Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Elkton, Virginia

Cub Run

Maintained gravel forest service road. This route includes numerous hiking trailheads. The southern portion of the route has very spotty cell service which improves in the northern portion. The northern portion includes many dispersed camping…
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Total Miles
8.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Emerald Pond

Dead end route to a mountain pond. This route gradually climbs the mountain and ends at multiple locked gates. The route has some exposed base stone and muddy sections but generally maintained gravel forest service…
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Total Miles
5.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Peters Mill Run

Peters Mill Run is a point-to-point easy trail near Fort Valley, Virginia. The trail is stock friendly and is a great spot for those new to off-roading. The trail can be entered from either the…
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Total Miles
7.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Vepco Road

This route follows along a power line for the most part with lots of scenic views. The lower elevation section is mainly gravel or a natural stone base. The upper section to the intersection at…
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Total Miles
11.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Hone Quarry

Hone Quarry recreation area is a dead end trail passing by a reservoir. The trail starts paved from the state highway passing by day use picnic areas and a pay campground with amenities. The trail…
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Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Tillman

Tillman is a gravel Forest Service Road connecting several other Forest Service Roads to a State Highway. The area includes several reservoirs with fishing and kayaking opportunities. There are several well-traveled hiking trailheads along the…
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Total Miles
5.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Flagpole Knob

Flagpole Knob is located in the George Washington National Forest, along the border of Virginia and West Virginia. Open year round, access to Flagpole Knob can be from Switzer Lake Road, Union Springs or Briery…
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Total Miles
12.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Coal Road

This is a 13-mile long forest service road with paved sections on either end. The gravel sections have potholes, but are easily traveled by any vehicle. There are many hiking and biking trailheads located along…
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Total Miles
12.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Westside Road

Westside Road travels along the western slope of Shenandoah mountain in WV. Be respectful while travelling through private property, from WV Co Route 34 to the National Forest boundary. The route is generally dirt with…
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Total Miles
12.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Leading Ridge

Leading ridge track is a seasonal two way track from North River to Todd Lake Recreation Area. The track is natural dirt surface with minimal gravel maintenance in areas. Several hiking trails cross the area.…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Reddish Knob

This 20-plus miles of George Washington National Forest back roads stretches from Braley Pond to Briery Branch Gap. With the exception of the northern 2.5 miles of the route which is paved, the rest is…
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Total Miles
18.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Brandywine Recreation Area

Brandywine Recreation Area is a national forest fee area located just off Route 33 in West Virginia. The area has a reservoir with a sandy swimming area and is accessible for kayaking and fishing. All…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Vances Cove

Vances Cove trail is a meandering gravel road starting at Cold Spring Gap. Descending into the valley along cold spring creek. The road can become washed out in some areas after heavy rain, as the…
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Total Miles
9.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Hawk

Hawk run is a meandering forest road that crosses through some private property as it climbs Spring Mountain along the border of Virginia and West Virginia. The road is mostly gravel with some dirt and…
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Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Dry Gap Ridge

Dry Gap is a short step, out and back trail climbing along a ridge leading to a cell tower. The beginning climb is the most challenging part due to its steep nature; 4WD is recommended.…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Hornet

Hornet descends out the back forest of George Washington National Forest to Hawk Campground. Many dispersed campsites can also be found past the Hawk Recreation and Picnic area. The road down is mostly gravel with…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

St. Mary's

St. Mary's Road is a trail leading to the parking area for the St. Mary's Wilderness area. It is a short gravel forest road with little to no cell service and a large trailhead parking…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Crabtree Meadows

This route is one side of the old Shoe Creek Trail that is now gated in the middle at private property. The surface is gravel from the state road to the parking area for the…
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Total Miles
4.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Little North Mountain WMA

Little North Mountain WMA has a mix of seasonally open routes that all dead-end eventually. This route includes a scenic, lightly maintained state road to access the area. The roads are marginally maintained gravel with…
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Total Miles
18
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Wi

Big Mary

This is a gravel forest service road that follows Big Mary Creek. Several walk-in campsites are located just off the trail. There is good fishing and hiking along the trail, and decent cell service in…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Big Piney

Big Piney is a gravel road passing through a portion of the George Washington National Forest, offering access to hiking, camping and swimming. The trail is rocky and typically unmaintained after rain or snow. You…
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Total Miles
8.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Greasy Springs

Out and back trails are primarily used to access the Appalachian Trail crossing. Narrow 2 track muddy and narrow in places with numerous short side trails. Many nice camping spots throughout the length of the…
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Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

FR1176

FR 1176 leads from Big Piney up to a peak where cell towers can be found. The drive up includes several rocky sections, some steep sections and rock ledges. This trail also provides access to…
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Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Hog Camp

Hog Camp Road provides access to a variety of hiking and camping opportunities in the George Washington National Forest. The south end is well traveled and easily passable, however north of the Mount Pleasant Scenic…
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Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

FR51-AT

This short offshoot from Hog Camp Trail leads to the Mount Pleasant Scenic Area with opportunities for hiking and camping.
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Total Miles
0.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Cow Camp Road

This is a rocky fire road in the George Washington National Forest, connecting Highway 60 to Wiggins Hill Road. It is typically unmaintained after rain or snow and you may encounter shallow water crossings and…
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Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

The Road Across The Sky

The Road Across The Sky, FR75, is in Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia. The road runs North-South through the Dolly Sods Wilderness. The Bear Rocks is on the summit of the plateau, and completely necessary…
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Total Miles
14.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Reservoir Rd. to Irish Creek

Located in the Amhurst county portion of the George Washington National Forest this is easy gravel trail has a lot to offer. Reservoir road runs parallel to the Pedlar river which offers great trout fishing…
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Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Osceola Spruce Knob

The route travels primarily through Monongahela NF on maintained FS gravel roads. A section of the route passes through private land and rolling farmland on gravel road. The accent from the Forest Service Road to…
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Total Miles
26.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Enchanted Creek

A seasonal forest route that traces along the Blue Ridge Parkway at a lower elevation. The surface is natural dirt with rocks, mud, and stream crossings. A tunnel around the mid-point passes under the BRP.…
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Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Wi