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Edition 11/21/2009
Section 7c
VA 606 to I-64 at Covington
FORE MOUNTAIN
10.8 miles, 3.6 miles road walk, 0.4 mile paved
Parking
1. North end of section: VA 606
2. Fore Mountain Trail Parking near south end of section: I-64 Exit 16. Shuttle North to south: Return on VA 606 to Clifton Forge—pass under I-64, Sulfur Spring Road becomes Sioux Avenue, which becomes Rose Avenue. Rose Avenue reaches US 60 (one way to west) at 3.6 miles, go right and continue west 1.4 miles to I-64, go west 8 miles to Exit 16. The exit ramp ends at VA 1104, continue across on Smokey Bear Lane 0.3 miles to end at parking on left.
South to north:
Maps
USGS 7˝’ Quadrangles: Covington, VA; Clifton Forge, VA
National Geographic Map 788 – Covington Alleghany Highlands Trail Description, North to South Miles Data
0.0 VA 606 at intersection with gravel road to Clifton Forge Reservoir. Great Eastern Trail follows turquoise-blazed Fore Mountain Trail to west.
0.2 While Trail is up on side of ridge, intersection from mile 0.0 is below to left.
0.3 VA 606 at a hairpin curve is below, to left.
0.7 FDR 337 on left.
1.6 Trail switchbacks to right.
2.1 View to right (east) of Clifton Forge area. On clear day, Peaks of Otter (on Blue Ridge) are visible.
2.3 Trail emerges in field. Continue ahead on grass road, FDR 448A. For next 3 miles there are frequent fields along the top of Fore Mountain.
2.6 In field, there is a Fore Mountain sign (Wild Turkey Habitat Improvement Project) to right.
3.7 View north of Warm Springs Mountain.
4.3 Intersection with FDR 448, to right and ahead. GET and Fore Mountain Trail follow grass road ahead. To right FDR 448 leads to FDR 125, Dolly Ann Road.
5.4 Grass road ends in a field. Fore Mountain Trail continues ahead at far end of field.
5.7 View to right of Dolly Ann Hollow.
5.9 Unmaintained path to left.
6.5 Views to left of Low Moor area and Jackson River.
7.3 Cell phone tower on ridge crest to right.
7.9 Trail joins gravel road. Follow road to left.
8.2 Wildlife pond to right.
8.4 Trail leaves gravel road to right.
10.2 Trail switchbacks to left, path ahead descends to Forest Service shop.
10.4 Fore Mountain Trail ends at parking at end of Smokey Bear Lane. GET continues ahead on Smokey Bear Lane.
10.7 Smokey Bear Lane ends on VA 1104, Valley Ridge Road (traffic light), opposite exit 16 from westbound I-64. America’s Best Value Inn on right. GET goes right on VA 1104 to next traffic light.
10.8 Traffic light on VA 1104 and road under I-64 (US 60 & 220). Burger King on right. South end of section and of scope of this guidebook. GET continues south under I-64 bridges.
Trail Description, South to North
Miles Data
0.0 Intersection of VA 1104, Valley Ridge Road and US 60 &220 by Exit 16 of Interstate 64 at traffic light. Burger King by Valley Ridge Road. Great Eastern Trail goes east on VA 1104 to next traffic light.
0.1 Traffic light on VA 1104 and Smokey Bear Lane to left. America’s Best Value Inn to left. GET goes left on Smokey Bear Lane.
0.4 Smokey Bear Lane ends at gate with parking to left. Turquoise-blazed Fore Mountain Trail leads uphill to right. GET follows Fore Mountain Trail.
0.6 Switchback to right with path descending to left to Forest Service shop.
2.4 Trail joins gravel road. Follow gravel road to left.
2.6 Small wildlife pond to left.
2.9 Trail leaves gravel road to right. Trail continues on right side of ridge.
3.5 Cell phone tower on ridge crest to left.
4.3 Views to right (south and east) of Low Moor area and Jackson River.
4.9 Unmaintained path to right.
5.1 View to left of Dolly Ann Hollow.
5.4 Trail emerges into a field. Continue on grass road (FDR 448) on far side of field. Over the next 3 miles, there are frequent fields along the top of Fore Mountain.
6.5 Intersection with FDR 448A, ahead. FDR 448 turns left to go 0.5 mile to FDR 125, Dolly Ann Road. GET and Fore Mountain Trail continue ahead, on FDR 448A.
7.1 View north of Warm Springs Mountain.
8.2 In field, there is a Fore Mountain sign (Wild Turkey Habitat Improvement Project) to left.
8.5 Grass road ends as it curves to right through a field. Fore Mountain Trail continues with sweep of road into woods.
8.7 Views to east of Clifton Forge area. Peaks of Otter (on Blue Ridge) are visible on a clear day.
9.2 Trail switchbacks to left.
10.1 FDR 337 to right.
10.5 VA 606 hairpin curve visible below, to right.
10.6 VA 606 intersection with gravel road to Clifton Forge Reservoir parking, below, to right.
10.8 Trail arrives on paved VA 606, Sulfur Spring Road. North end of section. GET continues across VA 606, to the right, on gravel road.
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