Chief Benge Scout Trail: Difference between revisions
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|City=Norton | |City=Norton | ||
|Trail Marking=Yellow | |Trail Marking=Yellow | ||
|Trail Use=Hiking, Camping | |Trail Use=Hiking, Camping, Fishing | ||
|Trail Features=Vistas, Mountains | |Trail Features=Waterfalls, Vistas, Mountains | ||
|Difficulty Rating=Hard | |Difficulty Rating=Hard | ||
|Hike Time= | |Hike Time=10 hrs | ||
|Trail Distance= | |Trail Distance=18.7 mi | ||
|Round Trip Distance= | |Round Trip Distance=37.4 mi | ||
|Trail Type=In-and-Out | |Trail Type=In-and-Out | ||
|High Point= | |High Point=3,450 ft | ||
|Low Point | |Low Point=1,360 ft | ||
|Elevation Change Direction=North-to-South | |Elevation Change Direction=North-to-South | ||
|Parking location=36.89352,-82.62847 | |Parking location=36.89352, -82.62847 | ||
|Trailhead location=36.89352,-82.62847 | |Trailhead location=36.89352, -82.62847 | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Trail Map|Other Trails=Little Stony Creek Falls}} | {{Trail Map|Other Trails=Little Stony Creek Falls}} | ||
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== Photos == | == Photos == | ||
{{Park trail gallery|Trail={{PAGENAME}}}} | {{Park trail gallery|Trail={{PAGENAME}}}} | ||
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=High Knob trailhead | {{Map Marker | ||
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=High Knob Lake access point|Marker Description=Picnic area|Marker Location=36.8915, -82.61927}} | |Icon Type=Point of interest | ||
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Mountain Fork access point - locked in winter | |Marker Title=High Knob trailhead | ||
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Edith Gap access point | |Marker Location=36.89352, -82.62847 | ||
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Bark Camp Lake access point | }} | ||
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Little Stony Falls access point|Marker Description=[[Image:CBST Trail Sign.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.8699, -82.4632}} | {{Map Marker | ||
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Hanging Rock Rec. Area trailhead|Marker Description=[[Image:Little Stony Creek Falls trailhead sign.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.8609,-82.44625}} | |Icon Type=Point of interest | ||
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Waterfall|Marker Title=Little Stony Upper Waterfall|Marker Description=[[Image:Upper Falls Little Stony Creek.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.87133, -82.46203}} | |Marker Title=High Knob Lake access point | ||
|Marker Description=Picnic area | |||
|Marker Location=36.8915, -82.61927 | |||
}} | |||
{{Map Marker | |||
|Icon Type=Point of interest | |||
|Marker Title=Mountain Fork access point - locked in winter | |||
|Marker Location=36.88812, -82.58563 | |||
}} | |||
{{Map Marker | |||
|Icon Type=Point of interest | |||
|Marker Title=Edith Gap access point | |||
|Marker Location=36.88128, -82.55355 | |||
}} | |||
{{Map Marker | |||
|Icon Type=Point of interest | |||
|Marker Title=Bark Camp Lake access point | |||
|Marker Location=36.8677, -82.5157 | |||
}} | |||
{{Map Marker | |||
|Icon Type=Point of interest | |||
|Marker Title=Little Stony Falls access point | |||
|Marker Description=[[Image:CBST Trail Sign.JPG|150px]] | |||
|Marker Location=36.8699, -82.4632 | |||
}} | |||
{{Map Marker | |||
|Icon Type=Point of interest | |||
|Marker Title=Hanging Rock Rec. Area trailhead | |||
|Marker Description=[[Image:Little Stony Creek Falls trailhead sign.JPG|150px]] | |||
|Marker Location=36.8609,-82.44625 | |||
}} | |||
{{Map Marker | |||
|Icon Type=Waterfall | |||
|Marker Title=Little Stony Upper Waterfall | |||
|Marker Description=[[Image:Upper Falls Little Stony Creek.JPG|150px]] | |||
|Marker Location=36.87133, -82.46203 | |||
}} | |||
Revision as of 23:13, 1 March 2020
| Chief Benge Scout Trail (log in to submit report) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Highlight | Long single trail good for backpacking |
| Located | Norton, Virginia |
| Trail Marking | Yellow |
| Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail |
|
| FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail |
|
| Difficulty Rating | Hard |
| Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail. | 10 hrs0.625 Days <br />600 Min <br /> round trip |
| Distance: | 18.7 mi30.095 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 37.4 mi60.189 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car |
| Trail Type | In-and-Out |
| Low / High Point | 1,360 ft453.333 Yards <br />414.528 Meters <br /> / 3,450 ft1,150 Yards <br />1,051.56 Meters <br /> |
| Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent. | {{{Elevation Gain}}}"{{{Elevation Gain}}}" is not a number. / ({{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.) – North-to-South |
| Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days | No hikes logged yet |
| NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list | No other Trails within 5 mi |
| Parking | 36° 53' 36.67" N, 82° 37' 42.49" W Map |
| Trailhead | 36° 53' 36.67" N, 82° 37' 42.49" W Map |
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| Show In Google Maps | |
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 several routes to the High Knob Trailhead from Gate City, VA. One is direct for 25 miles on backroads in the Jefferson National Forest; another, is 40 miles but less than ten minutes longer due to better highway road. Choice depends on what you are doing and how much time available.
Better road route to High Knob:
- Take US23 north for 33 miles around to Norton, VA.
- Turn right/east on Hoot Owl Hollow Road/Route 622 for 1.5 miles.
- Turn right/south on Alley Valley Road for just under three miles.
- Turn sharp left/NE on FS Road 238 for half mile.
- Turn right/SW for short road to the former site of the High Knob Observation Tower.
Backroad route to High Knob:
- Take VA71 east out of Gate City for couple of miles.
- Turn left/north on VA72 for 11 miles to Ft. Blackmore.
- Turn left/north on Big Stoney Creek Road for 3.6 miles.
- Veer right/north to take Alley Valley Road/FS 213 for half mile, then first left to stay on Alley Valley Road for another winding 7.5 miles.
- Veer right/NE on FS Road 238 for half mile.
- Turn right/SW for short road to the former site of the High Knob Observation Tower.
Little Stony Creek Falls trailhead:
- Take VA71 east of Gate City for couple of miles.
- Turn left/north on VA72 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.
- Turn left onto VA664 and go 1.1 miles
- Turn left onto gravel FS Road 700 and go 1.4 miles
- At the road split take the left (FS Road 701) and go 1 mile to gravel parking area.
For a car drop at Hanging Rock Rec. Area, then starting at High Knob:
- Take VA71 east of Gate City for couple of miles.
- Turn left/north on VA72 and proceed 22 miles north (through Ft. Blackmore and Dungannon) to USFS Hanging Rock Recreation Area.
- Drop off shuttle vehicle.
- Continue north on VA72 another eight miles to Norton, VA.
- Turn west on Highway US58 for nine miles to Exit #1.
- Take exit south onto Alley Valley Road/FS 213 for four miles.
- Turn sharp left/NE on FS Road 238 for half mile.
- Turn right/SW for short road to the former site of the High Knob Observation Tower.
- You're now at High Knob to begin the trip.
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.
Access at Mountain Fork is from FS Road 704 which is locked for winter from Sept 15 thru May 15.
The recommended backpacking route is to drop off a vehicle at Hanging Rock Rec. Area, then start at High Knob so overall heading downhill. At Bark Camp Lake which is roughly mid-way, the trail splits to go around both sides as Lakeshore Trail. Travel around the northern shore for campground with showers and bathrooms (open April into October), or proceed around southern shore for a backcountry spot. The following day continues downstream, then past falls on Little Stony Creek to the car shuttle.
Typical Conditions
The trail varies depending on what section. Can be steep. Multiple creek crossings.
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
Per the Forest Service website, "Local communities are assisting the Forest Service in constructing a new High Knob Observation Tower, expected to be completed in the spring of 2012. From this tower visitors will enjoy an unrestricted view of five states."
Photos
At Little Stony Creek parking lot