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Trails are located in the:

George Washington National Forest (GWNF)
Dry River District
Ranger Steve Parsons
540-828-2591

FR 85 & FR 225 (1st trail ride from Story.)

FR 85 (past B4W campsites, Meadows Knobb) toward and on FR 225 (B4W adobt a
trail.)
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FR 85 rating: 1-2, Easy bumpy dirt road. Some rough sections may need 4WD.
FR 225 rating: 2-4, Most of it is an easy drive. Some steep rough sections
may need 4WD, especially if wet.
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Trails are in DeLorme's Virginia Atlas, pg 67-66 (A5-2) & 72 (D2-3).
-------------------------------------------------------------updated 10/31/96-
(Basic directions above, with odometer zeroed at gas station.)
1-Take Rt 33 West, toward SR 613. (~9.0 miles West of the gas station.)
2-Turn left (on SR 613 South) @ mile ~9.0, toward Ottobine community & SR257.
3-Continue strait (on SR 257) @ mile ~ . ,through Ottobine.(613 turned left)
4-SR 257 will make a distinct left turn @ mile ~17.0, SR 731 enters on right.
5-Go ~1/4 mi,there's a gas station on left & Deb's Family Rest. on right.
6-Turn right (as does SR 257) @ mile ~17.2, and continue toward FR 85.
7-Past the Hone Quarry campgrnds (on rght) @ mile ~19.0.
8-You will enter the forest @ mile ~19.4, Sign on right.
9-SR 257 turns to Rt 924 @ mile ~20.4, and becomes a lower standard road.
9a- past dam & lake on left @ mile ~22.0.
9b- there's a 180 degree left turn @ mile ~26.0, & a dirt road on the right.
This DIRT ROAD is FR 85 (and what you want.)
10-Turn right (on FR 85) @ mile ~26.0, toward Meadows Knob.

ZERO YOUR ODOMETER NOW, AT THE TRAIL HEAD.

10a- Continue toward B4W campsite @ mile ~1.0. (If you'd joined, you'd know!)
It's after a sharp right hand switch back, then 100 yards is campsite in
clearing on ???.
- Or go .4 miles and turn left on trail to 2nd camp site. CB 34 or 4.
11-Continue (on FR 85) toward Medows Nobb (big open field) @ mile ~ 6.0.

You were just trail riding! Didn't realize it? Well it gets a little better.

12-Go through the field to the other end, toward FR 225.
13-Continue (on FR 225). (Headed toward a steam crossing @ mile ~11.0.)
FR 225 is a bit more primitive trail from this point on.
14-(1st obstacle) @ mile ~ 7-8?. Rock stairs on right, easy to miss as trail
goes right around them.

15-Sharp 110 degree left @ mile ~ . . (Just stick with main looking trail.)
Think it starts to head down hill at this point and is mostly dirt.
16-Stream crossing @ mile ~ 11.0.
17-(2nd Obstacle) @ mile ~ . . A huge (12-15' high) dirt / gravel mound.
Trail goes around this also, so play if you want. (This is at the bottom
of the mountain.)

18-Continue (past dirt mounds) ~1/4 mile to a "T" intersection. (On the left
is a logging road with a gate.)
19-Turn right (at "T") @ mile ~ . , toward SR 742.
19a- begin State Maintenance @ ~ . . Where FR 225 (dirt road) becomes SR933
(paved).
20-Turn left (on SR 742) @ mile ~ . , toward SR 743.
21-Turn right (on SR 743) @ mile ~19.0, toward SR 613.
22-Turn left (on Rt 613 North) @ mile ~ . , toward Rt 33.
23-Turn right (on Rt 33 East) @ mile ~ . , toward I81.
24-Go North (on I81) toward home or from wence you came.

Back to Story

FR 502 & FR 442 (2nd trail ride from Story.)

FR 502 (Second Mountain Trail) to and past FR 442 (Dictum Ridge Road) at ATV
staging area. Then cross over FR 72 (Long Run Road on some maps) and
continue on FR 502 (still) toward and onto FR 240 (Gauley Ridge Road / Old
Long Run Road (good sections along stream)). Can leave at FR 72 by turning
right.
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FR 502 rating: 3-5 dry, A lot of challenging areas, Rocky, water holes, etc.
on first half. 4wd is needed. Then it's a fairly easy
drive to FR 240.
FR 240 rating: 4-5, Can be 6-8+ if road has wash outs at creek crossing or
stream is up.
NOTE: If you're going alone, be sure your w
inch is working.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trails are in DeLorme's Virginia Atlas, pg 72 (D3-4).
-------------------------------------------------------------updated 10/31/96-
(Basic directions above.)
1-Take Rt 33 West toward FR 502. (~13.8 miles West of the gas station.)
1a- Pass SR 613 @ mile ~9.0.
2-Turn right (on FR 502) @ mile ~13.8.

ZERO YOUR ODOMETER NOW, AT THE TRAIL HEAD.

2a-Continue up steep rocky, washed out road (FR502), toward "Y" intersection.
3-Turn left (at "Y" intersection) @ mile ~14.6.
(The power lines turn right at this point and you go left. Right is
private property, Actually it's all private up here EXCEPT for the trail
you are on. Stay on the trail.)
4-Continue up hill (on FR 502) toward 1st open field with BIG power lines.
4a- Good incline with mud & water holes until mile ~14.5.
4b- After leveling off a bit, slight incline to mile ~15.4, still mud,water.
4c- The last (fairly deep) water hole is @ mile ~16.2, and has a bypass.

5-Continue (on FR 502) toward 1st open field (w/power lines) @ mile ~16.5.
There is a beautiful view of the town in the valley below, on the right.
6-Go through the field (under power lines) to the other end & continue on.

