Elizabeth’s Furnace is one of those places that has a little bit of everything. There is camping, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, swimming, history and mountain biking. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, this area is sure to bring many hours of entertainment. This beautiful area is a valley within the Shenandoah valley and is formed by the tall ridges of Massanutten Mountain.
Over the years, I have spent many days and nights enjoying this wonderful area. Every time I have been fortunate enough to visit this area, I am able to experience something new.
Elizabeth’s Furnace Brief History
Elizabeth’s Furnace is located in the George Washington National Forest in Virginia just north of Fort Valley. The developed history of this area goes back to the 1800’s. The area once had an iron furnace that was in use from 1836 – 1888. Iron ore was mined in the area and then turned into pig iron (aptly named because the moulds that were used to create the iron looked like piglets suckling on the mother pig). You can see the remains of the furnace and learn more about its history by hiking the Charcoal (.3 miles) and the Pig Iron (.1 miles) interpretive trails. If you are interested in learning more, you can also read more about the history in this booklet put out by the forestry service.
Prior to European Settlers using this area as a furnace, the Monacan and Manahoac Tribes lived in this area. It is estimated that at one time, approximately 50,000 Native Americans lived in the area. They survived by hunting, trapping, fishing and harvesting.
Elizabeth’s Furnace Campground
The campground is open year round and has 32 usable sites and there is a camp host onsite. The campground is on a first come first serve only unless you are reserving one of the 2 group campsites. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring. In the summer the main restroom has warm water showers, sinks and flushing toilets. Running water for the shower is generally available from May – December. Vault toilets are open year round and there is a hand pump available for water in the winter.
Currently, the cost per night is $20/site. The campground does not accept credit cards. Payments can be made with either cash or check.
The campground circles around one large circle with a short offshoot on the northern part of the loop and a smaller connecting loop to the south. Within walking distance from the campground is access to passage creek. To the north of the campground there is access several features. There is an ampitheater and a historic cabin that was built in the early 1800’s. If you time your visit during the busy season, the cabin is open for viewing on the weekends.
Also, close to the Elizabeth’s Furnace Cabin is a swinging pedestrian bridge that spans Passage Creek.
Nearby Hikes close to Elizabeth’s Furnace Campground
Besides the relatively short Pig Iron and Charcoal hikes there are two other nearby hikes that are worth your time- Woodstock Tower and Buzzard Rock.
Woodstock Tower
Approximately 10 miles south from the campground is the trailhead for Woodstock Tower. This 1.7 mile round trip trail takes you up to an old watch fire watch tower. At the top of the tower there is a beautiful view of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River and Fort Valley.
The trail is called Wagon Road, however it is hard to imagine taking a covered wagon over this trail as it is a bit rocky in spots. The tower sits at an elevation of 200 feet but you will only have to hike up approximately 550 feet. The view is beautiful although not as expansive as Buzzard Rocks. The novelty of this trail is being able to climb up to the top of the fire tower.
If you are wanting to stay at an alternative campground from Elizabeth’s Furnace you can decide to stay at Little Fort Campground. This campground is very close to the trailhead for Woodstock Tower. There is no fee to stay here but not that it is also more primitive than Elizabeth’s Furnace. There is no water available here, only has a pit toilet and only has 9 sites. This campground was once one of the stops for the old stagecoach line that traveled in this area.
You can find out more about this campground here: George Washington & Jefferson Forest.
Buzzard Rock
Driving approximately 5 north of the campground is the trailhead for Buzzard Rock. While this hike is a bit longer (3.6 miles) and a bit steeper (662 feet) than Woodstock tower the view is more expensive. The rock formations here are jagged and add to the view. Read Callan Bentely’s article to learn about the geology of this area.
Additional Hikes near Elizabeth’s Furnace:
Besides hiking up to Buzzard Rock, Woodstock Tower or exploring the interpretive trails about the furnace you could also choose to hike one of these additional trails:
- Tuscarora
- Meneka Peak
- Signal Knob
Tips for finding the right hike for you
Other Outdoor Activities near Elizabeth’s Furnace
Rock Climbing at Elizabeth’s Furnace
There are two areas where climbers like to play. The first is along the road when you are driving into the Elizabeth’s Furnace area. On the right, there is a large rock wall. Local rock climbers know this as “Talking Headwall”. There are several routes (some a bit challenging). Talking Headwall also features an overhang, crags and lots of hand holds.
I took a group with an experienced climbing guide to this site and we had a blast! The students had so much fun trying out many of the different routes. They even enjoyed swinging just before getting to the roof.
The other area to rock climb involves hiking up to buzzard rocks. While this area is much more difficult to get to, the view of the valley is outstanding. Be aware that Buzzard Rocks is mostly a large slab.
Mountain Biking:
Many people enjoying mountain biking in this area. Trailforks has a great guide,Mountain Bike Trail Map.
Fishing
Along the road into Elizabeth’s Furnace is Passage Creek. This creek is stocked with trout around 8 times a year. The creek contains mostly rainbow trout but will also be stocked with both brown and brook trout as they are available.
Freshwater Snorkeling
Yep, snorkeling is not just for coral reefs but is gaining in popularity in creeks and rivers too! Read more about this new trend here. Besides seeing different types of trout you may also see salamanders, turtles and crayfish.
In conclusion, any trip to this area is sure to find many hours of entertainment!
