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Version 7/27/2009
Section 3b Waites Run Road to Wolf Gap 9.5 miles
Parking
1. North end of section at Waites Run. Go 19 miles west of I-81 Exit 296 on Route 55 (US 48) to Furnace Road (CR 5/4) (just after the gas station) and turn left. Go to T-intersection; turn right on North Mountain road (CR 5) and then left on Waites Run Road (CR5/1). Pass a swimming pool and tennis courts. Go 5.2 miles on Waites Run Road and just after crossing Waites Run for the third time, the Tuscarora County Line Trail comes down Great North Mountain to the road. Park on the side of the road. 2. South end of section at Wolf Gap. Go 11.6 miles west of I-81 Exit 279 on VA 675 (at VA 42 in Columbia Furnace, turn right, then left, then left again, staying on VA 675). Wolf Gap is on right at state line. A parking area is within the loop on the right.
Maps
PATC Map F USGS 7½¢ Quadrangles: Wardensville, WV/VA; Wolf Gap, WV/VA National Geographic Map 792 – Massanutten & Great North Mtn
Useful Information Emergency - In WV or VA, Dial 9-1-1 Services – Wolf Gap: 10 campsites (plus some across VA 675), pit toilets, hand-pumped water. No trash pickup.
Trail Description, North to South
Miles Data 0.0 At junction of Tuscarora Trail (from Great North Mountain) onto Waites Run Road, turn right and 40 yd after crossing bridge over Waites Run turn left. Leave road and proceed upstream following left bank of Waites Run (elev. 1510’). Next 2.5 miles is also known as Pond Run Trail. 0.5 Cross Pond Run about 0.2 mile upstream from its junction with Waites Run. There are seven more crossings of Pond Run before reaching top. 1.4 Fore eighth and last time, cross Pond Run and continue to follow its left bank. 2.4 Cross tributary of Pond Run. Area is marshy with beautiful fern and moss, even in dry weather. 2.5 Turn left, on ridgeline at elev. 1720’. Continue ascending ridge on Half Moon Trail; in 80 yd cross Half Moon Run on stepping stones. (To right, Half Moon Trail, yellow-blazed, descends to Trout Run Valley in 3 miles. Straight ahead in 0.1 mile is a view of wooded Trout Valley and surrounding mountains.) 2.6 Rock-enclosed spring 3’ to left of trail. 3.2 End of Half Moon Trail at intersection with Mill Mountain Trail (elev. 3120’). Great Eastern Trail breaks off Tuscarora Trail (which continues to left) at this point, continuing south on orange-blazed Mill Mountain Trail. 3.8 Airline beacon to right at summit of Mill Mountain (elev. 3293’, high point of this section). 4.7 Sandstone Spring (elev. 2890’) on left of trail. 6.5 Trail intersection: Big Schloss Cutoff Trail leads 1.9 miles to left to FR 92. 6.9 View of Big Schloss ahead. 7.5 Trail intersection (elev. 2770’): White-blazed Big Schloss Trail leads 0.3 mile to top of Big Schloss (elev. 2964’) with cliffs and views east, west, and north. 8.6 (Elev. 2850’) Trail starts to descend on an old road to the right of the ridge. 9.4 Come to gate and parking at the Wolf Gap Campground. Continue on road to the right. 9.5 Reach Va. 675 at Wolf Gap (elev. 2230’) at end of Section 3b.
Trail Description, South to North
Miles Data 0.0 At Wolf Gap (elev. 2230’) on state line, follow road into campground. In 50 yd continue ahead. 0.1 As the campground road curve right, parking is ahead. Find the orange-blazed Mill Mountain Trail through gate as an old road. 0.9 The road arrives at the crest of the ridge (Elev. 2850’), and continues as a footpath. 2.0 Trail intersection (elev. 2770’): White-blazed Big Schloss Trail leads 0.3 mile to top of Big Schloss (elev. 2964’) with cliffs and views east, west, and north. 2.6 View of Big Schloss behind. 3.0 Trail intersection: Big Schloss Cutoff Trail leads 1.9 miles to right to FR 92. 4.8 Sandstone Spring (elev. 2890’) on right of trail. 5.7 Airline beacon to right at summit of Mill Mountain (elev. 3293’, high point of this section). 6.3 End of Mill Mountain Trail (elev. 3120’). Blue-blazed Tuscarora Trail goes left (also known as Half Moon Trail) and right. Great Eastern Trail goes left. 6.9 Rock-enclosed spring 3’ to right of trail. In 140 yd cross start of Half Moon Run on stepping stones. 7.0 Turn right and follow Pond Run Trail, elev. 2720’ (yellow-blazed Half Moon Trail continues straight and descends to Trout Run Valley in 3 mi. Turn left and walk 0.1 mile for view of forested Trout Run valley and surrounding mountains.) 7.1 Cross tributary of Pond Run. Area is marshy with beautiful fern and moss even in dry weather. Ahead, begin to follow left bank of Pond Run. 8.1 Cross Pond Run and follow right bank. Seven more crossings of Pond Run before reaching Waites Run Road. 9.0 For eighth and last time, cross Pond Run about 0.2 mi upstream from junction with Waites Run. 9.5 Waites Run Road. Turn right, cross bridge over Waites Run and proceed 70 yd. End of Section 3b. Great Eastern Trail/Tuscarora Trail turns left onto old forest road.
Trail condition report
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