SKULLS GAP/ IRON MOUNTAIN LOOP
Distance: 8.8 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Riding Surface: Old Forest Road, Singletrack, Paved Road, Dirt Road
Configuration: Loop
Start/End: Skulls Gap Picnic Area
Maps: Trail Guide to Beartree/ Damascus VA, Area. Trail
Town Maps
USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, Konnarock VA, USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, Damascus, VA, Mount
Rogers National Recreation Area Map
Elevation change: The ride starts at the Skulls Gap Picnic Area at an elevation of 3300 feet. There is a short descent of 160 feet down to where the Iron Mountain Trail turns off "Old 600". You will then climb 600 feet over the next 0.8 miles to the Lum Trail. There you will descend 400 feet to where the Lum Trail ends at Chipmunk Circle. On the Straight Branch Trail you will climb 240 feet to the clearing on the hill, then drop down 240 feet to Rt. 600. It’s time to climb the paved road for .7 of a mile, gaining back 260 feet. Proceed on the Iron Mountain Trail for a gradual climb of 320 feet over 0.6 of a mile. From the Iron Mountain Trail/FS 84 intersection, you will drop 880 feet back to the starting point at the Skulls Gap Picnic Area. Total elevation gain is 1420 feet; total elevation loss is 1680 feet.
Access: To get to the Skulls Gap Picnic Area; from the intersection with Rt. 58 & Rt. 91 east of Damascus, turn left and follow Rt. 58 for 9.7 miles to Rt. 603 at Konnarock. Go straight on Rt. 603 (Rt. 58 makes a sharp right here) another 2.9 miles to Weavers Store. Continue straight on Rt. 600 for 2.2 miles, first on the old section, then onto the new road, opened in 1997. The Skulls Gap Picnic area is on the left and the entrance is signed. Park and start your ride here. (Note: If you are using a map done prior to 1997, the Skulls Gap Picnic Area will be shown on the right side of Rt. 600)
Description: The Skulls Gap area has changed dramatically since the summer of 1997. There is now a new Rt. 600, cutting straight across the mountain and down into the valley below. If you are using a pre-1997 map, you may be disoriented as the Skulls Gap Picnic Area is now on the west side of Rt. 600, not on the east side, as was previously the case. The Old 600 has been graded and grass has been planted, which makes for a very nice trail. Old 600 has become the Iron Mountain Trail for a short section coming out of the Skulls Gap Picnic Area. Across new Rt. 600, the Iron Mountain Trail has been relocated and a new section of the trail now goes into the forest, for a very nice gentle climb up to FS 84. What an inspiration to see the amount of work, coordinated by the USFS, that people from literally all over the world, have put into building the new Iron Mountain Trail relocation. Volunteers from many countries as well as volunteers from all over the United States have contributed their time to the construction of this section, which has all been done with hand tools. Thank you volunteers! The previously re-routed Iron Mountain Trail, following FS 84, has been abandoned as the "official" Iron Mountain Trail, although some of the yellow blazes remain along this stretch of road.
This ride can actually be done in a number of different ways, but I like to try to end my rides with a nice long downhill if possible. Ride it any way you want to, but make sure you do ride this one. It is destined to become a "classic".
Leaving the Skulls Gap Picnic Area, you will descend on Old Rt. 600, which has become the Iron Mountain Trail. Then turn onto the Iron Mountain Trail where there awaits a bit of climbing on some really nice singletrack. What a great way to start your ride! Then hang on as you descend the Lum Trail down into the Beartree Recreation Area. Turn left and proceed on the Straight Branch Trail, heading back toward Rt. 600. Make sure you take the time to stop in the field on the Straight Branch Trail to read about the destruction done to this area caused by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
At the junction of Rt. 600 and Straight Branch Trail you will be looking up at what a British friend of mine (who owns Blue Blaze Bus, a small tour company) describes as "one bloody long slog" up the mountain. It really is unavoidable, so just resolve to start turning the cranks and climb back to the crest of the mountain on Rt. 600. This section can be especially bothersome during a hot summer day, as this new pavement is black as a butyl tube.
At the crest of the mountain on Rt. 600, you will finally get to ride the new Iron Mountain Trail as you head back into the cool shade of the forest, climbing gradually back to FS 84. Make sure you check out the views as you climb because they are spectacular, especially in the fall. At one point, you will be looking over at the ridge top of Grave Mountain and beyond that to the summit of Whitetop Mountain. If it’s clear, you may be able to make out "The Bald" on the end of this second highest mountain in Virginia (elevation 5520 ft.). Once you hit FS 84, be ready for a fast descent on this dirt road back to Skulls Gap where you started.
0.0 Turn right (west) out of the starting point at the Skulls Gap Picnic Area, head toward the old road 600.
0.1 Bear to the right as you go through the "pole gate". There is a yellow blaze on the tree on the left. Descend on "Old 600".
0.5 Turn left on the Iron Mountain Trail. Go through the metal gate and follow the yellow rectangle blazes as you start a steep climb.
0.9 The trail levels out.
1.1 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.
1.2 Continue straight as you head back into the woods for a very short climb.
1.3 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.
2.3 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.
2.4 Turn left on the Straight Branch trail. There is a directional sign here. Head toward Rt. 600.
3.1 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.
3.8 Pass through the wooden gate.
3.9 Turn left on Rt. 600 and start the "bloody long slog" on the paved road ahead.
4.6 Turn right at the crest of the hill, at the crosswalk, and go through the break in the guardrail. Look to your left at the edge of the forest. The Iron Mountain Trail goes into the forest there.
4.7 Turn right on the new Iron Mountain Trail relocation completed in late 1997.
5.2 There is a great view on the right, of the ridge of Grave Mountain. Behind that is Whitetop Mountain.
5.3 You are now on the "old" Iron Mountain Trail. Follow the yellow rectangle blazes as you crest the hill and descend.
6.6 Turn left on FS 84. You are heading toward Rt. 600. Enjoy the downhill.
6.8 There is a good view on the right of the valley below.
7.5 Continue descending on FS 84. The intersection of "Old 84" is past the gate on your right.
8.6 Go straight as you cross Rt. 600 back into the Skulls Gap Picnic Area.
8.8 Arrive back at the Skulls Gap Picnic Area.