Distance:
34.7
Difficulty: Strenuous
Riding Surface: Paved Road, Dirt Forest Road, Doubletrack, Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Maps:
Trail Town Maps,
Trail Guide to Beartree/ Damascus VA, Area
USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, Konnarock VA
Mount Rogers National Recreation
Area Map
USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, Troutdale, VA
USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, Whitetop Mountain, VA
Access: To
get to the Beartree Recreation Area; from the
intersection with US 58 & US 91 east of Damascus, turn left and follow US 58 for 6.8
miles. Turn left on Beartree Gap Road. Proceed up the road, turn right and park at the
Fisherman’s Parking Lot.
Description: This ride includes some climbs on
paved roads that are used to access the singletrack and double track portions of this
ride. These climbs act as tolerable though mundane warm-up segments for the descents and
climbs ahead. On the Old 84 segment, expect some dazzling views into the valley below and
of the opposite ridgeline that are especially memorable when the leaves are at their peek
of color. The three mile descent on Rowland’s Creek Trail is the highlight of this
ride, including the view of Rowland Falls at
the halfway point through this trail section. This is a long ride that will test your
endurance but will reward with you with a sampling of some of the best singletrack trails
that the area has to offer. Take plenty of water and snacks, you’ll need them.
·
0.0
Starting from the Fisherman’ s Parking Lot, begin by riding back out to Beartree
Gap Road and turn right toward the pay station.
·
.5
Pass through the gate at the pay station. If you are on your bike you do not have to
pay. (This gate may be locked in the winter months). Pass the Yancey Trail on the left.
·
1.2
Pass the entrance to the Group Campground on your left and continue straight.
·
3.5
Turn left at the cul-de-sac in the road at the entrance to Chipmunk Circle camping
area and immediately turn right on the Straight Branch Trail which is marked by yellow
triangles blazes. Start a gentle climb.
·
4.2
Continue straight at clearing #37. Take time to read the sign explaining about Hurricane
Hugo coming through here in 1989. You will start to descend now.
·
4.9
Pass through the wooden gate.
·
5.0
Turn left on VA 600 and start the “bloody long slog” on the paved road ahead.
·
5.7
As you crest the hill on this paved section, continue straight and begin to descend.
·
5.8
Turn right onto FR 84. The first 100 feet are paved and then it turns to dirt road.
·
6.9
Turn left off FR 84 and go around the metal gate. There is a # 49 painted on the tree
here.
·
7.0 Bear right at the intersection of Old
84 and Jerry’s Creek Trail, which is on the left. Old 84 is also blazed with orange
rectangles.
·
11.9
Cross over two dirt “tank traps”.
·
12.8
Old 84 trail ends at this point. Turn left and go about 50 yards and turn left again onto
Rowland’s Creek Trail. There is a #52 painted on the gate at the Rowland’s Creek
Trail entrance as well as an orange blaze painted on the oak tree.
·
13.7
Bear right following the orange blaze trail. You will begin to cross the creek a total of
three times very soon.
·
14.3
Rowland’s Falls are on the left. You may want to walk your bike over this tricky
section of trail.
·
15.8
Turn right onto FR 643 where Rowland’s Creek Trail exits the forest.
·
19.8
Turn right onto Barton Gap Trail. You will see two dirt tank traps at this entrance. Go
over the one on the left and you will then see a sign that reads “Barton Gap Trail FR
84 2 miles”. You will begin to climb on this section.
·
20.5
Bear right at the intersection with another trail that is marked with a blue blaze.
·
21.5
Cross Hurricane Creek, go 50 feet and turn right on FR84, a dirt road. Begin to climb.
·
23.3
Continue straight and climb on FR84 as you pass the entrance to Rowland’s Creek and
Old 84 on your right.
·
24.0
Continue straight on FR 84 where FR 828 intersects from the left.
·
26.0
Turn left onto the Iron Mountain Trail. There is a trail sign at this intersection and the
Iron Mountain Trail is marked by yellow rectangle blazes.
·
28.1
You will emerge from the forest and proceed to the break in the guardrail. Cross VA 600 at
the painted crosswalk and turn right, through the wooden bollard barriers and onto the
Iron Mountain Trail. This section is the grassed over old road. Start a short climb.
·
28.2
There is a great overlook on the right where you can see Pond Mountain. Proceed down the
old road from this point. Watch out for the ruts in the trail!
·
28.7
Turn left off the old road, go through the metal gate and follow the yellow rectangle
blazes as you start a steep climb continuing on the Iron Mountain Trail.
·
29.1
The trail levels out.
·
29.3
Continue straight as you emerge into a big meadow. Look for the yellow blazes on the apple
trees in the meadow. There is an old log structure on the left at the far edge of the
meadow.
·
29.4
Continue straight as you head back into the woods for a very short climb.
·
29.8
Turn left on the Lum Trail, blazed with yellow diamonds, at the intersection of the Iron
Mountain Trail and Lum Trail. There are directional signs here. The Straight Branch
Shelter is on the Lum Trail on the right. You will start a very fun one-mile descent.
·
30.8
Turn left, as you arrive on the paved road of Chipmunk Circle Camping Area, part of
Beartree Recreation Area. There are bathrooms on the right.
·
30.9
Turn right on Beartree Gap Road and begin the descent back to the Fisherman’s Parking
Lot.
·
34.6
Turn left into the Fisherman’s Parking Lot from where you started the ride.
·
34.7
Congratulations, the ride is over!