It is just right for an overnight hike. Just be aware that there are more trails intersecting here than indicated! We started at Wolf Gap and hiked to Rockcliff lake (next to Trout Pond). Three Ponds Trailhead. Pappy's Cabin at the Pond Hatfield-McCoy Trails Park at Reeds Gap at the intersection of VA664 and Blue Ridge Parkway. Lots of large and small rapids here, so be careful. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 19 min to complete. Important to note that the last mile up to the lookout is straight up. I started my son backpacking on this trail when he was 9 years old. Prettiest hiking is probably around Tibbett Knob and Halfmoon Lookout. The Appalachian Trail leads past several outcrops and views as it traverses the spine of Three Ridges. The Camping: Campsites are bountiful along the Virginia Creeper Trail. Really lovely spring and great campground - plenty of space and good sites, though damp everywhere. Great trail, plenty of fun elevation from the get go. Good Luck! The group only made one summit but David said Tibbet Knob was a great view. Ridgetop sites are available near Mount Pleasant. Would recommend another hike. It climbs gently through dense aspen stands. Long trail along the creek was beautiful foul and then to higher ground with several great lookouts. A nice payoff to end the excursion. Both are gorgeous and are worth stopping at. We found a small stream about 3 miles into the loop if you need a refill (may . After that next water is on the trail near Halfmoon. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Visit Big Branch Falls before reaching South Fork Moormans River valley, where deep pools and waterfalls await. I did a video about this loop on YouTube; you can check it out there too: https://youtu.be/PvjTWkVtCeo Scenery-wise, we went through tons of biomes and enjoyed the constantly changing foliage. Elevation Highs and Lows: 1,440 low point, 2,960 high point, GPS trailhead coordinates: N38 43.439, W78 19.198, Why Go: National park level scenery, old homesites, pretty river, some views. Obviously, there is also plenty by Rockcliff Lake and the Trout Pond recreation area. West Virginia George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Trout Pond Trail Trout Pond Trail Moderate 3.5 (9) George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Photos (87) Directions Print/PDF map Length 7.1 miElevation gain 1,246 ftRoute type Out & back Enjoy this 7.1-mile out-and-back trail near Wardensville, West Virginia. Overall an epic adventure! AM, XC, Fat, Gravel . Still a nice woodland stroll. Virginia Economic Development Partnership Visit www.vedp.org. Are there brochures available to be mailed that we could all get together and go over to plan? . The rhododendrons were magnificent in the hike down to Trout Pond and later in the last few miles. Three Ponds Trailhead The Three Ponds Trailhead offers many opportunities. Old Pond Multi Trail - Fayetteville, West Virginia This trail will take you the rest of the way. My wife and I were looking for a 3 day or so loop and settled on your Thornton Hollow Loop last week. Length 5.0 miElevation gain 459 ftRoute type Loop. Big Schloss was the goal but honestly was too far. website belongs to an official government organization in the very cool hike. (If you look to the Right at ascent this is Tibbets Knob) Road walking down hill for 2-2.5 miles and cut left to the final ascent at Tibbets Knob. Rock Cliff Lake and Chimney Rock are focal points of the hikes right around the campground area. just before the climb to the summit. Not a single overlook or point of interest. 38.95679, -78.74322. Forest Supervisor's Office Crazy hike. All good fun! The first 2.5 miles were a challenge. Usually I rate most of my trips 5 stars - because it is always good to be in the woods. What a hike this was, simply amazing. I totally destroyed my feet on this trail but I'm a newb. Had no trouble finding spots to set up camp. Situated at Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, this part of the AT presents fine views from beginning to end. Good water on the Tuscarora Trail. Hatfield McCoy Trails - Trailhead ATV Resort, Virginia Was definitely a great trail and would do again. I wasn't planning on going to the pond but my search for water lead me to the restroom there where I filled up with tap water (and filtered it just to make it seem like I was legit backpacking ^_^ ). Cheers! Length 13.2 miElevation gain 3,848 ftRoute type Loop. 19 reviews Write review Sort by: Kyle Parker September 21, 2022 Backpacking Nice little evening walk, overlooks the river as it cuts through the hills and finishes at the pond with several smaller trails that take you past the rock dam. Day 2 we hiked 10 miles to Trout pond with some nice views along the way. Three Ponds Trailhead 3.5 2 reviews #12 of 16 things to do in Campton Biking Trails Hiking Trails Visit website Write a review About Suggested duration More than 3 hours Suggest edits to improve what we show. