Alleghany County Virginia Hiking Trails
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George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
Dry Run Trail begins at the end of FDR 339 and winds down to Dry Run
where it crosses the creek for the first time.
The trail follows Dry Run up the drain to the boundary of the Dolly
Ann Special Management Area. It
crosses Dry Run twice and both are shallow easy crossings.
Pieces of this section are well maintained while in some stretches
water flows freely down the trail.
An old road begins at the boundary of the Dolly Ann special Management
area and continues to a gate on FDR 125D.
This section of the trail is a
relatively easy hike with great views of Big Knob and Bald Knob, two of
the highest points in the Allegheny Mountains.
The trail runs along the side of the mountain and through a couple
wildlife clearings before reaching a Forest Service gate on FDR 125D.
The orange plastic diamonds that have marked the trail stop at this
gate. From the gate the trail
is easy to follow as it follows FDR 125D to FDR 125 (Dolly Ann).
This is a steep section of trail that is used primarily by four
wheel drive vehicles and is muddy after rain.
At the intersection of FDR 125 the trail crosses the road and continues
up to the top of Fore Mountain on FDR 448.
This is also a four wheel drive road that is only opened for
disabled hunters during hunting season.
The hike to the ridge top is a steady easy climb where inclines are
never above ten percent. The
trail ends at the intersection with Fore Mountain Trail on the top of Fore
Mountain.
There are are a couple short stretches of the trail that are in need of
improvement but overall the
trail is in excellent shape.
Wildlife, such as deer, turkey and other non game species are abundant
along the trail. This hike
should take approximately four to five hours to complete and can be hiked
in either direction.
Directions:
Dry Run Trail may be accessed in two places. The first access is at
the end of FDR 339.
From route 220 North turn right onto Cypress Street in Covington.
At the end of Cypress Street the road becomes dirt.
This is the beginning of FDR 339.
The trail begins at the end of the road. The second access is on
FDR 125 (Dolly Ann). From
Route 220 north turn right onto Dolly Ann Drive.
Turn right at the yield sign and follow this road to where the
gravel road begins. This is
FDR 125. There is a wildlife
clearing on the left about four miles north up FDR 125 at the intersection
of FDR 448 and FDR 125.
Parking is available in this area. Parking is available at the end of
FDR 339 (gate closed seasonally) and at the intersection of FDR 125 and
FDR 448.
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