The Southern Traverse

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Take a ride into history on the Southern Traverse Epic located in Virginia's George Washington National Forest. Trails stamped in by Civil War soldiers are now available for mountain bikers to march through. The trailhead is near the Confederate Breastworks, an army camp created to stop Union troops from reaching Shenandoah Mountain.

If you're planning a trip to Harrisonburg, the rigors of boot camp may be the best preparation. With 3,000 feet of climbing over 32 epic miles, this ride promises to test your courage and endurance. The backbone of the Southern Traverse is the south end of the Shenandoah Mountain Trail, a 11-mile singletrack ridge-ride. The ridge is accessed by a doubletrack climb that ascends 1,800 feet through a picturesque hardwood hollow. The snaking trail follows the ridge south and is an amazing melody of smooth and fast downhills and technical rock gardens.

Ride the Southern Traverse from north to south to enjoy the sweetest of singletrack descents, and don't forget to make arrangements with Shenandoah Mountain Touring to meet you at the end and shuttle you back to town for a draught of Wild Goose at Calhoun's.

Location: The Southern Traverse is located southwest of Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the George Washington National Forest.

Length: 32 miles

Elevation: 1,600 to 3,800 ft

Climbing: 3000 ft

Terrain: This ride has it all; twisty, smooth, steep, narrow, rough, mossy

Season: Open year round, occasional snow in winter, unpredictable mountain weather

Highlight: Shenandoah Mountain Trail, a 17-mile singletrack ridge-ride

Details: Shenandoah Mountain Touring, Harrisonburg, 540-434-2087

Club: Shenandoah Mountain Bike Club, 540-434-2087

Shop: Shenandoah Bicycle Company, Harrisonburg, 540-437-9000

Lodging: Harrisonburg-Rockingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, 540-434-2139, http://www.virginia.org

Brew: Calhoun's Restaurant and Brewing Company

Coffee: The Artful Dodger

Events: Shenandoah Mountain 100, Fixed Gear World Championships, 6 Pack Invitational, Massanutten Hoo Ha!