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 36 min to complete. Share to. Guys I havent hiked this but turn left after the Wolf Gap campground on the road. A very small afternoon thundershower rolled in to tease us. The only negative were the gnats but otherwise beautiful hike. There were 6 people in our group, 2 on their first backpacking adventure. we only did part of this trail, the first part was pretty easy, we walked alone an old service road for most of it, then once you make your way to Trout Pond campground the trail (purple trail) heads up the mountain to the lookout. 7 Trails in 7 Days: Pinnacle Creek The main staging area has plenty of space for parking, restrooms and a staffed office that sells permits and merchandise. West Virginia University approves $7M in staff cuts and a 3% tuition Ascend the upper part of the valley before rejoining the AT and cruising the high country on the parks rocky spine. Water was scarce to nonexistent between sandy spring and trout pond so carry as much as you can. Three Ponds Trail | Warren, NH - Visit White Mountains Great trail. We gave it a wave and kept on trucking as our day at the point was over 15 miles with a few more to go till camp. The dry spot between Trout Pond and Sandstone Spring is real, bring enough water, 2-3 liters. Your email address will not be published. This trail is great for backpacking, hiking, and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. We didnt have the water issues others mentioned here, but we did carry 3L/day/hiker just in case, and always had enough. Split this into a 3 day hike. Three Mountain Ponds Trail : 258 Reviews, Map - AllTrails The Appalachian Trail courses 550 miles amidst Virginias mountains, passing through Virginias rich array of public wildlands, such as the Jefferson National Forest, Washington National Forest, Shenandoah National Park and lands along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It just seems like there'd be a more reliable source for water later in the hike (Sandstone Spring) if you did the loop CCW. After Tibbets Knob there is a 4 mile road walk that takes you to the Trout Pond Trail head. Half of my group was not fit enough. (There is another great site or two near Rockcliff Lake) This is the highest elevation segment of the entire Virginia portion of the Appalachian Trail. After you pass the Big Schloss Cutoff Trail, the trail becomes noticably overgrown and we found ourselves having to pinch back a lot of thorn branches. All Hatfield-McCoy Trails, trailhead facilities, Welcome Center and Country Roads Visitors Center are now open! A steady but very mild grade takes you to meet the Appalachian Trail. About 1/2-1 mile before Trout Pond there are about 3 great campsites. The Bearfence Mountain Hut is available along the AT. which was well worth the short side trip. Appalachian Trail Mileage Chart : Facts & Information - SummitPost Big Schloss via Big Schloss Cutoff, Mill Mountain, and Big Schloss Trail, Halfmoon Mountain via Bucktail Trail Loop, Sulphur Springs Gap Trail to White Rock Cliff, Pond Run, Half Moon, Racer Camp Hollow and Wilson Cove Loop, Tuscarora, Wilson Cove, and Halfmoon Lookout Loop, Little Sluice Mountain Trail Via Halfmoon Lookout Trail, Tuscarora Trail: Route 55 to Van Buren Furnace. on official, secure websites. My sister and I planned to camp around mile 13, but kept going in search of water, until we finally gave up. Then went up Piney Branch Trail to the top (fairly tough ascent) and another night on Piney Branch River. The final part of the adventure leads down to the brawling New River. Most popular is an easy 2.2 mile walk to the scenic middle pond and Three Ponds shelter. camping spots on the trail are mostly around the pond run look out at and white rocks look out but there are a few scattered around the woods. It is a very large creek. It seemed flowy enough but just hard to access through some brush. Climb to the crest of Straight Mountain, where partial views can be had before reaching Saunders trail shelter and a second nights camping option. Trout Pond, near Wardensville, West Virginia (WV), in Hardy County, is West Virginia's only natural lake and is situated in the Trout Pond Recreation Area. Off-road enthusiasts can enjoy riding Jeeps, trucks, 4x4s, ATVs, UTVs, or dirt bikes on the mountain trails. The hardest ascent, going CW, was probably up Tibet Knob and as soon as you think you're at the top you get the rock scrambles. Watch were you step. This was a good trail for first time backpackers. The Trailhouse is in the heart of the Hatfield McCoy Trail system in the mountains of Southern West Virginia. Trout Pond - West Virginia Explorer That cold mountain water felt so good on my worn out feet. Be sure to bring a water filter so you can refill along the way. We ran into a couple rat snakes and a rattlesnake. Physical: 416 Aho Road, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 Mailing: PO Box 568, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2511 | info@blueridgeconservancy.org We immediately crossed Trout Run on a sturdy bridge. What You Need to Know: Expect company at Dragons Tooth, Tinker Cliffs and especially McAfee Knob. We offer swimming and fishing, along with trail hiking, nature walks, outdoor fire pit and a 125 yard shooting range. We followed the review stating there was water 1/4 mile the opposite way of our clock-wise path, once we reached the road. From Blacksburg, VA, follow US 460 West for 3 miles. Some notes about the trail: It was a bit overgrown, but we didn't have any hesitation about where the trail was at all. