The Channels Natural Area Preserve

The Channels Natural Area Preserve
Park Type	State Natural Area
Located	Rosedale, Virginia
External Links	Official Website Official Trail Map
Entrance Fee	Unknown
ActivitiesThings to do at the park
Park AmenitiesThings built to enjoy or use at the park
FeaturesNatural things to see at the park
Park Trails	2 Trails / Total of 8.36 miles13.454 km <br />
Lodging Types	None
Park Area	721 acres2.918 km² <br />
Operated By	Virginia Department of Forestry
Main Location	36° 51' 53.03" N, 81° 56' 49.20" W Map
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Limited Parking Space
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 park website for details

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Park Overview

The Channels, the 53rd state natural area preserve, is an area of significant high elevation forest, rock outcrop and cliff communities. The preserve name is derived from the maze-like system of sandstone crevices and boulders that occur near the 4208ft. summit of Middle Knob on Clinch mountain.

The preserve itself is located within The Channels State Forest and the trails assigned to it exist well outside of the preserve, and partially outside of the forest.

Note!: When people say they are going to The Channels, they are likely referring to hiking on the Brumley Mountain Trail (whether they know it or not). Starting from the east end along VA-80 hiking west to reach The Channels in under three miles. See the Park Trails section and the Brumley Mountain Trail page for more details.

Park Trails

The Channels Natural Area Preserve has the following 2 trails totaling 8.36 miles.

Park Trails	Distance	Difficulty	Marking	Usage	Highlight
Brumley Mountain Trail	2.96 mi	Medium	White diamond		Your likely trail if you want to "go to The Channels"
Channels Trail	5.40 mi	Hard	Red blaze		Although your likely goal, not the typical access

Despite overwhelmingly used as the 3mi access to The Channels, the Brumley Mountain Trail is actually a 14.6 mile trail from a parking spot on Rt 690 to parking spot on VA-80.

An actual trail called Channels Trail does exist. During off-season, it is 5.5 miles starting from a parking spot on Rt. 689/Brumley Gap Road. Otherwise, a steeper (~2X) 3.2 mile climb from parking reached by a gravel forest road. This route intersects Brumley Mountain Trail to the west of the spur trail to The Channels.

Gallery

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  Hikers above the Channels - NOTE! No longer permitted

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