In cooperation with the USFS, the system of blazing in the Mt. Rogers NRA from Skulls Gap to Damascus is currently undergoing some revision. The new blaze revisions are about 75% complete as of this writing. Blaze shapes are being used to differentiate the trails, rather than relying on an often times confusing system of different colors. This page will serve as a key to the trail name, USFS Trail Number, blaze shape and color, and user type. You heard it here first as the guide books and maps are not current enough to note these changes!
The Concept
The 2 main trails going from Damascus east, toward Skulls Gap, are the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Iron Mountain Trail (IMT). The AT is always blazed with WHITE RECTANGLES and is a HIKER ONLY TRAIL. Don't even think about riding your bike, horse or motorized vehicle on this trail!
The Iron Mountain Trail is blazed with YELLOW RECTANGLES and is open to BIKE, FOOT and HORSE travel. The trails that intersect the IMT (except the AT) are blazed with YELLOW SHAPES. In general, if you are on a yellow trail heading uphill, you will run into the IMT. If you are going downhill, you are going away from the IMT and will run into a Forest Road, Campground or paved Highway.
The Blazes
Yellow
Rectangles are used to designate the Iron Mountain Trail (trail #
301) only.
Most of
these blazes are painted 2"x 6" standard trail blazes.
Yellow rectangles are used on the IMT throughout its length.
Yellow
Diamonds are used to designate the following trails:
Beech Grove #4552, Sawmill #4556, Bushwacker #4629, Beartree Gap #4551, Lum #4544
Yellow
Triangles are used to designate the following trails:
Chestnut Ridge #4542, Feathercamp Ridge #4550, Buzzard Den #4582,
Straight Branch #168
Yellow Squares are used to
designate the following trails:
Rush #4565, Wright Hollow #4548, Yancey #4627, Shaw Gap #4545
Special Note: The Feathercamp Branch Trail # 169 is a Hiker only trail and is blazed with Blue Rectangles. This is a very fragile trail so please respect the limited use by not riding your bike or horse here!
Much thanks to Matthew Repass for help with the blaze icons on this page.