Shaw Gap Trail
The Shaw Gap Trail starts at the Group Campground at Beartree Recreation Area and it is blazed with YELLOW SQUARES. You can drive in (pay $3) to the campground or if you don’t want to pay, park at the fisherman’s parking lot before you get to the pay station and ride in. WARNING: Some vehicles have been broken into at the fisherman's parking lot. Take your chances (so far I’ve been lucky).
From the Beartree pay station, go straight up the main road about 2 miles. The group Campground is on the left. Turn in here and go left toward the RV area. You will see some parking spots on the right, look for the trail sign behind these parking spots.
Enter the Shaw Gap trail and begin a moderate climb. Take the trail about 1 mile until you get to Shaw Gap. This is the trail intersection that is one of the major reference points.
From here, you can make a hard left and ride Beartree Gap Trail all the way back down to the Beartree entrance. OR
Take the Iron Mountain Trail left (west) 2 miles to FR 90 or right (east)3 miles toward Lum Trail. Iron Mountain Trail is marked with yellow painted rectangles. OR
Go straight and ride down Chestnut Ridge trail marked with yellow triangles. You will end up on FR 615. Turn left to get back to FR 90 and Iron Mountain Trail.
Shaw Gap - A Major Trail Intersection
Shaw Gap is where many trails east of FR 90 meet and is a major reference point for many of these trail ride descriptions. Use this point to orient yourself when you are out riding.
From Shaw Gap, The Iron Mountain Trail goes West toward FR 90 and East toward the Lum Trail and Old Rt. 600. It is blazed with YELLOW PAINTED RECTANGLES.
The Chestnut Ridge Trail, blazed with YELLOW TRIANGLES, goes North and ends up at FR 615. Then go left on FR 615 to connect to FR 90, then left on FR 90 to get back to Rt. 58.
The Beartree Gap Trail goes Southwest and is blazed with YELLOW DIAMONDS (as well as old painted purple blazes) and comes out near the entrance to Beartree Campground on Rt. 58. Part of this trail also has Orange Triangle Beartree Bushwacker blazes, however these stop where the Yancey Trail intersects the Beartree Gap Trail.
The Shaw Gap Trail goes Southeast and is blazed with YELLOW SQUARES. It comes out at the Group Campground at Beartree Recreation Area.