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GET Guidebook 5a PDF Print E-mail

Edition 2/10/2010


Section 5a

HIGH KNOB – BOTHER KNOB

US 33 to Briery Branch Gap

10.5 miles (2.7 miles road walk)

Parking

  1. North end of section: on US 33, 26 miles west of I-81 Exit 247 on left just into West Virginia, on left. 

  2. South end of section: along side of intersection of VA 924, CR 25, and FDR 85 (no signs identify these roads here).  Follow VA 257 west from I-81 Exit 240, after 24 miles, it becomes VA 924, follow 7 more miles to state line, where intersection is.  

  3. There are a few parking spots along FDR 85 for 2.6 miles north of Briery Branch Gap. 

Shuttle

 North to south:  Take US 33 7.7 miles west to Brandywine, WV, turn left on CR 21 (Sugar Grove Road) and go 6 miles, turn left on CR 24 (Little Fork Road) and go 5.4 miles, left on CR 25 (Shenandoah Mountain Road) and go 5.2 miles to Briery Branch Gap. 
 South to north:  Take CR 25 (Shenandoah Mountain Road) and go 5.2 miles, right on CR 24 (Little Fork Road) and go 5.4 miles, right on CR 21 (Sugar Grove Road) and go 6 miles, right on US 33 in Brandywine, and go 7.7 miles to top of mountain. 

Maps

  USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangles: Brandywine, WV/VA; Reddish Knob, VA
  National Geographic Map 791 – Staunton Shenandoah Mtn


Trail Description, North to South

Miles   Data

0.0 North end of section on US 33 at VA/WV state line (elev. 3450’).  Parking area on WV side, south side of road.  Great Eastern Trail takes trail south from parking area. 

0.9 High Knob Trail.  Trail to left leads 0.7 mile to High Knob (elev. ~4100’) with stone firetower and views.  Trail to right leads down steeply to Brandywine Lake.  Shenandoah Mountain Trail (and GET) continues along west side of ridge. 

2.6 Trail switches back to left and ascends to crest of ridge. 

6.8 Bother Knob summit (elev. 4344’), high point of section and highest point on the Great Eastern Trail.  An open field here, but trees surrounding it block view.  Trail continues, bending to the east. 

7.8 Trail ends on FDR 85A (elev. 4230’).  Turn right and follow road. 

8.7 Road intersection with FDR 85 (elev. 4040’).  Continue to left.  (To right FDR 85 leads 0.6 mile to Bother Ridge Trail, 0.8 mile to Sugar Run Trail, and 2.6 miles to Miller Run Trail.) 

9.4 Gated road to left (elev. 3869’) leads down Hone Quarry Ridge. 

10.5 VA 924 at Briery Branch Gap (3700’); south end of section.  Go right a short distance, and follow one-lane paved road uphill to left to continue on GET. 


Trail Description, South to North

Miles   Data

0.0 VA 924 at Briery Branch Gap (elev. 3700’); south end of section.  Great Eastern Trail follows unimproved road (FDR 85) north. 

1.1 Gated road to right (elev. 3869’) leads down Hone Quarry Ridge. 

1.8 Road forks (elev. 4040’).  Take right fork, toward Flagpole Knob.  (To left FDR 85 leads 0.6 mile to Bother Ridge Trail, 0.8 mile to Sugar Run Trail, and 2.6 miles to Miller Run Trail.) 

2.7 Yellow-blazed Shenandoah Mountain Trail to left (elev. 4230’); follow it. 

3.7 Bother Knob summit (elev. 4344’), high point of section and highest point on the Great Eastern Trail.  An open field here, but trees surrounding it block view.  Trail continues, bending north. 

7.9 After miles on ridge crest, the trail turns to left side of ridge, and descends on switchbacks, then follows west side of ridge. 

9.6 High Knob Trail.  Trail to right leads 0.7 mile to High Knob (elev. ~4100’) with stone firetower and views.  Trail to left leads down steeply to Brandywine Lake.  Shenandoah Mountain Trail continues on west side of ridge. 

10.5 Trail ends at parking area along US 33 (elev. 3450’) just inside West Virginia.  GET continues left down US 33 to section 4b. 

Trail condition report

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