By Bob Downing Akron Beacon Journal
DAMASCUS, Va. - The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area is one of the best hiking and backpacking areas in the East.
The 120,000-acre tract in southwest Virginia ranks right up there with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee for being among the very best.
It features three wilderness areas, high-mountain country and more than 350 miles of hiking trails.
Now there’s a new way to explore Mount Rogers: a seven-trail, 134 and one-half mile adventure for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.
It’s called the Ridges and Rivers Route and winds from Abington, Va., in the southwest to Pulaski, Va., in the northeast. The route runs through the heart of the federal recreation area in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and extends beyond the park boundaries to the two cities.
It follows the Virginia Creeper, Beech Grove, Iron Mountain, Hickory Ridge, Virginia Highlands Horse, Mike’s Gap and New River trails.
The route includes existing trails and roads. It varies from narrow single-track trail to well-maintained roads to old railroad rights of way. It ranges from rugged and rocky to railroad flat.
At Abington, you will start to the northeast for 19 and one-half miles on the Virginia Creeper, a national recreation trail that follows an old railroad grade. It will take you through Damascus, a village of nearly 1,100 that is a real trail town, complete with outfitters with bike rentals and shuttle services.
The white-blazed Appalachian National Scenic Trail from Georgia to Maine runs down the main street of Damascus. It will host a major trail festival on May 18-20.
Also running through Damascus are the 34-mile Virginia Creeper that gets 250,000 visitors a year, the 4,247-mile Trans-America National Bicycle Trail, the 43-mile Iron Mountain Trail and the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail.
It is also a stop on Virginia’s 250-mile Crooked River Musical Heritage Trail, a driving tour of the state’s old-time music.
The RRR route continues to the east from Damascus to the Straight Branch parking lot, although the Virginia Creeper Trail continues another 14 miles to Whitetop Station in nearby North Carolina.
From here, the route gets narrow, steep, rocky and rough. You are on the Beech Grove Trail for a short time, connecting with the Iron Mountain Trail. You will be on the Iron Mountain trails for 10.1 miles before you pick up the Virginia Highland Horse Trail that is blazed with orange diamonds.
You follow that trail for 51.5 miles. (It runs 67.2 miles in all.) You then jump to Mike’s Gap Trail before connecting to the New River Trail.
Follow the rail-trail, a Virginia state park, for 34 miles to Pulaski. The trail runs next to the pretty New River that flows north into West Virginia, where it is known for its white-water rafting.
In many places, the route is a narrow trail with private, often-posted property on both sides. RRR users are asked to stay off the private property.
It is a route that has limited road access and is far from potable water, telephone or cellular service and rescue services.
There are a lot more hiking options in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, which was established in 1966 and is easily accessible off Interstate 81.
The heavily forested Comers Creek Falls Trail leads to a pretty waterfall on the head waters of Comer Creek.
It is a short, easy, round-trip hike of 1 mile. The trailhead is accessible off state Route 16 south of Sugar Grove and the park headquarters.
Comers Creek runs into the South Fork of the Holston River.
The trail also connects to the Iron Mountain Trail and the Appalachian Trail.
Dickey Knob Trail is a 4.8-mile round-trip hike. It begins near the Raccoon Branch Campground and is a narrow path that offers cliff-side views of Rye Valley, Sugar Grove and beyond.
The trail is not marked but is easy to follow. It’s a steady climb and a moderate hike. Mountain bikes are allowed on the trail.
One loop possibility is the Rushing Waters Circuit Trail, a 15.3-mile loop on the Appalachian, Virginia Creeper, Beartree Gap, Iron Mountain and Feathercamp trails.
You can begin the loop at the Creek Junction Trailhead about 10 miles east of Damascus on the Virginia Creeper Trail.
The loop runs along often-gushing Whitetop Laurel Creek and offers striking views of Whitetop Mountain and Mount Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia at 5,729 feet.
The second half of the route runs along the crest of Iron Mountain with some panoramic views.
A warning: Only foot traffic is allowed on the Appalachian Trail. No bikes and no horses.
For more information, contact the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, 3714 Highway 16, Marion, VA 24354; 276-783-5196 or 800-628-7202. The Internet site is www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/mr/.
You can also contact the Friends of Mount Rogers, a nonprofit friends-of-the-park group, through the park headquarters.
Visitors can camp in the recreation area, and lodging is available in towns around the park.
The park offers lodging in two rental cabins: Sunrise Cabin and Blue Springs Gap Cabin. Call the headquarters for rental information.
More information is also available by contacting the Blue Ridge Travel Association of Virginia at 800-446-9670 or http://www.virginiablueridge.org/.
Also, the New River Highlands Resource Conservation and Development Council, 100 USDA Drive, Wytheville, VA 24352; 276-228-2879.
I am looking to ride mt. bikes on the rivers to ridges route and the only info iI can find on it is on your blog. Any suggestions? thanks Jef
The trail in Damascus is very easy to find. Virginia Highlands Horse Trail is located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail is a 68-mile trail between Elk Garden and VA Rt. 94. It features mountainous terrain, valley views and valley crossings. I would pick up one of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Maps. Here is some good info on the horse trail…http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/mr/recreation/hiking/va_highlands.shtml