike is along a nice ridge, with pretty views spaced out pretty often. The variety of trees, not only in species, but also in placement all along the trail really stood out to me. And then just about halfway up, there is a very pleasant camping area that looks well used.
All in all, a not-to-be missed hike! Wait a few weeks, and you can stop in at Riven Rock Park and cool off just after your hike. It is just a few miles back down 33, heading back to Harrisonburg.
Pretty views along the ridge.
We stopped for a rest and photo op at the camping site in the middle of the hike.
Our rankings ( 4.7 out of 5)
Minnie: 5 – Completely met my expectations, and then some!
Mickey: 5- Great trail and the fire tower was cool.
Billy: 4.5 – A good length, neat things to look at on the trail and I liked the fire tower.
JJ: 4 – I liked the top, but I did not like getting there. It was steep!
J-Wow and Stevie the Wonder Dog: 5 – We met lots of people on the trail who loved on us. And we got to spend lots of fun times with our people pack. A slight downside: They did not let us climb the fire tower. But, we got to sniff all around it!
I messed up taking a pano of the view, but ended up getting a pretty cool shot nonetheless! J-Wow and Stevie the Wonder Dog are really pulling to climb the tower ladders!
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