West Virginia Route Description

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Trail Notes: From the cars, walk south on FR75 for about 100 yards and turn right onto an old jeep trail named Bear Rocks Trail (Tr522) and blocked by boulders. You will gradually descend to Dobbin Grade, passing a seriously eroded section of the jeep trail (A footpath to the left gets you around this.) and a minibog sheltered in a hollow. You will climb out of the hollow and descend to Dobbin Grade (TR526) at 1.02 miles from the start. The jeep trail is also badly eroded here. There are optional trails on either side.

Cross Dobbin Grade and descend further through a grassy area to Red Creek. Cross the creek. Climb to the first rise. You will end up on an old ATV trail. Do not take the ATV trail, but turn right onto a footpath at the USFS “Trail” marker. As you enter the woods, you will pass through a small wet area. Cross a drainage and immediately turn right (uphill). Follow the drainage for about 15 yards and turn left. Walk through the woods until you pick up another trail that goes uphill. (The trek through here is becoming more obvious with use.) Turn right. Soon you will arrive at the grassy slopes of Raven Ridge although, at this point, you are still on Bear Rocks Trail. Follow the Trail stakes for another 0.4 miles until you arrive at the junction of Raven Ridge Trail (Tr521). Note: Raven Ridge signs will be erected after the western most segment has been rerouted off of private property. For now the sign just marks the end of Bear Rocks Trail.

Continue uphill (to the right at the trail junction) on unsigned Raven Ridge Trail. At about 0.2 miles from the last trail junction, pass Beaver View Trail (Tr523) on the left.

Continue west passing an unsigned trail on the left that eventually connects with Beaver View Trail that you passed earlier. You will soon come to a very wet triangle intersection where three jeep trails come together. There is a pile of large rocks with pink paint on them. This is a boundary point of the forest. Bear right (uphill) here). Keep a close eye out for a small rock cairn, maybe only two rocks) that mark a faint trail through the heath to the left at 1.18 miles from Beaver View Trail. (If you miss this turn do not worry.) This is the unsigned north terminus of Rocky Ridge Trail. Turn left here. An official sign with trail names and mileages will be posted after this segment is moved off of private property.  (It is possible this reroute may be complete by now, but as of this spring, it was not.) If you miss this turn you will come to a three way junction of jeep roads. Turn left here. The trail might seem to disintegrate here but keep the pink boundary poles to your right and walk south on a diagonal toward the rocky ridge to your left. You should spot a USFS sign warning of unexploded mortar shells along the eastern horizon. Walk over to it and the continuation of the trail. You will soon pick up a footpath lined with cairns. You are now on the official trail. From this ridge you can get sweeping views of Dolly Sods and much of what you just hiked.

Continue south on Rocky Ridge Trail. At about 1.18 miles, the trail veers slightly to the right and crosses Rocky Knob. Weather permitting this is a great break spot with views of Canaan Valley and Mountain. You have to rely on several cairns and short patches of footpath to get through this area.

In about 0.3 miles from Rocky Knob, you will pass a trail intersection in a wet area with a large boulder. The trail to the left is marked with cairns and leads to a dead end and a possible small emergency campsite should a backpacker need to get off of the ridge.   Bypass this trail, and in 0.2 miles, arrive at a jeep trail. This is the junction with Dobbin Grade Trail (Tr526). Turn right to stay on Rocky Ridge Trail. Climb up a wide woods road to Harmon Knob in 0.48 miles. The actual knob is marked by a very tall cairn. The view point is across a large rock field along the edge of the ridge.

In another 0.4-0.5 miles arrive at the junction of Harmon Trail (Tr528). Continue straight on Rocky Ridge Trail. In 0.45 miles arrive at the junction with Black Bird Knob Trail on the left. Turn left here.

At 1.3 miles, there is a galvanized sign post, but the sign itself was never installed. This is the east terminus of Harmon Knob Trail. Continue straight on Black Bird Knob Trail. In about 0.2 miles, descend to and cross the left fork of Red Creek.

