Airbnb This cabin getaway is located at the end of a private gravel road. George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, George Washington National Forest - Lee District. Get Directions. Cherry Mountain Trailhead (Cherry Mountain Road) Cherry Mtn Trailhead (Forest Rd 115) Chippewa Trailhead. Crawford Path Trailhead (Rte 302) Crawford Ridgepole Trailhead. After looking over previous trip reports of water access, we made the decision to back track the 2 miles to Sandstone Spring to camel up and carry all the water we could (which was still not enough!! With more cuts expected, West Virginia University's governing board moved forward Friday with slashing 12 graduate and doctorate programs amid a $45 million budget shortfall and approved a . Nearby ATV Trails. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Prathers Neck Heritage Conservation Fund Site. Watch were you step. At the Bucktail Trail parking area, there was conveniently a porta potty which was nice. If you go clockwise the trail isnt too hard. We had the views of Tibet knob for ourselves which was a big treat. 3 accesses to water on this stretch: ~2.8, 4.3, 6.4 miles on the map. Head out on this 11.3-mile loop trail near Wardensville, West Virginia. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 13 h 43 min to complete. 2018 2023 HATFIELD-MCCOY REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY. Great water at the intersection of the Halfmoon Trail and the Bucktail Cutoff Trail. Share sensitive information only
Then the trail takes a side trip to an old fire tower site on Halfmoon Lookout where the views are nothing short of spectacular! Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. We could rent a car, but if we leave it at one end of a stretch, wed have to figure out how to get back to it. Gotta bring the bike next time though. These views are spread out along the route, and include another vista from Chimney Rock. Lots of trees, ridgelines with views, some rock scramble, meadows, even some thorn hedges to ease through. This hike traverses two wildernesses while starting high atop the Blue Ridge and ending down near the James River, making it more down than up. This trail is great for backpacking, hiking, and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Hiked counterclockwise as overnight backpacking trip in April 2023. Official websites use .gov A .gov
Directions. Not too difficult. Next time though, I will pack 2 more Sawyer bags to fill. Went with David (and his partner) July 16-18. They dont add that in on Alltrails. lots of stream crossings I'm the first 3.5 miles which was fun and provided plenty of opportunities to refill on water. Watch out for the couple bees nest at the white rocks look out a person in our group was stung while there. I recommend studying the GWNF topo map before heading out, as the trail/road names are more accurate than the Alltrails map versions. Disappointing. We didn't see much of anywhere to camp along Long Mountain trail but we also weren't paying that much attention. Day 2 we hiked 10 miles to Trout pond with some nice views along the way. Those crossings are fun and not hard to do (in the winter at least). But it was an okay spot, I was the only one there. There is definitely some harsh terrain. Absolutely beautiful trail and workout but if you arent fit Id pick another trail. Overall fairly easy hiking this section with only one semi-major climb. (If you look to the Right at ascent this is Tibbets Knob) Road walking down hill for 2-2.5 miles and cut left to the final ascent at Tibbets Knob. I'd definitely do it again, just when it's cooler and no bugs. There are campsites at that junction as well as at little stony and little schloss/racer camp hollow junctions. Still snow covered making the trail more difficult, but enjoyed seeing the mountain covered. Take the AT back to the trailhead, switchbacking downhill off Straight Mountain. . The WV Sheriff's Association received a federal grant in 2009 valued at $3.4 million that allowed for Pictometry International to acquire statewide oblique and orthogonal imagery for public safety visualization software. really nice trails and a solid finish to an overall very cool hike. United States. on official, secure websites. Here is where we got a little disoriented because of the lack of yellow blazes. So if you park in the White Rock Cliff Parking area and are interested in doing the trail clockwise just head past the gate at the end of the parking lot and youre on the trail. Enjoy some streamside Appalachian Trail hiking, relatively unusual within Virginias AT trail mileage. My feet are destroyed, wore Merrill Barefoot IIs. An official website of the
