Brumley Mountain Trail

Trail Name Brumley Mountain Trail Nearest City Lebanon State Virginia Trail Marking White diamond Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Medium Hiking Time 4 hrs0.25 Days <br />240 Min <br /> Distance: round-trip/trail only 6.2 Mi9.978 km <br /> / 3.1 Mi4.989 km <br /> Trail Type In-and-Out Climb/Descent Elevation 1,852 ft564.49 Meters <br /> / 718 ft218.846 Meters <br /> Low / Diff / High Point 3,0293,029 Feet <br />1,009.667 Yards <br />923.239 Meters <br /> / 1,179 / 4,208 ft1,402.667 Yards <br />1,282.598 Meters <br /> Parking 36° 51' 52.34" N, 81° 56' 49.28" W Trailhead 36° 51' 50.20" N, 81° 56' 50.26" W Nearest Medical Lebanon, VA Trip Reports Click Here Loading map... {"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"270px","height":"180px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":8,"layers":[],"controls":["zoom"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":36.86453900000000061254468164406716823577880859375,"lon":-81.94702200000000402724253945052623748779296875,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

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."

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.

From Kingsport, TN

1. Take I-81 north to VA Exit 24 (Meadowview).
2. Follow VA-80 for about 14 miles and park at the trail head on your left where Raven Ridge Road (Private) intersects VA-80.

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.

Route Description

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.

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.

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.

Typical Conditions

Wide dirt roads narrowing to a hiking trail. Very muddy in spots after rain and due to drainage across roadbed. Not accessible or recommended in winter. The deep Channels can be full of snow into spring.

Fees, Permits, etc.

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.

Maps

Loading map...

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Channels State Forest Map - Older as it does not show access available from VA-80

Photos

• TEHCC Hikers at Channels.jpg

  Hikers above channels

• 

  Looking down into a channel