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Alleghany County Virginia Hiking Trails
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George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
The 1.0 mile Jackson Trail
is a steep connector trail to the Oliver Mountain Trail with 800
feet of elevation gain over one mile, an arduous climb.
The trail is well marked, wide, and in good condition.
On winter days the view is
impressive. The surrounding
mountains and valleys are a beautiful backdrop with views north and south. Lake
Moomaw is visible from points along the upper portion of the trail.
Used with the upper part of the Oliver Mountain Trail and the upper part of
FDR 192, a 4.4-mile loop back to the trailhead parking area is possible.
Alternatively, The Jackson Trail can be used to connect via the
Oliver Mountain Trail (a right turn)
which descends gradually 1400 feet over about 4.0 miles to its
trailhead at the Fortney Branch Boat Launch on Lake Moomaw.
See also the Oliver Mountain
Trail for more details on possible hikes combining these two trails.
Another alternative parking spot is at the end of FDR 192.
Directions:
From Route 220 heading north
from Covington, turn left onto Route 687.
Then turn left onto Route 641/666.
At the Lake Moomaw Recreation Area entrance, keep left onto Route 666.
At the “T” intersection, turn left and travel south for about 0.8
mile. Turn right onto FDR 192
(a gravel road), and travel on a right-of-way through private land for
about 0.9 mile. The Jackson
Trail will be on the left, uphill side of the parking area on FDR 192 at
the National Forest Boundary line, just before a Forest Service gate.
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