Straight Fork Ridge: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Misc. Information: copied from Devils Bathtub as releveent)
(Major update to appropriate information)
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{{Infobox Trail
{{Infobox Trail
                     | Image Name = *  
                     | Image Name = *  
                     | City = Gate City
                     | City = Ft. Blackmore
                     | State = Virginia
                     | State = Virginia
                     | Trail Use = {{Hike}}
                     | Trail Use = {{Hike}} {{Camping}}
                     | Difficulty Rating = Difficult
                     | Difficulty Rating = Medium
                     | Hike Time = 4
                     | Hike Time = 3
                     | Distance = 3.6
                     | Distance = 3.6
                     | Elevation Gain = 1,300
                     | Elevation Gain = ~1,800
                     | High Point = *
                     | High Point = ~3,400
                     | Latitude = 36.81337
                     | Latitude = N36°49.111
                     | Longitude = -82.64956
                     | Longitude = W82°37.594
                     | Medical = Kingsport
                     | Medical = Kingsport, TN
<!-- DON'T EDIT THE GOOGLEMAP TAG -->
<!-- DON'T EDIT THE GOOGLEMAP TAG -->
                     | googlemap =  
                     | googlemap =  
<googlemap lat="36.81337" lon="-82.64956"  zoom="8" width="270" type="map" height="180" selector="no" controls="small">
<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
36.81337,-82.64956
</googlemap>
</googlemap>
}}
}}
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== 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. -->
Devils Fork Creek with several fords, interesting Devils Bathtub pool, sandstone cliffs with coal seams
Side trail of Devils Fork Loop which follows an old logging road along Straight Fork Ridge


== 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
#Turn on VA 72 and proceed north through Ft. Blackmore for 11.2 miles.
#Take VA 71 east out of town.
#Turn left onto VA 619 and proceed on it; cross Stoney Creek and swing right with VA 619.
#Turn on VA 72 and proceed north for 11 miles to and through Ft. Blackmore.
#After 4.3 miles on Va. 619, in the National Forest, turn left past Devil Fork Fishing/Hunting Club (sign) onto a gravel road.
#Turn left/north onto VA 619 (Big Stoney Creek Road).
#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.
#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).
 
For the Devils Fork Loop trailhead:
#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.
 
To the Big Cherry Road trailhead:
#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? -->
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.
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 ==
== 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?  -->
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."
Lesser used trails. Straight Fork Ridge is an old logging road with sometimes tall grass.


==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 fee or permit to visit
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 ==
== After the Hike ==

Revision as of 10:39, 29 July 2011


File:*
Trail Name Straight Fork Ridge
Nearest City Ft. Blackmore
State Virginia
Trail Marking {{{Marking}}}
Trail Use/Features Dnr hiking.png Dnr camp.png
Difficulty Rating Medium
Hiking Time 33 Hours <br />0.188 Days <br />180 Min <br />
Distance, round-trip 3.63.6 mi <br />5.794 km <br />
Climb/Descent Elevation ~1,800"~" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.
High Point ~3,400"~" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.
Nearest Medical Kingsport, TN
Trip Reports Click Here
Loading map...
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Trail Overview

Side trail of Devils Fork Loop which follows an old logging road along Straight Fork Ridge

How to get there

From Gate City, VA

  1. Take VA 71 east out of town.
  2. Turn on VA 72 and proceed north for 11 miles to and through Ft. Blackmore.
  3. Turn left/north onto VA 619 (Big Stoney Creek Road).
  4. Cross Stoney Creek and swing right with VA 619.
  5. After 4.3 miles on VA 619, enter the National Forest.
  6. Turn left past Devil Fork Fishing/Hunting Club (sign) onto a gravel road (FS Road 213/Alley Valley Rd).

For the Devils Fork Loop trailhead:

  1. 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).
  2. 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.

To the Big Cherry Road trailhead:

  1. Continue on FS Road 213/Alley Valley Rd for long ~7 mile drive to top of ridgeline.
  2. Take shart left/southwest on FS Road 237/Big Cherry Road.
  3. Proceed ~4 miles to trailhead.

Uncertain about parking availability at this trailhead.

Route Description

Two ways to hike this 1.8 mile trail: up or down. "Up" begans at the 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

Lesser used trails. Straight Fork Ridge is an old logging road with sometimes tall grass.

Fees, Permits, etc.

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

Misc. Information

See also the excellent write-up in [Explore Scott County] website.

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

Maps

A 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

(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

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