IRON MOUNTAIN TRAIL TO DAMASCUS
"The Classic Ride"
This is one of my all time favorite rides and is the ride I usually take bikers on who want a trail-ride that "has it all". Iron Mountain to Damascus is the classic ride that everybody needs to do. Don’t let the length fool you, this is a workout! You face a nice one-mile climb at the start that helps warm you up, then a long downhill with some technical sections to test your bike handling abilities. Ride the spine of Iron Mountain where there are some great views along the ridge tops, especially when the leaves are turning colors in the fall! Then hold on and descend down the former Appalachian Trail through Mock "Holler". Here you can test your trials ability as you attempt to make all the rocky creek crossings that get progressively more rocky and difficult as you go along. You will emerge with your legs covered in mud on a good day and maybe some blood on a not-as-good day. Wear these momentous proudly. You have earned them!
Distance: 8.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Riding Surface: Gravel Road, Grassy Doubletrack, Singletrack
Configuration: One-way
Start: FS 90 intersection with Rt. 58
End: Damascus Town Park
Maps: Trail Town Maps, Trail Guide to Beartree/ Damascus VA, Area
USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, Konnarock VA
USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, Damascus, VA
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area Map
Elevation change: The ride begins at an elevation of about 2900 feet at the FS 90/ Rt. 58 pullover. It then climbs steadily to 3100 feet at the first turn off. You will gain another 400 feet on this grassy, doubletrack section of the Bushwacker Trail, reaching a maximum of 3500 feet. A descent of 140 feet to FS 90 follows. You will do more climbing on the Iron Mountain Trail, to the tune of 150 feet, then it remains fairly constant for about a mile or so before a steady descent to 2900 feet, then a final drop to an elevation of 1950 feet at Damascus. Total elevation gain is 750 feet; total elevation loss is 1550 feet. New! Elevation Profile of the IMT.
Description: You will need to have one car at the bottom to shuttle back up to the start, or you can take one of the shuttle services in Damascus up to the start, then ride back to your car in the Damascus Town Park.
This ride starts at the FS 90/Rt. 58 intersection and follows the Bushwacker Trail, climbing for a full mile, first ascending the gravel forest road, then up the grassy doubletrack to a short hike-a-bike up the side of a hill and onto the singletrack. Just remember, after the first mile, the worst of the climbing is behind you. You will pass the Sandy Flats Shelter, on your left, that was vandalized in 1996 and repaired by the Iron Mountain Trail Club, a local trail group, in 1997.
After you get on the Iron Mountain Trail, you will ride along the ridge of Iron Mountain almost all the way back to Damascus. The last two miles drop down through Mock Hollow (or as the locals say, Mock Holler) along the old Appalachian Trail, a rocky, steep doubletrack. The ride winds down with five creek crossings then out into Mock Holler where you may be greeted by some neighborhood dogs. Then turn right on Rt. 58 in the east-end of Damascus and it’s back to the Town Park.
| 0.0 Start at the FS 90 & RT 58 intersection. Start climbing up the gravel Forest Road |
| .5 Turn left and pass through the metal gate (the good line is actually almost parallel to the gate on the right side, between the 2 large rocks). You also have a great view of Whitetop Mountain and Pond Mountain from this point. Start climbing the grassy doubletrack of the Bushwacker Trail marked with yellow diamonds. There is also a trail sign here. |
| 1.0 Turn right onto the singletrack trail. There is a yellow diamond on the evergreen tree about 50 feet in from the grassy road. (If you start to descend on the grassy trail, you have gone to far) There is also a pile of rocks and a large log lying near the turn. Dismount your bike and carry it up the path leading up the side of the hill, a very short hike. At the top of the hill you will turn right and cross the creek. Continue on the trail as you make one last climb. Follow the yellow diamonds. |
| 1.2 Crest the hill and the trail will level out. Most of the climbing is behind you now. |
| 1.5 Continue straight at the intersection of Iron Mountain Trail and the Bushwacker Trail staying on the Bushwacker Trail. There is a directional trail sign here and the Sandy Flats shelter is on your left. |
| 1.7 Emerge on the gravel Forest Road as the Bushwacker Trail intersects FS90 and FS 615 at this point. Bear left through the upper right gate. The lower left gate is the hiker only Feathercamp Trail and is blazed blue. |
| 1.8 Turn left off the grassy doubletrack and onto the Iron Mountain Trail. Look for yellow rectangle blazes. You will be following the yellow rectangle blazes all the way back to Damascus from this point on. |
| 1.9 Continue straight as the hiker-only section of the Iron Mountain Trail intersects from the left. There is a double yellow blaze on the post at this sign. Start a fun, technical, gradual climb. Try not to dab! |
| 2.4 Crest the ridge and get ready for some narrow descending singletrack! If it’s the right time of year, this spot is covered with blueberries. |
| 2.7 Turn left at this "T" intersection. Feathercamp Ridge Trail goes right and is a part of the "Highlands Challenge Loop". Look for the directional trail sign that says "Damascus 6". There will be a yellow rectangle blaze on the big oak tree to the left. |
| 4.7 Turn left as you emerge onto a grassy road that was cut for some logging activity that never happened (thank goodness). Follow the yellow rectangle blazes along the road. |
| 4.9 Pass the Beach Grove Trail on the left, blazed with yellow diamonds. |
| 5.0 Turn left at the double yellow rectangle blaze as the trail turns back into the forest. If you start to ascend up the hill on the grassy road you went to far. |
| 5.1 You will navigate through two switchbacks as you climb this short hill. |
| 6.0 Turn right at the intersection. There is a yellow arrow pointing you down the road that was formerly the Appalachian Trail. The road straight ahead goes up to the top of "The Cuckoo". You are looking at two miles of loose rocky downhill, the first mile being the steepest. Ride smart! |
| 7.0 You will begin to cross five small creeks. Each one gets progressively more technical. |
| 7.5 Continue straight on this dirt road. |
| 7.8 Turn right on Rt. 58. Follow this road back to the Damascus Town Park. |
| 8.3 Arrive back at the Red Caboose in the Damascus Town Park. |