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: Mock Holler Loop begins in Damascus at about 1900 feet. The climb through Mock Holler, to the top of the Iron Mountain Ridge, gains1000 feet over 2.5 miles. The trail then descends 400 feet to the start of the Beech Grove Trail. There you will descend another 500 feet, over one mile, to the end of the Beech Grove Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail portion. The Virginia Creeper Trail is relatively level all the way back to the Damascus Town Park. Total elevation gain is 1000 feet.

Access: To get to the Damascus Town Park; from exit 19 off Interstate 81, take Rt. 58 east for 12 miles. Look for the Red Caboose at the Damascus Town Park as you enter town. Parking is available here. 

Description: This is really a fun and challenging ride that will test your physical stamina, your mental fortitude and your technical ability. Climbing Mock "Holler" is one of the rites of passage for the local hammerhead population. You will gain instant respect once you get this two mile climb on your resume. The reward is a really fun ride along the ridge of Iron Mountain, then a drop back down to the Virginia Creeper Trail. But first, you have to ride the "rock garden" at the end of Beech Grove Trail. Be thankful, the USFS volunteers have done much work to this most knarliest of trails, relocating it out of the stream bed, and building some rock waterbars. I was worried that they would "sanitize" this section, but after riding it I found it as much of a technical challenge as ever! If you see any of my skin on these rocks down through the Beech Grove rock garden don’t be surprised. I’ve also lost a few derailleurs and spokes here, and have been witness to and a participant in an endo or three on this stretch of trail. A guide that I rode with once told me to "focus on the negative space between the rocks and flow like water and become one with your bike". It takes a great deal of concentration to ride like that, but if you try it, it will work! Take a break and shake out your sore forearms before you hit the Virginia Creeper Trail and ride back to the starting point in the Damascus Town Park.

Note: If you want to turn this ride into the "Killer Loop", at the Virginia Creeper Trail hang a left and ride the Taylor’s Valley Loop. Makes a great day long ride!

0.0 Proceed toward Whitetop on the Virginia Creeper Trail from the Red Caboose
0.1 Cross Shady Ave. and stay on Virginia Creeper Trail
0.5 Stop at the paved crossing at Orchard Hill Road. Make a left onto Rt. 58 and pass Dot’s and the mini-mart on the right.
0.7 Turn right on E. Fourth Street. You are now heading into Mock Holler
0.8 Bear right at the fork on this rocky road.
1.0 Bear right, go through the pole gate and follow the yellow rectangle blazes of the Iron Mountain Trail. Prepare to cross some small rocky creeks.
1.8 Continue straight. This is where the real climbing begins!
2.5 Turn left following the yellow rectangle blazes. The climbing is almost over!
2.6 The trail will start to level out along the ridge top, and then you will start a nice descent.
3.5 Still descending, you will come to 2 switchbacks in a grove of hemlock trees.
3.6 Turn right as you emerge onto a logging road. Follow this road about 100 yards, then turn right on the yellow diamond blazed Beech Grove Trail. Prepare to descend. (note: if you start to ascend on the logging road, you’ve missed the trail)
3.8 Right hand switchback.
3.9 A very rocky switchback. Careful! The line is on the far upper right.
4.0 You will now enter the "rock garden". Choose your line carefully!
4.4 Bear left as the Appalachian Trail intersects the Beech Grove Trail. Do not get on the white blazed trail. You have survived (maybe) the rock garden and the trail gets smoother.
4.6 Cross Rt. 58, look to the right and you will see the sign for the Virginia Creeper Trail at the Straight Branch parking lot. Turn left down into the parking area.
4.7 Turn right on the Virginia Creeper Trail toward Damascus. (If you want to do the "Killer Loop", turn left and do the Taylor’s Valley loop).
5.7 There is a beautiful waterfall on right.
7.9 Cross the Rt. 58/Rt. 91 intersection. This is a heavily traveled intersection so use caution.
9.3 Arrive back at the red caboose at the Damascus Town Park.

Also see Killer Loop

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