You will pass through a thick growth of Spruce, open, grassy meadows and deciduous forest. In about 0.7 miles from the left fork, arrive at the junction with Red Creek Trail. The sign is missing, but it is marked with two large cairns. (You will back track this next segment on the return leg of the trek.) Turn right here and descend to “The Forks” in 0.9 – 1.0 miles. Cross the right fork of Red Creek and soon come to signed “Breathed Mt Trail” on the right.

Turn right and climb steeply to a huge heath bog dotted with Pine Plantations. The trail is rather obvious, but you may spot an old animal trail here and there. In 2.3, after passing through a mixed hardwood/Red Spruce forest, arrive at a grassy road. Turn left. There will be a large gray kiosk to your left. The Big Stone Coal Trail is on its right. Follow it through a grassy area into the woods. Watch out for a small but very deep seep at the edge of the woods. Soon you will be walking on a railroad grade with Big Stone Coal Run coming in from the left and a tributary coming in from the right. Either just before or after their juncture, around 0.7 miles from the trail junction with Breathed Mt Trail, you will cross to the east bank and continue south with the run on your right.

In about 0.5 miles, the trail will turn right and cross two forks in a grassy area just above their junction, travel south a short distance and then recross the main run back to the east bank. The trail then veers east, away from the run and travels roughly along the edge between bogs and grand Pine plantations. The trail will then turn south again and pass through a pine grove. Before reaching the southern most edge of the plantation, the trail will jog left and uphill. A faint trail continuing south here will take you out to yet one more great view of highland meadows with a backdrop of mountains. Take the left jog. The trail will go east for just a little bit before turning south and then bending westward again.

Cross to the west bank of Big Stone Coal at about one mile from the previous crossing and head down stream to the junction with DunkenBarger Trail. You will return to this intersection after a side trip to the Lion’s Head.

Side Trip to the Lion’s Head: From this intersection travel downstream on Big Stone Coal Trail. Cross the run at 0.14 miles. Visit the waterfall on your right. In another 0.35 miles or so, Big Stone Coal trail will veer to the right and downhill at the junction with signed Rocky Point Trail. There is usually a sign here, but it was missing last summer. You want to go straight (left) on Rocky Point Trail, crossing through a rocky area marked by cairns and a very small part time stream that crosses the trail. The stream might not be apparent this time of year. From this point look for a rock cairn behind a log that sticks out slightly into the trail. (There is another route before this one, but this is easier to follow. If you find yourself out in the open and able to see across the valley, you missed the turn but have probably covered the same mileage.) Turn left at this cairn and follow a faint trail to the top. There may be some trails off to the right as you climb. I think these are dead ends for the most part. Near the top you will have to climb through a small crag. Once at the top it is up to you to work your way to the edge. I do not think I have ever done it the same way twice.

Retrace your steps back to the junction with Dunkenbarger Trail. Turn left onto it.

Be prepared for a lot of mud, roots, and rocks, especially on this side of the hill. In about 0.56 miles, come to Dunkenbarger Run. Cross Dunkenbarger Run, turn upstream a few steps, and then left to regain the trail.

In approximately 0.8 miles from the Dunkenbarger Run, crossing reach the junction with Little Stone Coal Trail. Turn left and descend rapidly along Little Stone Coal Trail.

In about 0.8 miles, cross Little Stone Coal Run and arrive at Red Creek. Ford it and locate the Cairns on the other side marking a short continuation of the Little Stone Coal Trail. Follow this out to Red Creek Trail.

