Edition 2/10/2010 (5th)

Section 4b
Little Dry River Road to US 33
10.1 miles (10.1 miles road walk)

Field at north end of this section

Parking

  1. North end of section, take VA 259 13.0 miles west of I-81 Exit 257, left on VA 818, go 12.2 miles (pavement ends in 7.3 miles) to fork in road with no signs (Hall Spring Road), take left fork, and find parking on right before another fork comes in from right. 
 2. Gate of Hall Spring Road: Follow Hall Spring Road 2.6 miles to gate. 
 3. South end of section: on US 33, 26 miles west of I-81 Exit 247 on left just into West Virginia. 

Shuttle

 It depends on your vehicle and time of year.  From early October to early January, Hall Spring Road is open to traffic, and it is passable by ordinary cars.  Follow trail route from end to end of this section. 
 If you have a high-clearance vehicle, you can take these routes:  There are six fords of streams on FDR 87, not suitable for most cars, particularly in high water.  Even when dry, the creek beds have large boulders, and may have steep banks which could hang up a car. 
  North to south:  Take Little Dry River Road (FDR 87) west into West Virginia, (road becomes Fort Seybert Road) 7 miles to CR 3 (Sweedlin Valley Road), turn left and go 5 miles to Oak Flat and take US  33 east 12 miles almost to state line. 
  South to north:  Take US 33 west to Oak Flat, CR 3 (Sweedlin Valley Road) 5 miles to Fort Seybert Road (FDR 87), turn right and go 7 miles to Hall Spring Road. 
 For roads passable to most cars use the following routes:
 North to south:  Take Little Dry River Road (FDR 87) east to VA 259

Maps

  USGS 7.5' Quadrangles:  Bergton, WV/VA; Fulks Run, VA; Cow Knob, WV/VA
  National Geographic Map 792 - Massanutten & Great North Mtn and Map 791 - Staunton Shenandoah Mtn.

Useful Information
  Emergency - In WV or VA, Dial 9-1-1

Trail Description, North to South

Miles   Data
0.0 Field on Little Dry River Road (FDR 87).  Great Eastern Trail follows road west, uphill. 
0.2 Road forks at "Help Prevent Wildfires" sign, with no signs identifying roads.  This is the intersection of gravel Little Dry River Road (FDR 87) and rock and dirt Hall Spring Road (FDR 85).  Between forks is a campsite with privy and fire ring (private land).  GET continues on left fork (Hall Spring Road, FDR 85). 
0.3 Fork from FDR 87 from the west joins Hall Spring Road.  Sand Spring can be found across Little Dry River Road: take this fork to Little Dry River Road, keep right 30', follow path down to spring.  There is a marker for source of North Fork of Shenandoah River. 
0.6 Intersection with rock and dirt Long Run Road (FDR 72) to left.  Continue ahead on Hall Spring Road. 
1.5 Gated and yellow triangle marked Rader Mountain Trail to left.  Small wildlife pond beside road, not suitable for human consumption. 
2.5 Gated private road forks to left.  Keep to right. 
2.6 Turn right on road signed "Hall Spring Hunters Access Road". 
2.9 After passing hunting cabin on left, road comes to a turnaround area and a gate.  This gate is open from early October to early January. 
3.2 View to west of Oak Flat and Dickinson Mountain. 
7.5 Yellow-blazed Road Run Trail to right (this trail descends 1.3 miles to FDR 151). 
7.8 Talus on left with possible view from top, followed by spring on left of road. 
10.1 Hall Spring Road ends on US 33 after gate.  Go left on US 33 and cross. 
10.3 South end of section at parking on US 33 on right.  GET continues on trail at far end of parking lot. 

Trail Description, South to North

Miles   Data
0.0 South end of section at parking on US 33 just into West Virginia on south side.  Great Eastern Trail follows US 33 west, downhill to Hall Spring Road. 
0.2 Gated Hall Spring Road goes to right.  GET follows this road, pass gate within 100 yds. 
2.5 Spring on right side of road.  This is followed by an area of talus on right, with possible view at top. 
2.8 Yellow-blazed Road Run Trail to left (this trail descends 1.3 miles to FDR 151). 
7.1 View of Oak Flat and Dickinson Mountain to left. 
7.4 Reach gate and after that an area for parking and to turn around.  Continue on road.  Soon pass a hunting cabin on right. 
7.7 Road comes to a "T", turn left. 
7.8 Pass gated private road to right. 
8.8 Gated and yellow triangle marked Rader Mountain Trail to right. 
9.7 Intersection with rock and dirt Long Run Road (FDR 72) to right.  Continue ahead on Hall Spring Road. 
10.0 Road forks with no signs.  Both lead to Little Dry River Road (FDR 87); left fork leads to West Virginia (Fort Seybert Road) (Sand Spring can be found across Little Dry River Road: take this fork to Little Dry River Road, keep right 30', follow path down to spring.  There is a marker for source of North Fork of Shenandoah River.), right fork lead east to Fulks Run, VA.  Within this triangle (private land) is a campsite with privy and a fire ring. 
10.1 Forks join on Little Dry River Road.  Continue ahead. 
10.3 Road passes through large field with parking, views, and campsites with fire rings.  North end of this section.  GET continues east on Little Dry River Road into Section 4a.