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Fantastic panoramas open in all directions, including the Conway River drainage from where you came, Fork Mountain, Jones Mountain and Cat Knob one of the best views in Shenandoah National Park. Although the 1.1 mile hike to Devils Nose can be busy on nice days, the outcrop is more than 75 yards long and has plenty of room for you to find a quiet place to enjoy the views. If you start the trail counter clockwise you will have water for the first couple miles until the big accent up the mountain and then it runs dry. Elevation Highs and Lows: 1,660 low point, 3,940 high point, GPS trailhead coordinates: N37 54.101, W78 59.113, Why Go: Wilderness, views aplenty, streams, Campbell Creek Falls. Eventually crest the hill and sharp cut back left up towards final ascent on the road. All lakes in West Virginia are formed by artificial impoundment, and only one pond, Trout Pond, is naturally formed. The views are amazing. Work your way to the intersection of the Mau-Har Trail and the AT at the Maupin Shelter, but continue left along the AT. Trail Feature. Airbnb This cabin getaway is located at the end of a private gravel road. Great campsites along the way, I started Saturday (5/14/22) at 10pm and finished about 1pm Sunday. Great camping spots at Sandstone Spring and plenty of water. 3D View of Route. Plenty of camping spots on the road you could drive up park and then hike. What You Need to Know: Backpackers will see beauty throughout, but they will also see other hikers, backpackers and bicyclers on the Virginia Creeper Trail this is not a circuit for solitude seekers. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Started counter clockwise. Hike this trail this morning. At the top of Halfmoon Mtn there are two lookout points. Finished this trail over two days. Only reason I didnt give it 5 stars was we spent a few miles on a gravel road vice on a trail that I wasnt expecting. TOUGH incline to start but got the hardest part out of the way with fresh legs. Some muddy conditions at the very beginning. Trout Pond Loop: 125 Reviews, Map - West Virginia | AllTrails made about 12 miles which took about 7 hours including breaks. The Camping: Backpackers pass two trail shelters, Thunder Hill shelter early in the hike and Matts Creek shelter late in the hike. GPS trailhead coordinates: Start: N36 38.767, W81 34.984 End: N36 41.85, W81 30.26 Why Go: Two wildernesses, high country panoramas, wild ponies The Skinny: This is the highest elevation segment of the entire Virginia portion of the Appalachian Trail. You'll find scenic mountain vistas, over 160 miles of hiking trails, dark starlit skies, clear cold streams, all which allow for a wide range of recreational opportunities. 00:26. Camped a one of the handful of spots at white rocks cliff. 491 were here. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 7 h 50 min to complete. We're minutes from the Ivy Branch Trail head that will be opening in the spring of 2020. Part of the trail passes through Grayson Highlands State Park. Continue onward, circling Carvins Cove Reservoir, coming to the Tinker Cliffs, a long stone vertical dropoff that will leave you dashing from view to view. We parked at White Rock Cliff Parking and hiked the trail counter clockwise. Day 3 - A blissfully easy day of gradual inclines and descents. We should have stopped there, but needed water. Trout Pond Recreation Area well marked but lots of trails all around so definitely have a map. Furnished with many antiques, books and hymnals, the cabin makes a perfect setting for a family gathering. A lot of fog on the mountains as well which made visibility poor but the trails are pretty easy to follow. Airbnb Cothelstone Farm encompasses 160 acres and includes five miles of marked hiking trails in addition to these beautiful views. Last day was then short to the AT again and down to Elk Wallow. The Camping: Tent sites and one shelter are available on the AT while streamside camps are located along Campbell Creek. This is a great trail with rewarding views each offering there own perspective of the valley. An official website of the Three Ponds | Danville VT - Facebook I assume the water flow is not great there when there is little rain. Campsite-wise, there are great spots on top of Big Schloss, at Sandstone Spring, at Trout Run about 5 miles clockwise from Hightail, at Hightail itself along the river, and then David said there were lots of nice spots along 691 right off the road. Once we hit the Tuscarora Trail we took it until we crossed a nice boardwalk. extremely easy was very disappointed looks like the park is starting to gravel all the trails definitely go to the Overlook the views are absolutely amazing, Tibbet Knob Trail from Wolf Gap Campground, Big Schloss via Big Schloss Cutoff, Mill