Editing Straight Fork Ridge

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{{Infobox Trail
                     | 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
                     | Latitude = 36.81337
                     | Longitude = -82.64956
                     | Medical = Kingsport, TN
}}
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== 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. -->
Side trail, off of Devils Fork Loop, which follows an old logging road along the Straight Fork Ridge.

== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
From Gate City, VA
#Take VA 71 east out of town.
#Turn on VA 72 and proceed north for 11 miles to and through Ft. Blackmore.
#Turn left/north onto VA 619 (Big Stoney Creek Road).
#Cross Stoney Creek and swing right with VA 619.
#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==
<!-- 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. 

== Typical Conditions ==
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Rarely used trail.  Straight Fork Ridge is an old logging road with sometimes tall grass.

==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
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No fees or permits required for day hiking or camping. Managed by Clinch Ranger District (Wise, VA) Tel: 276-328-2931 (M-F 8AM-4:30PM)

== After the Hike ==
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== Misc. Information ==
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See also the excellent write-up in [[http://www.explorescottcountyva.com/article.php?category=fortblackmore&id=41 Explore Scott County]] website.

No facilities at the parking lot.  Bring your own water.

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


<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">
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Devils_Bathtub_Trail.kml
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Straight_Fork_Trail.kml

(C) 36.81337,-82.64956
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".

== Photos ==
<gallery>
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</gallery>

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[[Category:Virginia]] [[Category:Medium]] [[Category:Camping]]