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{{Trail
<!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template.  Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article. -->
|Banner Image=File:The Channels Natural Area Preserve Top View.jpg
{{Infobox Trail
|Trail Highlight=Your likely trail if you want to "go to The Channels"
                    | Image Name = The_Great_Channels1.jpg
|Park=The Channels Natural Area Preserve
                    | City = Lebanon
|Land Owner=Virginia Department of Forestry
                    | State = Virginia
|Trail Marking=White diamond
                    | Marking = White diamond
|Trail Use=Hiking, Biking, Geocaching
                    | Trail Use = {{Hike}}{{Dogs}}
|Trail Features=Vistas, Canyons
                    | Difficulty Rating = Medium
|Difficulty Rating=Medium
                    | Hike Time = 4
|Hike Time=4 hrs
                    | Distance = 6.2  
|Trail Distance=2.96 mi
                    | Elevation Gain = 1200
|Round Trip Distance=5.92 mi
                    | High Point = 4208
|Trail Type=In-and-Out
                    | Latitude = 36.86461
|High Point=4,188 ft
                    | Longitude = -81.94703
|Low Point=3,014 ft
                    | Medical = Lebanon, VA
|Elevation Gain=1,174 ft
|Elevation Loss=0 ft
|Elevation Change Direction=East-to-West
|Parking location=36.86454, -81.94702
|Trailhead location=36.86395, -81.94729
}}
}}
{{Announcement
<!-- End Infobox template table-->
|Title=Limited Parking Space
 
|Body='''Notice:''' Beginning June 10, 2020, the parking area at Channels Natural Area Preserve is limited to 10 vehicles. If the parking area is full when you arrive, please come back another time. Parking along Highway 80 is not permitted, and violators will be ticketed. Visit the [https://dof.virginia.gov/education-and-recreation/state-forests/virginia-state-forests/channels-state-forest/ park website] for details
<!-- Start of Main Page -->
}}
</br>
{{Trail Map|Zoom Cancel=Yes}}


__TOC__
== Trail Overview ==
== Trail Overview ==
If you are looking to hike to The Channels, this is the trail you were probably looking for. Although it is 14.6 miles long, most people hike it using the 3 mile access to The Channels from the east end of the trail where it terminates at VA-80.
<!-- 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. -->
 
The Great Channels are an unusual geological maze of large sandstone boulders and eroded crevices.
The Great Channels are an unusual geological maze of large sandstone boulders and eroded crevices.


Per a park brochure: "At the crest of the mountain, within the Natural Area Preserve, are the Great Channels of Virginia, impressive formations of 400-million-year old sandstone outcroppings. Geologists conclude that the Channels were likely formed while the high elevation sandstone cap was under the influence of permafrost and ice wedging during the last ice age. These forces shattered and enlarged joints in the sandstone caprock."
Per a park brochure: "At the crest of the mountain, within the Natural Area Preserve, are the Great Channels of Virginia, impressive formations of 400-million-year old sandstone outcroppings. Geologists conclude that the Channels were likely formed while the high elevation sandstone cap was under the influence of permafrost and ice wedging during the last ice age. These forces shattered and enlarged joints in the sandstone caprock."  
 
Recommend late May to June when the Mountain Laurel is also in bloom.


== How to get there ==
== How to get there ==
There are a few ways to reach The Channels as they are on a network of trails. For now the "traditional" approach will be described and other routes hopefully detailed in the future.<br>
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
 
From Kingsport, TN
From Kingsport, TN
#Take I-81 north to VA Exit 24 (Meadowview).
#Take I-81 north to VA Exit 24 (Meadowview).
#Follow VA-80 for about 14 miles and park at the trail head on your left where Raven Ridge Road (Private) intersects VA-80.  
#Follow VA-80 for around 8 miles as it winds through Meadowview and towards the mountain.


There is parking at the trail head for seven to twelve vehicles by Raven Ridge Road. Raven Ridge Road is an active private road. Do not block the road access in finding parking spots. This parking spot on VA-80 is known as Hayters Gap.
There are two trailhead options: 
Shorter hiking distance is to head right continuing on Hayter's Gap Road up the mountain for 6 miles.  Parking for seven vehicles by Raven Ridge Road or pullout just over summit for another five. Note that the travel time for the 14 miles on VA-80 will be roughly 45 minutes due to the narrow winding road.
A longer trail is reached by heading left onto Brumley Gap Road for 2 miles to the state forest parking lot.


