Editing Straight Fork Ridge

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<!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template.  Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article.  
<!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template.  Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article. -->
{{Infobox Trail
                    | Image Name = *
                    | City = Gate City
                    | State = Virginia
                    | Trail Use = {{Hike}}
                    | Difficulty Rating = Difficult
                    | Hike Time = 4
                    | Distance = 3.6
                    | Elevation Gain = 1,300
                    | High Point = *
                    | Latitude = 36.81337
                    | Longitude = -82.64956
                    | Medical = Kingsport
<!-- DON'T EDIT THE GOOGLEMAP TAG -->
                    | googlemap =
<googlemap lat="36.81337" lon="-82.64956"  zoom="8" width="270" type="map" height="180" selector="no" controls="small">
36.81337,-82.64956,Devil's Bathtub
</googlemap>
}}
<!-- End Infobox template table-->


-->{{Infobox Trail
<!-- Start of Main Page -->
| Image Name = *
| City = Ft. Blackmore
| State = Virginia
| Marking = Yellow
| Trail Use = {{Hike}} {{Camping}}
| Difficulty Rating = Medium
| Hike Time = 3
| Distance = 3.6
| Elevation Gain = ~1,800
| High Point = ~3,400
| Parking coords = 36.84433,-82.65903
| Trailhead coords = 36.84433,-82.65903
| Medical = Kingsport, TN
}}<!--  


End Infobox template table
-->{{Trail page needs
| Hide needs =
| KML =
| Updated KML = Yes
| Detail route description = Yes
| Photos = Yes
| Winter photos =
| Remove prefix =
| Update infobox = Yes
| Infobox data update = Yes
| Trail pins =
| Other =
| Comment = Change KML to match other pages (3 width; 100% opacity) and give proper name
| Date reviewed = 11/22/2015
}}<!--
Start of Main Page -->
== Trail Overview ==
== Trail Overview ==
<!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. -->
<!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. -->
Side trail, off of Devils Fork Loop, which follows an old logging road along the Straight Fork Ridge.
Devils Fork Creek with several fords, interesting Devils Bathtub pool, sandstone cliffs with coal seams


== How to get there ==
== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
From Gate City, VA
From Gate City, VA
#Take VA 71 east out of town.
#Turn on VA 72 and proceed north through Ft. Blackmore for 11.2 miles.
#Turn on VA 72 and proceed north for 11 miles to and through Ft. Blackmore.
#Turn left onto VA 619 and proceed on it; cross Stoney Creek and swing right with VA 619.
#Turn left/north onto VA 619 (Big Stoney Creek Road).
#After 4.3 miles on Va. 619, in the National Forest, turn left past Devil Fork Fishing/Hunting Club (sign) onto a gravel road.
#Cross Stoney Creek and swing right with VA 619.
#After ¼ mile on the gravel road, turn left on a narrow right-of-way between a garage and small white house to a parking area in about 0.25 miles at trailhead.
#After 4.3 miles on VA 619, enter the National Forest.
#Turn left past Devil Fork Fishing/Hunting Club (sign) onto a gravel road (FS Road 213/Alley Valley Rd).
 
<u>For the Devils Fork Loop trailhead</u>:
#After 0.25 mile on the gravel road, turn left on a narrow right-of-way between a garage and small white house (FS Road 619).
#Parking area is in about 0.25 miles at trailhead.
Other visitors have noted that if your vehicle doesn't have good ground clearance (ie, is a sedan), you may want to park at the bottom of the hill near the creek.
 
<u>For the Big Cherry Road trailhead</u>:
#Continue on FS Road 213/Alley Valley Rd for long ~7 mile drive to top of ridgeline.
#Take shart left/southwest on FS Road 237/Big Cherry Road.
#Proceed ~4 miles to trailhead.
Uncertain about parking availability at this trailhead.


== Route Description==
== Route Description==
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
Two ways to hike this 1.8 mile trail: up or down. "Up" begans at the [[Devil's Bathtub|Devils Fork Loop Trail]] taking a right at the first split in the trail. About a quarter of the way around the northern side of the loop, the Straight Fork Ridge Trail branches off to the right/north proceed up the ridgeline. "Down" begins at the Forest Service Road and follows the ridge line down.  
Hike up Devil Fork from parking area and loop up on mountain and back. There are several fords. There is an interesting pool just downstream from the Devil’s Bathtub. On trail above the pool, a sign points downstream to the actual Devils Bathtub pool. To make a longer hike, continue upstream, then follow trail up right side of mountain. This eventually levels out and circles back to the old road leading back to the parking area.


== Typical Conditions ==
== Typical Conditions ==
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
Rarely used trail. Straight Fork Ridge is an old logging road with sometimes tall grass.
Per another trail review [http://www.traillink.com/trail/devils-fork-loop-trail.aspx site], "Although the trail follows yellow blazes for its entire 7 miles, poor maintenance means it is often difficult to find the blazes-and the path, which, in several places, scrambles over large rocks or up very steep cliff faces."


==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
No fees or permits required for day hiking or camping. Managed by Clinch Ranger District (Wise, VA) Tel: 276-679-8370 (M-F 8AM-4:30PM)
No fee or permit to visit


== After the Hike ==
== After the Hike ==
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A [http://www.explorescottcountyva.com/uploads/media/81259devilsfork.jpg trail map] is provided on the Explore Scott County website.
A [http://www.explorescottcountyva.com/uploads/media/81259devilsfork.jpg trail map] is provided on the Explore Scott County website.


<display_map center="36.83,-82.649" type="terrain" zoom="13" width="auto" height="550" gkml="https://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Devils_Bathtub_Trail.kml,
https://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Straight_Fork_Trail.kml">


36.81337,-82.64956~Devil's Bathtub~ ~MarkerC.png
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.83" lon="-82.649" type="terrain" zoom="13" width="725" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png">
36.8185,-82.6266~Parking~ ~MarkerA.png
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Devils_Bathtub_Trail.kml
36.81945,-82.6289~Trailhead - first yellow blaze~ ~MarkerG.png
 
36.84433,-82.65903~Trailhead at FS Road 237/Big Cherry Road~ ~MarkerG.png
(C) 36.81337,-82.64956
</display_map>
Devil's Bathtub
(A) 36.8185,-82.6266
Parking
(G) 36.81945,-82.62895
Trailhead - first yellow blaze
(G) 36.84433, -82.65903
Trailhead at FS Road 237/Big Cherry Road
</googlemap>


Note:  Google Maps does show the path on its views as "Devils Fork Loop Trail".
Note:  Google Maps does show the path on its views as "Devils Fork Loop Trail".
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<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. Please keep the State category. To make a new category just type [[Category:mycategory]].  Keep in mind categories are case sensitive. -->
<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. Please keep the State category. To make a new category just type [[Category:mycategory]].  Keep in mind categories are case sensitive. -->
[[Category:Virginia]] [[Category:Medium]] [[Category:Camping]]  [[Category:Trail]]
[[Category:Virginia]] [[Category:Medium]] [[Category:Camping]]
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