West Virginia is known as "Almost Heaven," and it is no coincidence the Hatfield-McCoy Trails have become known as "Trails Heaven.". The only negative were the gnats but otherwise beautiful hike. Make sure you bring plenty of water as we didn't see any water once you started going up the mountain and once at the top there is not any place to refill. Scale Mount Pleasant, 4,021 feet, where dual summits deliver spectacular panoramas. We had intended to do the trail clockwise, but when we arrived we thought we were having issues finding the trail. Three Ponds Trail | Warren, NH. made about 12 miles which took about 7 hours including breaks. This trail will take you the rest of the way. Parked at three ponds parking. These crossings will be easy rock hops in summer but can be troublesome during after prolonged rains. My wife and I were looking for a 3 day or so loop and settled on your Thornton Hollow Loop last week. Chris & Renya, Does this trail require a camping permit? Devils Nose in the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area WV is a unique rock out cropping that overlooks Meadow Branch Creek gorge. Not a bad trail clockwise. In the winter, you'll need 4-wheel-drive to access the residence. Great Hike. But being that the trail has a good amount of low lying vegetation I honestly did expect more. takes you on multiple mountains around the valley so it's cool to see your progress at every vista. Challenging at times but many rewards along the trail between the vistas and the picturesque forest landscape. After having our fear confirmed of the water being shut off at Wolf Gap, we made the very steep hike up Tibet Knob - there is some scrambling but nothing too risky. Difficulty Rating. So, pack your tent and sleeping bag, strap on your pack and lets hit the AT for some rewarding 2-3 backpacking adventures in Virginias highlands. Share sensitive information only
The Long Mountain Trail from this point in a nutshell a bunch of ups and downs and an occasional meadow or two (which were beautiful by the way). hiked a little over 8 miles to the campsite @ overlook. good bit of mud. Beautiful trail. Campsite-wise, there are great spots on top of Big Schloss, at Sandstone Spring, at Trout Run about 5 miles clockwise from Hightail, at Hightail itself along the river, and then David said there were lots of nice spots along 691 right off the road. Your primary overnighting option along the AT is the Saunders Trail shelter and adjacent tent sites. Great hike and great views. I started at the orange blazed Chimney rock trail to meet up with the Trout Pond Trail. You must cross a stream and may have to maneuver over and around some fallen trees. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 48 min to complete. Continue ridgetop hiking, entering big James River Face Wilderness at Petites Gap. Definitely a difficult trail, lots of rocks and strenuous uphills. David said the next campsite beyond this was about 3 miles down the road on the gravel road 691. Overall it was a really lovely hike -- perfect mileage to be able to leisurely break camp in the mornings (we left camp around 10:30 both mornings) and yet still get to camp/back to the car with plenty of light to spare (around 4pm both days) hiking at a moderate pace with a handful of breaks for views or lunch. It was all fire roads, not a trail. Ridgetop sites are available near Mount Pleasant. We arrived there around 3:30pm and the campsites were already filled so we decided to push our luck and headed down a faint white blazed trail that led to an overlook and what do you know, there was a campsite there! Lakes and ponds in West Virginia account for a large part of water recreation, though the Mountain State is not naturally endowed with many such isolated bodies of water. Managed 6 different overlook views. Pass over Apple Orchard Mountain, your high point and the highest point on the AT until New Hampshire after entering Thunder Ridge Wilderness. For me it is moderate with some harder areas but nothing too terrible. In late spring and summer, bring a fishing rod and swimming trunks. Its a smoker. There is no service and it is 3.5 miles of meadow walking. Reach the James River, where an impressive hiker footbridge spans this mighty Virginia waterway. We found that the map didnt have campsites noted very well. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 31 min to complete. Directions to old-pond trailhead (37.984700, -80.940480) update trails status or condition Old Pond Trail Reports. Started counter clockwise. Campton NH 03223, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=74743, White Mountain Recreation Fee Program Accomplishments. camped at the 7.4 mile marker. The Camping: Backpackers can choose 3 trail shelters along the way or find their own tent site in numerous wooded areas. Doubletrack . Depending on your fitness level and hiking experience will be your perceived difficulty. Most popular is an easy 2.2 mile walk to the scenic middle pond and Three Ponds shelter. Beautful views on Half Moon with about 3 camp sites. The hiking is neither long nor hard. Climb to the crest of Straight Mountain, where partial views can be had before reaching Saunders trail shelter and a second nights camping option. Day 1 - Well marked trail, there are a few other trail intersections to choose from, AllTrails was great for helping determine which one to stay on, as the other trails are not on AllTrails map. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 19 min to complete. There were a ton of people and the signs are a bit confusing and difficult to follow in the camping area. It is broad but quiet (I saw literally zero cars, zero other hikers, and only a pair mountain bikers after 4+ hours on a Sunday). Was definitely a great trail and would do again. We all had 4L of fluids on us. Elevation Highs and Lows: 1,460 low point, 3,190 high point, GPS trailhead coordinates: Start: N37 22.716, W80 9.370 End: N37 23.471, W79 54.392, Why Go: Visit three view laden rock outcrops Dragons Tooth, McAfee Knob, Tinker Cliffs, plus more views from Hay Rock and still moreplaces. I know I am repeating myself here, but I can't stress enough how the lack of water effected our stamina). Bring bug spray and despite what I've heard about there being no ticks; there are just not as many as you would expect. Thousands of them and I anticipate in a few days they should be in full bloom. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. What You Need to Know: A spring, accessed on a spur trail, serves the ridgetop campsites near Mount Pleasant. We started on the Junior Poe trail, connected to the Chimney Rock trail and headed towards the Trout Pond loop. Agree it was an excellent trail. Physical: 416 Aho Road, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 Mailing: PO Box 568, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2511 | info@blueridgeconservancy.org Also, you can edit this trail as you go. It was rocky only on the west section. This was a perfect three nights for us and thanks again for writing up these hikes! We followed the review stating there was water 1/4 mile the opposite way of our clock-wise path, once we reached the road. The views are extremely rewarding and plentiful, with loads of places to stop and camp. Lastly, pass huge angular Hay Rock, as well as more geological wonderments before ending the adventure at I-81 near Daleville. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. The Camping: Campsites are bountiful along the Virginia Creeper Trail. The west section is open to 4x4 vehicles during fall deer hunting season. Head south along the AT along the left side of a small field. I was wishing I knew this when I was doing the road part of this trail. Went out on St. Patricks day for an overnight trip. The climb up to Tibet knob feels to me as the hardest part of this hike as you will be gaining considerable elevation in a short distance. Plenty of water available. I have a video of this hike if you're interested in checking it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLGbBCTWbSk My group split this trail into 3 days. Plenty of campsites. This has been my hike of choice during COVID. Trout Pond, home to native Brook trout, is the only natural lake in West Virginia. I did this with a more experienced backpacker and was glad I did. Excellent water at Trout Run just northwest of the intersection with Route 23 (Trout Run Road). Description: Trout Pond Recreation Area is close to the boarder of Virginia in the George Washington National Forest. Print/PDF map. We ended up taking a left on an unblazed trail to save us 0.75 miles. Experience this 11.3-mile loop trail near Wardensville, West Virginia. Crawford Connector Trailhead. TOUGH incline to start but got the hardest part out of the way with fresh legs. Preview trail This is one epic hike! Started to sprinkle on the way down making wet areas even wetter (bogs) and rocks slick. The Camping: Backpackers will find sites along the stream valleys, but must comply with Shenandoah National Park regulations and obtain a backcountry camping permit, available at entrance stations. Bathrooms are open in Wolf Gap, closed in Trout Pond (Memorial Day). The first day we hiked to and camped on top of Big Schloss which had a few awesome campsites. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
We immediately crossed Trout Run on a sturdy bridge. WHOA! This trail is great for backpacking, hiking, and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Great hike, cant wait to do it again. We were passed by 3 cars while on the road walk portion so beware. The meadows down from Judge Rye Road to Trout Pond are also very pleasant, and the entire Day 3 route from Trout Pond back to Bucktail proceeds through old growth, heavily ferned forest bottoms, with more open sightlines than most of the Day 1 trail. Good water at Sandstone Spring (5 miles north of Wolf Gap). Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 4:30 . To complete the loop, join the Mau-Har Trail. largely shaded except for the brief walk through the wildlife clearings and the 0.3 miles of fire road at the beginning /end. Permits range between $26.50 for WV residents and $50.00 for out-of-state residents and are available at the Trailhead ATV Resort campground store. Day 1: Recommend starting Wolf Gap parking lot and going CCW. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Total miles for day 2 were 17.6 (4 of those miles were to the spring and back - a decision that was crucial)
