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Trail Description, North to South

Miles   Data

0.0 North end of section at state line on VA 720 (Crooked Run Road)/CR 20 (Basore Road), elev. 3000’.  Great Eastern Trail takes gated gravel road south, to the right past the fenced-in Dominion Towers. 

0.1 Road ends at gas line crossing (elev. 3050’).  Views and a table-like rock on left.  Orange-blazed North Mountain Trail leads into forest to right of rock.  Follow trail. 

0.9 Large rocks on left side of trail. 

2.3 Intersection with purple-blazed Orkney Springs Trail (elev. 2840’), to left.  North Mountain Trail goes to right.  Just after that, keep left off old woods road.  Shortly after that, turn left onto other old woods road. 

2.5 Turn left off old woods road (watch for orange blazes). 

2.6 Reach gas line crossing (elev. 2950’). 

2.6-6.4 North Mountain Trail stays close to crest of the ridge.  In the early part the trail goes through heavier forest with Mountain Laurel and blueberry/huckleberry plants.  In the final few miles, the crest is rocky with views east and sometimes west. 

6.4 Campsite on right with fire ring and stacked firewood.  Orange blazes end here (in July 2009). 

6.5 Intersection with blue-blazed Hunkerson Gap Trail (to left, 3.1 miles to Tomahawk Pond along VA 610) and Snyder Trail (to right), elev. 2730’.  Ahead, North Mountain Trail leads to Church Rock.  GET takes Snyder Trail to right. 

6.7 Trail turnss to right from old woods road, avoiding private property. 

7.0 Trail rejoins old road, turning to right. 

7.8 Trail ends on Hunkerson Gap Road, just after crossing Capon Run (elev. 2040’).  GET follows Hunkerson Gap Road, on section 3f. 

Trail Description, South to North

Miles   Data

0.0 South end of section on Hunkerson Gap Road at Snyder Trailhead (elev. 2040’).  At large blue blaze on tree find Snyder Trail and cross Capon Run and follow blue-blazed old road grade uphill. 

0.8 Leave old road on constructed trail to left (old road goes through private property).

1.1 Rejoin old road coming in from right. 

1.3 Reach crest of North Mountain (elev. 2730’).  Unmarked cross-trail is North Mountain Trail.  Blue-blazed trail continues down east side of North Mountain as Hunkerson Gap Trail (3.1 miles to Tomahawk Pond along VA 610), North Mountain Trail goes to right south to Church Rock.  Turn left and within 0.1 mile come to a campsite with a fire ring and stacked firewood.  Orange blazes begin here. 

1.3-5.5 North Mountain Trail stays close to crest of the ridge.  In the first few miles, the crest is rocky with views east and sometimes west.  Further north, more of the trail goes through heavier forest with Mountain Laurel and blueberry/huckleberry plants. 

2.3 Reach first 3000’ knob. 

2.9 Reach second 3000’ knob. 

5.2 Reach gas line crossing (elev. 2950’). 

5.3 Turn right on old woods road. 

5.5 Turn right off old woods road.  Soon come to another woods road, go right and immediately come to intersection with purple-blazed Orkney Springs Trail (elev. 2840’).  Continue to left on North Mountain Trail. 

6.9 Large rocks on right side of trail. 

7.7 Emerge from forest at gas line crossing (elev. 3050’).  A table-like rock is on right, with views to east just past it.  Follow gravel road to left. 

7.8 Road passes Dominion towers inside fences.  Just after that, reach VA 720 (Crooked Run Road) going right and CR 20 (Basore Road) to left.  Cross road to parking (elev. 3000’).  North end of section.