Devil's Bathtub
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Trail Overview
Located in the Jefferson National Forest, a loop hike along Devils Fork Creek with several fords, interesting Devils Bathtub pool, and sandstone cliffs with coal seams.
How to get there
From Gate City, VA
- Take VA 71 east out of town.
- Turn on VA 72 and proceed north for 11 miles to and through Ft. Blackmore.
- Turn left/north onto VA 619 (Big Stoney Creek Road).
- 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).
- 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.
Route Description
Hike up Devil Fork from parking area and loop up on mountain and back. There are several fords (at least ten). 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.
Typical Conditions
Per another trail review 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."
In April 2014, a rescue crew had to help two groups of hikers lost from this trail. One was over a mile off. news article
Fees, Permits, etc.
No fees or permits required for day hiking or camping. Managed by Clinch Ranger District (Wise, VA) Tel: 276-679-8370 (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="36.817" 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
36.828065,-82.635321
Unknown turn off
36.829777,-82.639405
Unknown turn off
(J) 36.829916,-82.646249
Stream Crossing
36.828798,-82.646228
Unknown turn off
36.828864,-82.646562
Unknown turn off
36.827998,-82.647262
Large rock outcropping
(J) 36.830936,-82.650125
Dry stream crossing
(J) 36.830195,-82.652936
Dry stream crossing
(J) 36.830292,-82.655044
Dry stream crossing
36.828593,-82.655817
Cross 4-wheeler trail
(J) 36.82778,-82.658
Dry stream crossing
(J) 36.82434,-82.661539
Small stream crossing
(J) 36.823801,-82.66218
Dry stream crossing
(J) 36.823656,-82.666207
Stream Crossing
36.81648,-82.66277
Tricky turn
36.815412,-82.66141
View of rock outcropping
(J) 36.814426,-82.660185
Stream crossing
36.813264,-82.658594
Stay left
36.812369,-82.658383
Major blowdown
(J) 36.812426,-82.658125
Wide stream crossing
36.813137,-82.657478
Stream meeting in pool
36.813188,-82.657309
Turn off down
36.813611,-82.65677
Rock cliff - no blazes
(J) 36.813237,-82.651106
Stream crossing
36.81335,-82.649643
Swimming hole
(J) 36.813155,-82.64584
Stream crossing
(J) 36.813563,-82.644906
Stream crossing
(J) 36.813319,-82.644219
Stream crossing
36.814601,-82.642261
Major blowdown
(J) 36.814993,-82.641946
Stream crossing
(J) 36.815712,-82.64056
Stream crossing
(J) 36.818058,-82.635232
Stream crossing
(J) 36.819229,-82.631254
Multiple stream crossing
</googlemap>
Note: Google Maps does show the path as "Devils Fork Loop Trail".