**THERE IS WATER streaming out of a white PVC pipe stuck into the side of the mountain on the left side of the road**
What You Need to Know: This loop entails several crossings of the South Fork and North Fork Moormans River. It was a bit overgrown, but we didn't have any hesitation about where the trail was at all. Map showing recreational areas. The initial ascent up GNM on the Mill Mountain Trail wasn't that bad, mainly because it was first thing. Plenty of great campsites along the way, water isnt too good but if you you know the spots you are set > Bridge at beginning of loop > water around intersection to Trout Pond > Water at Sandstone spring which is near the end of Mill Mt. A lot of green tunnel but halfmoon and big schloss are cool. Do not believe the waypoints on this section. Sign up for travel tips and inspiration delivered right to your inbox. A very nice hike. Part of the road is packed dirt. Nice Hiking Loop!! The section of the trail as you approach the intersection with the Trout Pond Trail was highly confusing with far more trail intersections than All Trails indicates on the map, but with a compass and maps posted at the trail signs, we managed to figure out which path to take to get to Rockcliff. Coppermine Trailhead. The second time, on Memorial Day my husband and I split the hike in three: 9, 10.5, 7. Some trees down on trail near the end of clockwise loop. certainly one of do again ! Finished this trail over two days. It would have been manageable with 3 liter IF Wolf Gap had the water pump turned off. Directions Print/PDF map Length 8.2 miElevation gain 1,387 ftRoute type Loop Check out this 8.2-mile loop trail near Wardensville, West Virginia. We're minutes from the Ivy Branch Trail head that will be opening in the spring of 2020. We ended up being happy with doing the trail counter clockwise because we hiked to the second overlook on the first day it only left us with 2-3 miles to do on the second day. She was a Map Gal and I am a Tech Gal and we needed both. This trail is great. Map Information, 71 White Mountain Drive
The trail itself is a dried riverbed, so all rocks and a little treacherous. From its start on Waites Run, this circuit climbs some 1300+ feet at times on a steep and rough footway, for about 2 miles along Pond Run. Lots of rocks but overall not terrible to traverse. Trail Map. We treated ourself to a potty break at Trout Pound Recreation Area and dip in the lake - which was worth every extra step!! Long trail along the creek was beautiful foul and then to higher ground with several great lookouts. On the way back to the car, there were some more fun creek crossing. All of the trails were well maintained, with very lite traffic until it meets up with the Camp ground at Trout pond recreation area. 38.95679, -78.74322. Ivy Branch Trail System located just twenty-minutes from West Virginias capitol city of Charleston offers real adventure for riders of full-sized, off-road vehicles like Jeeps and land cruisers along with ATVs, UTVs and dirt bikes. Being the end of July, bugs were plentiful! Furnished with many antiques, books and hymnals, the cabin makes a perfect setting for a family gathering. We filled up on water at Sandstone Spring and then continued on toward Mill Mountain. Too many stream crossings too count. Three Mountain Ponds Trail. Continue onward, circling Carvins Cove Reservoir, coming to the Tinker Cliffs, a long stone vertical dropoff that will leave you dashing from view to view. Each time I enjoyed different scenery. This trail is for inshape experienced hikers it is rocky the uphill parts are long and exhausting but the looks outs are worth the trek up to see them. A lot of fog on the mountains as well which made visibility poor but the trails are pretty easy to follow. The summit views were long range and stunning. I came across two, one after a particular brushy section going on Long Mountain Trail and another on the outside of my tent when I woke up near Sandstone Spring. What You Need to Know: Expect company at Dragons Tooth, Tinker Cliffs and especially McAfee Knob. Water report from July 14th and 15th:
Rise to the top of Flat Top Mountain, flirting with 4,000 feet in elevation before joining Pearis Mountain, where views await from several locations, including the famed Angels Rest, where you gain an expansive aspect of the New River Valley from commanding heights. I did not find the PVC pipe on 691 and there is none at Wolf Gap. Be sure to bring a water filter so you can refill along the way. We had to turn around early because of severe rain - but going counter clockwise was difficult to find water as well, was only available miles 7-8, not sure if there was more after mile 10, but can attest climbing the extremely steep hill after the trout pond (last water source) fully loaded with water was not fun. 48 Hours, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Highlands, Heart of Appalachia, Hiking, Outdoors, Shenandoah Valley, Travel Ideas, Virginia Mountains / June 22, 2016 by Johnny Molloy / 51 Comments. Descend to Cowcamp Gap, leaving the AT on the Old Hotel Trail, where a rolling track takes you through more mixed woods. A shorter alternative would be to camp at Sandstone Spring. Good water on the Tuscarora Trail. Little less than 12 hours on the trail.This is my third time doing the loop and first time doing it one day. It was a very moderate backpack; our mileage was split as approximately 8, 9.5, and 9. connected to the .gov website. No drinking water available. The spot is marked with an orange flag, about 0.2 miles downhill (east). Elevation Highs and Lows: 3,110 low point, 4,030 high point, GPS trailhead coordinates: N37 45.581, W79 11.730, Why Go: Meadow views, fields, good campsites, half loop possibility. Beaver Ponds Trailhead: From Crested Butte, travel west on Gunnison County Road 12 to Ohio Creek Road, FSR #730. B- for the area. About a quarter mile into the hike there is a stream that flows across the trail, but given that there was a lot of rain in the previous days, I wouldn't expect that stream to be reliable. Both are gorgeous and are worth stopping at. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 54 min to . North Woodstock, NH 03262. This portion was fairly moderate with some inclines on the way. Great view at the top and can see Big Schloss and Half Moon in the distance. We did the 1/4 mile side trail to Halfmoon Mtn. GPS trailhead coordinates: Start: N36 38.767, W81 34.984 End: N36 41.85, W81 30.26 Why Go: Two wildernesses, high country panoramas, wild ponies The Skinny: This is the highest elevation segment of the entire Virginia portion of the Appalachian Trail. I would have happily carried double that. Spruce forest on the North-south Trail. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Some notes about the trail: Misty and a bit of rain so the rocks were very slippery (and it's A LOT of rocks to traverse) so be careful if it's wet or going to rain. about a mile and a half past the campsite is big Schloss mountain, a common day hike for many so the next couple miles you might experience some interaction but you can follow the ridges for a while and you get very nice views. at 13.7 miles you hit the fire road. Instead of taking Judge Rye Road for the full ~5 miles as described here, we took the road only ~2-2.5 miles until the Long Mountain trail (All Trails calls it the Crack Whip Furnace trail, but all the signs we saw, as well as other maps, call it the Long Mountain Trail), and took that trail instead, then continued directly to Rockcliff lake (bypassing trout pond entirely). A steady but very mild grade takes you to meet the Appalachian Trail. Even with the help of the GPS and a resident I gave up after 30 minutes of bushwhacking. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 44 min to complete. we only did part of this trail, the first part was pretty easy, we walked alone an old service road for most of it, then once you make your way to Trout Pond campground the trail (purple trail) heads up the mountain to the lookout. The first time the trees were starting to grow leaves and the Dogwoods were in full bloom providing better opportunity to enjoy the vistas as there was barely any tree coverage. Quite rocky in many places, and a decent amount of elevation changes (lots of ups and downs, not so many big ascents). the hike to the lookout is all up hill, no switch backs, took about thirty minutes from the bottom, worth the hike. This is a popular trail for hiking, running, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Definitely recommend waterproof hiking boots and hiking poles. Visit 50-foot Campbell Creek Falls. Close the loop by ascending Campbell Creek, passing lesser cascades. Hiking SAC Scale. Not a single overlook or point of interest. Pappy's Log Cabin sits in the middle of a secluded 77 acres of West Virginia Mountain Forest. Really lovely spring and great campground - plenty of space and good sites, though damp everywhere. 71 White Mountain Drive Campton NH 03223 (603) 536-6100. There was one campsite just up the trail from where the Outlaw Path meets Long Mountain Trail which looked nice. All good fun! United States government. Looking back, our last water opportunity to camp where we planned was just before the Wolf Gap parking lot in a little stream flowing down the mountain, but we didnt know. Several dams were built for flood control, most of them in the Pohick Creek watershed, between 1970 and 1985. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 13 h 43 min to complete. Relax on a sandy mountain beach or fish for stocked trout while relaxing along the cool waters of Rock Cliff Lake. Tuscarora Trail coming up Pond Run has quite a bit of deadfall as of 5 February 2023. 5/7/2020- Well, THAT was an adventure! ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The Long Mountain Trail starts across the Trout Run Road so if you just follow the gravel road down to the road you should have no problem seeing the yellow blazes. My dog was in heaven and had an amazing time. (Water from here on out was more plentiful except for the road walk section and Tibbets knob after Trout Pond.) The first time it was the last week of April, then a few weeks after, on Memorial Day weekend, and returned on 6/2, a Tuesday. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Length 29.1 miElevation gain 5,137 ftRoute type Loop. There are some great campsites around the north end of Rockcliff lake -- two right next to the dam, and one about 1/4 mile from the dam (though the signage at that campsite claims it's 0.4 miles to the dam), and paths around both sides of the lake grant access to the swimming area via a short walk. That is nearly 24 hours of reasonably hard hiking with no resupply. There are not many sources that I could find. I would recommend it, but bring strong legs with you. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Camped near Trout Pond recreation area. Travel the once-populated Thornton Hollow and take a walk through history. 491 were here.