7-Continue toward 2nd open field with BIG power lines @ mile ~17.5.
This area has a view on left. At this point the area is more open, trail
is dryer, while at top of mountain. Trees are smaller, less dense and more
shrubbery.
8-Go through the field (under power lines) to the other end & continue on.

9-Continue (on FR 502) toward ATV area & FR 442 (Dictum Ridge @ mile ~18.6).
As you go down mountains the trees become taller and more dense again.
10-Turn right (past ATV area) @ mile ~18.6, toward FR 72.
(Off to left of ATV area is FR 442 (Dictum Ridge Road).)
11-Continue (on FR 502) ~.9 miles, toward FR 72 (Long Run Rd) crossing.
11a- At this point you can turn right on FR 72 and leave or continue strait
across and stay with FR 502, toward FR 240 (Gauley Ridge / Old Long Run)

12-Cross over FR 72 (still on FR 502) @ mile ~19.5, toward FR 240.
13-Turn right (on FR 240 (Old Long Run section)) @ mile ~20.4,to Long Run Crk.
13a- There is a beautiful view from an overlook on the left, by the power
line tower.
FR 502 meets FR 240 at a small opening in the trees, under the BIG power
lines. It looks like two right turns. First right turn is easy to miss
and is ~ 95-110 degree turn. This is the Old Long Run section (of FR 240)
that goes down to Long Run Creek (and what you want). (Other way is the
Gauley Ridge section (of FR 240) continues with ~60-75 degree turn. This
way continues to several other trails that have yet to be explored by us.)
(Once on FR 240 the trail narrows and has a drop off on the left & rises
on the right. As you come down the mountain you'll start to see a creek
(Long Run Creek) on the left which you will cross ~12 times.)
13a- Continue (on FR 240).
14-Cross Long Run Creek on wooden bridge @ mile ~20.8.
14a- Continue (on FR 240) toward Gravel road (@ mile ~24.0).
15-1st creek crossing @ mile ~21.2.
(Pretty much follow the creek, crossing it ~12 times. The road improves as
you reach the end.)
15b- Last creek crossing @ mile ~23.7.
16-Turn left (on Gravel Rd) @ mile ~24.0, toward SR 612.
16-Turn right (on SR 612) @ mile ~24.4, toward Rt 33.
16a- Turn right (as does SR 612) @ mile ~25.0.
16b- Turn right at stop sign (as does SR 612) @ mile ~28.3.
17-Turn left at stop sign (on Rt 33 East) @ mile ~29.9, toward I81.
18-Go North (on I81) toward home or from wence you came.



Old Rt 33
---------
Old Rt 33 is a short trail on the right of Rt 33, with 2 spurs off of it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Rt33 rating: 1-2 Easy road with a beautiful view on the left. Spurs are
more challenging.

1st Spur rating: 2 Yet to be explored. Has "Y", right follows creek. Left
goes ?.
2nd Spur rat
ing: ? Yet to be explored.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trails are in DeLorme's Virginia Atlas, pg ?? (??-?).
-------------------------------------------------------------updated 10/31/96-
(Basic directions above.)
1-Take Rt 33 West toward Old Rt 33. (~ . miles west of gas stn.)
2-Turn right (on Old Rt 33) @ mile ~ . . ( ~ . past 2nd Mountain Trail.)

ZERO YOUR ODOMETER NOW, AT THE TRAIL HEAD.

2a- Continue up steep incline, toward 1st spur on right. Enjoy the view.
3-Turn left (up 1st spur) @ mile ~ .7.
4-Turn left (up 2nd spur) @ mile ~ .9. (Steep uphill trail.)
5-End of Old Rt 33 @ mile ~2.1. (Hits Rt 33 again.)
5a- Turn left (on Rt 33) toward I81.
6-Go North (on I81) toward home or from wence you came.



FR ?? (Dictum Ridge Road) & FR ?? (reservoir Road)
--------------------------------------------------
Dictum Ridge Rd and it's many spur roads. This road lead down to X Road that
goes to the top of the reservoir. X Road follows the reservoir and passes the
dam and leads back to Rt 33.
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Dictum Ridge rating: 2-3 Mostly and easy road, but has many challenging spurs
that can rate anywhere from 4-10.
xxx Spur rating: 5 Just the steep begining is the challenge, but can loop
back down through run off bed on way down for more
challenge. If wet may be 7-8.
xxx Spur rating: 9-10 This trail gets worse and worse as you go. It will
probably stop you, especially if wet.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trails are in DeLorme's Virginia Atlas, pg 72 (D1-2).
-------------------------------------------------------------updated 10/31/96-
(Basic directions above.)
1-Take Rt 33 West toward Old Rt 33. (~ . miles west of gas stn.)
2-Turn right (on Old Rt 33) @ mile ~ . . ( ~ . past 2nd Mountain Trail.)
x-Follow directions to FR 85 and contiue on FR 85, toward ??Dictum Ridge Rd.

ZERO YOUR ODOMETER NOW, AT THE TRAIL HEAD.

x-Turn left (on ??Dictum Ridge Rd) @ mile ~ . .
x- ?
x-Turn left (up 1st spur) @ mile ~ . .
x-Turn left (up 2nd spur) @ mile ~ . . (Trail through stream bed. I think
this was leading to Hone Quary Camp ground.)
x- ?
x-Turn ???? (on X road) @ mile ~ . , toward reservoir.
xa- WARNING, be careful as road has 2 BIG (20' across by 11' down) wash
outs, which have buy passes if creeks are dry.
x-Pass reservoir @ mile ~ . .
x-Turn right (on Rt 33) toward I81.
x-Go North (on I81) toward home or from wence you came.

Back to Story

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