Mountain, and Big Schloss Trail, Halfmoon Mountain via Bucktail Trail Loop, North Mountain, Stack Rock, and Laurel Run Trail Loop, Pond Run, Half Moon, Racer Camp Hollow and Wilson Cove Loop, Tuscarora, Wilson Cove, and Halfmoon Lookout Loop, Little Sluice Mountain Trail Via Halfmoon Lookout Trail. Trout Pond Hike - hikingupward.com 540-265-5100, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=79261&actid=50, George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, UPDATE:Some AT Camping Prohibited due to bear activity, Temp Closure: Rocky Run ATV trail, Second Mountain, Long Run Rd, Vepco Rd, Overnight Parking In Pat Jennings Visitor Center Parking Lot Not Allowed, Craig Creek Bridge on Appalachian Trail Removed, Tuscarora - Three Ponds Trail (Forest TR #1013.1). 917 W 19th Ave, Kennewick, WA 99337. The hike was not particularly hard, as the ascents were all relatively gradual. I love this trail. website belongs to an official government organization in the Your primary overnighting option along the AT is the Saunders Trail shelter and adjacent tent sites. Turns out, that road is a part of the trail. It can be buggy, so insect repellent is recommended. Here are some of the hiking destinations in the area, and it's distance from Three Ponds Trailhead NH as the crow flies. It would have been manageable with 3 liter IF Wolf Gap had the water pump turned off. Reach the James River, where an impressive hiker footbridge spans this mighty Virginia waterway. Starting at Wolf Gap campground and hiking CC would be ideal if I was going to do this again. Great Hike. United States government. This run was flowing quite well, but I would advise against grabbing water here as this run has gone through the farmlands in the valley. Plenty of water available. Elevation Highs and Lows: 1,620 low point, 4,000 high point, GPS trailhead coordinates: Start: N37 11.259, W80 54.058 End: N37 19.757, W80 45.063, Why Go: Stream hiking, views, ridge running, lesser-trod trail segment. The Beaver Ponds Trailhead is well marked. Just helpful. 5162 Valleypointe Parkway With more cuts expected, West Virginia University's governing board moved forward Friday with slashing 12 graduate and doctorate programs amid a $45 million budget shortfall and approved a . We had intended to do the trail clockwise, but when we arrived we thought we were having issues finding the trail. On the way back to the car, there were some more fun creek crossing. Pond Run, Half Moon, Racer Camp Hollow and Wilson Cove Loop - AllTrails The trail is very rocky and the uphill will suck no matter which way you go. In general, a great hike. That is nearly 24 hours of reasonably hard hiking with no resupply. CARI MCGEE REAL ESTATE TEAM / KELLER WILLIAMS COLUMBIA BASIN. The descent off Halfmoon Mtn on the Halfmoon Trail was pretty boring for the most part, but there was somewhat of a view of the summit of Halfmoon Mtn on the way down. The best times to visit this trail are March through December. What You Need to Know: This area is blessed with ample springs, creeks and other water sources, unlike some other stretches of the Virginia AT. What You Need to Know: This backpack, though short, does have multiple ups and downs. There was only 1 stream about a half mile before Wolf Gap, which we fortunately filled up at. Leave Hog Camp Gap on the AT to scale Cole Mountain, with its vistas and highland meadows. Enough foilage and terrain change to keep it interesting. Water report from July 14th and 15th: Some nice meadows and peaceful woodlands through here. I did 13.6 miles, because i went off trail, but this loop is probably more like 12 if you stay on route. Here are some details on my trip with a few tidbits that could be helpful. Bike Type. Those crossings are fun and not hard to do (in the winter at least). Turn left before the white metal gate into the horse trailer parking area. So, A few things about this loop. Still snow covered making the trail more difficult, but enjoyed seeing the mountain covered. If you camp Day 1 at Big Schloss like I did, plan for a fairly rigorous 12-13 mile day, with significant elevation gain, at full pack weight (food and max water), easily making Day 1 the more difficult of the three IMO. It was rocky only on the west section. I gave this one 4 stars due to the lack of water at Wolf Gap, which was controlled by man, not by nature. I would have happily carried double that. Trout Pond is one of the most active geological areas in the GWNF. Undulate through the heart of the wilderness, scanning for views of the James River down below, then make the long descent to the James River, saddling alongside gurgling Matts Creek. Maps may be purchased at somelocal. Overall a great hike/backpacking trail. It was all fire roads, not a trail. Then you will come to an intersection and follow the Tuscarora trail to the right marked with blue blazes. I know I am repeating myself here, but I can't stress enough how the lack of water effected our stamina). I was wishing I knew this when I was doing the road part of this trail. https://www.virginia.org/plan-your-trip/virginia-travel-guide/. This fun circuit in Mount