== 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? -->
Hike the dirt Raven Ridge Road following the signs to The Channels. The trail appears to have been initially blazed with double yellow rings on trees but have been updated with white diamonds nailed to trees. Also mile markers were added to aid in (the assumed frequent) rescues.  
From the first trailhead, which became one end of the [[Brumley Mountain Trail]] in June 2012:
3 mile hike following gravel, then dirt Raven Ridge Road to the locked yellow forest service gate
And then onto the Channels Road East forest service road which steadily winds up to the top.


I have a bit of a discrepancy between most agreed distances and my watch routes viewed on Google Earth.
From the second trailhead:
5.5 mile hike up the dirt "North-South" forest service road, then onto Channel Trail. There are two seasonally open parking lots, requiring a high clearance vehicle, which can shorten the hike distance by 0.5 and 2 miles.  


{| class="wikitable" border="1"
The Hayter Knob lookout tower can give you a visual guide towards your destination. The Channels are located roughly 100 feet SWW of the Hayter firetower through a rhododendron thicket on Middle Knob. 
|-
!Miles Out
!{{PAGENAME}}
!Miles Remaining
!Elevation (ft)
|-
|0.0
|Trail head at parking spot
|3.1
|3,011
|-
|0.05
|Gate for private road access
|3.05
|3,040
|-
|0.5
|Cross under power line
|2.6
|3,211
|-
|0.7
|Stay straight to stay on trail, cabin on road to right
|2.4
|3,110
|-
|1.0
|Private cabin seen from the trail to the right
|2.10
|3,204
|-
|1.15
|Road gate
|1.95
|3,226
|-
|1.57
|Mile marker 12 on tree, rough halfway point
|1.53
|3,316
|-
|2.72
|Mile marker 11 on tree
|0.38
|3,951
|-
|3.08
|Diversion from Brumley Mountain Trail (stay left, trail goes right)
|0.02
|4,094
|-
|3.2
|Turn left for mini-channels and views to the east, turn right towards fire tower for The Channels
|
|4,153
|-
|3.25
|Pass under/by fire tower at the trail high point to The Channels, follow arrows the remaining way
|
|4,208
|}


== Typical Conditions ==
== Typical Conditions ==
Line 122: Line 53:
<!-- 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 fee or permit required for hiking; however, mountain biking does require a $4 day use fee.  Hunting is allowed in the state forest, thus avoid during those official seasons.
No fee or permit required for hiking; however, mountain biking does require a $4 day use fee.  Hunting is allowed in the state forest, thus avoid during those official seasons.
== After the Hike ==
<!-- Other things to check out while you're in the area. Restaurants, attractions, monuments, etc... -->
== Misc. Information ==
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Does this trail require any permits for overnight? parking? -->
== Maps ==
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.869" lon="-81.967"  zoom="14" width="650" type="terrain" height="400" selector="no" controls="medium" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png">
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/The_Channels.kml
(A) 36.86461, -81.94703
Hayters Gap Road Trailhead
(G) 36.871,-81.979817
The Channels
(A) 36.828033,-81.962133
Brumley Gap Trailhead
</googlemap>
[http://www.dof.virginia.gov/stforest/print/Channels-brochure.pdf Channels State Forest Map] - Older as it does not show access available from VA-80


== Photos ==
== Photos ==
{{Park trail gallery|Trail={{PAGENAME}}}}
<gallery>
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Parking|Marker Title=Hayters Gap Road Trailhead|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.86461,-81.94703}}
<!-- Place any pictures from this trail below. Ideally we would have a picture of the trailhead to help people know when they found it -->
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Power line|Marker Title=Power line crossing|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.861423,-81.953277}}
<!-- Add a picture by typing Image:imagename.extension  -->
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Turn off road (stay straight while road switchbacks right)|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.861161,-81.955638}}
Image:TEHCC_Hikers_at_Channels.jpg|Hikers above channels
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Old structure|Marker Title=Private cabin|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.863489,-81.959281}}
Image:In_Channels.jpg|Looking down into a channel
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail sign|Marker Title=Split with Brumley Mountain Trail|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.871957,-81.978305}}
<!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.-->
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Overlook|Marker Title=Overlook to Tri-Cities|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.871055,-81.977652}}
</gallery>
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Overlook|Marker Title=Overlook at fire tower|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.871424,-81.978036}}
 
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Old structure|Marker Title=Old cabin for fire watch|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.871230,-81.978150}}
<!-- 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. Check here ClubWIKI:Categorization_Plan for our list of categories that we are using -->
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Tower|Marker Title=Fire tower|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.871338,-81.978551}}
[[Category:Virginia]] [[Category:Hiking]] [[Category:Overlook]] [[Category:Medium]]
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=The Channels|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.870934,-81.979825}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Parking|Marker Title=Brumley Gap Trailhead|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.828033,-81.962133}}
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