Chief Benge Scout Trail

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File:Placeholder.JPG
Trail Name Chief Benge Scout Trail
Nearest City Norton
State Virginia
Trail Marking {{{Marking}}}
Trail Use/Features Dnr hiking.png Dnr dog.png Dnr camp.png
Difficulty Rating Difficult
Hiking Time 1010 Hours <br />0.625 Days <br />600 Min <br />
Distance, round-trip 16.616.6 mi <br />26.715 km <br />
Climb/Descent Elevation 1,3601,360 Feet <br />414.528 Meters <br /> / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.
High Point 3,4503,450 Feet <br />1,150 Yards <br />1,051.56 Meters <br />
Nearest Medical Norton, VA
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Trail Overview

Chief Benge Scout Trail (CBST) is a good overnight backpacking opportunity or hike a section. Things to see and enjoy vary from High Knob overlook, cold mountain lakes, following streams in deep gorges, and Little Stony plunge waterfall.

How to get there

There are two routs to the High Knob Trailhead from Gate City, VA. One is direct for 25 miles on backroads in the Jefferson National Forest; the other, is 40 miles but less than ten minutes longer due to better highway road. Choice depends on what you are doing. The latter is better for an in-and-out hike from High Knob, while the latter would also be better for dropping off a shuttle car. Better road route:

  1. Take US23 north for 33 miles around to Norton, VA.

Backroad route: Located off FS 238 at the former site of the High Knob Observation Tower. This is the westernmost point on the trail. To reach the trailhead, head north on Rte 619 from Ft. Blackmore. After 3.6 miles, you will need to make an abrupt right turn to remain on 619. The scenic gravel road heads straight up the side of High Knob for 14.9 miles past Ft. Blackmore before you turn right onto Rte 238. After 1.6 miles, turn right onto Rte 233. Follow Rte 233 to a parking area at the end.


Little Stony Creek Falls access point from Gate City, VA:

  1. Turn onto VA 71 north (no sign here).
  2. After one mile, turn left on VA 72 and proceed north (through Ft. Blackmore and Dungannon, then past USFS Hanging Rock Recreation Area) for about 29 miles. The last road section will be very curvy.
  3. Turn left onto state route 664 and go 1.1 miles
  4. Turn left onto gravel forest service road 700 and go 1.4 miles
  5. At the road split take the left (forest service road 701) and go 1 mile to gravel parking area

Route Description

The Scott County Chamber of Commerce has an excellent write-up of CBST with trailhead access and general description. Below is a summary until others can contribute more details.

Access Point Distance (mi) Elevation (ft)
High Knob 0.0
High Knob Lake 1.0
Mountain Fork 3.9
Edith Gap
Bark Camp Lake
Little Stony Falls 16.6
Hanging Rock Rec. Area 19.2

Distances are from High Knob. The last section is an extension onto Little Stony Creek Falls trail.


Typical Conditions

The trail varies depending on what section. Can be steep trail. Multiple creek crossings. Some blowdowns reported to be still on the trail from 2009 and 2011 winter storms. So be prepared.

Fees, Permits, etc.

Camping is at High Knob Lake and Bark Camp Lake, which have $10-12/site fees. Hanging Rock and High Knob Recreation Areas have $3 day use fees.

Misc. Information

Maps

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.9" lon="-82.53" type="terrain" zoom="12" width="725" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Chief_Benge_Scout_Trail.kml http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Little_Stony_Creek_Falls_Trail.kml

(G) 36.89352, -82.62847 High Knob trailhead (G) access point (G) access point (G) 36.8699, -82.4632 Little Stony Falls access point (G) 36.8609,-82.44625 Hanging Rock Rec. Area trailhead (C) 36.87133, -82.46203 Little Stony Upper Waterfall </googlemap>

Photos