Rogers National Recreation Area cruises up the gorgeous Whitetop Laurel Creek Valley on the famed Virginia Creeper Trail. lots of stream crossings I'm the first 3.5 miles which was fun and provided plenty of opportunities to refill on water. Trout Pond and Long Mountain Loop - AllTrails This challenging loop has it all overlooks, waterfalls, and geologically exciting hiking. Walk under the geologically captivating Guillotine. It should be moderate at best. Since we had time to kill we decided to knock out Halfmoon Mtn so that way we would have to do less mileage the next day. Its . This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Start on the AT and savor some views before entering the North Fork Moormans River valley. The next day we went from Rockcliff Lake/Trout Pond to the intersection of the Bucktail Cutoff (pink blazed) and Halfmoon Run (yellow blazed) trails, where there were two nice campsites along Halfmoon run, and day 3 we returned to Wolf Gap. This trail is for inshape experienced hikers it is rocky the uphill parts are long and exhausting but the looks outs are worth the trek up to see them. Continue to the lower parking area to access the Pandapas Pond hiking trail. Required fields are marked *. WHOA! Did this loop starting at Wolf Gap parking going CCW. In the winter, you'll need 4-wheel-drive to access the residence. Location . Totaled close to 17 miles. A shorter alternative would be to camp at Sandstone Spring. Specialty sandwiches, snacks, and treats in the heart of Danville village. Outdoor Recreation - Welcome to Bath County, Virginia from Springer. Things open up once you gain the ridge, so it was really just Tuscarora on the way up from Waite's Run that was affected. Conditions were fine. But it was an okay spot, I was the only one there. Just a tip if the campsites were already taken. 1-800-592-2217 In approximately 4.5 miles the road will turn to gravel. Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests - Beaver Ponds #516 Its a smoker. Contrast that with Trout Pond (my Day 2 campsite), which has ample sites, water, indoor plumbing, even a shower. A designated swimming area, easy lakeside trails, and a . This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Share sensitive information only Big Schloss and Half Moon Mountain are the best viewpoints. Bring a snack and tons of water. I did the loop CW, if I were to do it again I might go CCW. Started to sprinkle on the way down making wet areas even wetter (bogs) and rocks slick. Trail Map. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. 200 Kancamagus Highway, PO Box 10. There are also at least 3 excellent campsites near this spring. It was a beautiful couple of days although very hot, particularly the second day. second day was tough. After we descended off of Cherry Ridge, there was a wide open meadow with old forest roads going different directions. no good trees to hang a bear bag if that's your style. Otherwise the only sources of water I had were (going CW) was a source along Bucktail Trail on the way to Halfmoon Mt., Sandstone Spring on Mill Mountain. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 20 min to complete. Then the trail takes a side trip to an old fire tower site on Halfmoon Lookout where the views are nothing short of spectacular! Try this 29.1-mile loop trail near Baker, West Virginia. The views are extremely rewarding and plentiful, with loads of places to stop and camp. The ascent to the top was barely noticeable at all, pretty easy for the most part. After this point there isnt much water available. It is broad but quiet (I saw literally zero cars, zero other hikers, and only a pair mountain bikers after 4+ hours on a Sunday). There are places to park along the road. We did this as a 3 day, 2 night trip. This has been my hike of choice during COVID. At the intersection with the Bucktail Cutoff Trail, there is a really nice campsite next to the somewhat reliable Halfmoon Run, wasn't the most flowing stream that we've seen so far. A two-mile or so stretch of the trail was on a fire road, which is really the only drawback. Coordinates: 37.281944, -80.46917. Elevation Highs and Lows: 2,190 low point, 3,410 high point, GPS trailhead coordinates: N36 38.645, W81 44.407, Why Go: Historic rail trail, stream, trail shelter, partial views. From its start on Waites Run, this circuit climbs some 1300+ feet at times on a steep and rough footway, for about 2 miles along Pond Run. Backpackers should also be familiar with best practices when camping in bear country. Day 1: Recommend starting Wolf Gap parking lot and going CCW. - House for sale. We started at Wolf Gap and hiked counterclockwise, based on the reviews here that water was off there and hard to find between Sandstone Spring and the PVC pipe at 691. last 7 miles are ez pz. We started on the Junior Poe trail, connected to the Chimney Rock trail and headed towards the Trout Pond loop. Print/PDF map. Head out on this 11.3-mile loop trail near Wardensville, West Virginia. Trout Pond Campground is very nice with running water and flushable toilets.
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