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George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
Rating: Strenuous
Blue Blaze
Cove Trail may be reached via Fortney
Loop Trail.
Cove Trail is a short branch
trail with a gradual descent to Lake Moomaw across from Coles Point.
The Fortney Loop Trail
descends about 200 feet to Lake Moomaw across from the Fortney Branch Boat
Launch, about one mile from trail’s beginning at the south end.
The trail is well marked with a graded open tread in good
condition.
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At first the descends gently
along the ridge line through open forest before dropping more steeply
downhill along several switchbacks to the abandoned asphalt surface of old
Route 600, which was inundated under Lake Moomaw when the Gathright Dam
was constructed in the 1980.
It is interesting to see the efforts of the forest to reclaim the
road. Turn right along the
abandoned road to reach the lake with a view of the Fortney Branch boat
launch. At the lake, stone
steps, constructed by a Student Conservation Association work crew, lead
to the return trail that winds pleasantly along the lakeside before
gradually ascending through open forest to the intersection with the Cove
Trail.
Bicyclists should use care navigating the abrupt switchbacks and the
stone steps.
Fishing access to the bank of Lake Moomaw is possible from a number of
points, especially when coupled with the Cove Trail.
Directions:
Fortney Loop Trail is adjacent
to the Morris Hill Campground, north of Covington.
From I-64 take Route 220 north, turn left onto Route 687. Turn left
onto Route 641, Indian Draft Road, and continues as Route 641 becomes
Route 666. At the Lake Moomaw
Recreation Area entrance, turn right onto Route 605 to the Morris Hill
Campground, on your left.
Fortney Loop Trail is accessible from two points in the campground - the
dump station, and the south end of the main campground loop road at
campsite 33.
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