Turn Left onto Red Creek Trail. At about 0.8 miles from the junction with Little Stone Coal Trail, you will come to a cairn and a trail that goes to the left. This trail ends at a campsite where the old Red Creek Trail was blown out by a storm. Do not take this turn! Continue straight on the main trail. Just beyond this point to the left is yet another cairn (Hopefully. It seems to come and go. If you miss it do not worry. I explain later.). Bushwhack steeply down to a quick connection with an old portion of Red Creek Trail. Turn right (upstream) and soon find yourself on a footpath. You will pass the signed junction with Big Stone Coal Trail on the left.  The old Red Creek Trail will follow an old railroad grade for a short distance before veering to the right and up onto a footpath. If you missed the bushwhack and find yourself climbing along a sketchy trail do not worry. This “new” but apparently seldom used bypass trail will get you to your destination. Continue straight up “New” Red Creek Trail. Climb steeply, cross the rocky headwaters of a small stream and descend to the “Old” Red Creek Trail. The trail is a little vague along this route indicating that it is not used as often as the lower trail. It is, however, well marked with cairns. Turning left on the old trail will take you down to the Creek at Big Stone Coal Trail above the previously described blow out. Do not go this way, but rather, turn right (upstream) and proceed. Wind in and out of two steep coves, each having streams with waterfalls during periods of high water.

In 2.5 miles from the blow out area, arrive at the junction of Fisher Spring Run Trail on your right and descend to a ford of Red Creek. It is usually marked with cairns. If not look for a 3-4 foot boulder on the other side and find the best way across.

After the crossing, turn right to pick up the continuation of Red Creek Trail. Proceed up Red Creek trail for about 0.3 – 0.5 miles as it climbs steeply to a junction with Rocky Point Trail (as a dotted line on the map) to the left. This is a pretty obvious railroad grade on both sides of the trail. It had been signed but this is one the bears really like to take down. The grade crosses Red Creek Trail but has a small log across it on the right indicating that this is the wrong route. Stay straight on Red Creek Trail, continuing to follow cairns steeply up the hill before reaching another railroad grade. Proceed upstream (North) on the railroad grade.

At about two miles after the Red Creek ford, come to the signed Breathed Mountain Trail on the left that you followed earlier. Retrace your steps from the morning back to the unsigned junction with Black Bird Knob Trail (two large cairns). Turn right onto Black Bird Knob Trail.

In 0.34 miles, turn left onto signed Upper Red Creek Trail (Tr509) and follow it for 1.2 miles up, over, and down an open grassy hill to the junction of Dobbin Grade Trail (Tr526).

Turn right onto Dobbin Grade Trail. This is an old railroad grade that was used to haul lumber in days gone by. Being an RR grade, the climb out of the bog is very gradual with several boggy areas along the way. Soon after making the last turn, you will pass the unsigned terminus of Raven Ridge Trail. That footpath is hard to spot, so you might miss it. Continue on Dobbin Grade. Cross the right fork of Red Creek and immediately turn left to stay on the trail. (If you stay on the road that goes up to a wind whipped tree, you will turn around to enjoy a fantastic view of DSN. Return to Dobbin Grade Trail and turn right to continue, if you do.)

At about 1.05 miles from the crossing arrive at Beaver Dam Trail (Tr520) on the right. This trail takes you out to FR75. In another 0.62 miles, reach the junction with the Bear Rocks Trail. Turn right here and retrace your initial steps back to the cars.

Driving Directions

1. Take I-81 North exiting at US55.

2. Take VA55 West (left turn at end of ramp.)

3. Follow VA55 though Wardensville, where it becomes WV55. Watch for a right turn onto a multilane highway. This will take you to Moorefield. Stay on WV55W. You will then drive through the towns of Petersburg and Cabin.

4. Pass Smokehole Caverns and motel on the right.

5. Turn right onto Jordan Run Road.

6. In 0.9 miles, pass the first turn off to Dolly Sods on the left, FR19. Stay on Jordan Run.

7. In 6.7 more miles, turn left onto FR75 marked with signs for Dolly Sods.

8. FR75 soon becomes a gravel road. It has recently been graded but still has some bumpy parts.

9. As you reach the top of the mountain, the large trees will disappear and the road will make a final sharp left-hand turn. Park here on either side of the road. The Bear Rocks trailhead is about 100 yards further down the road. There is limited parking there, but these spots are often full.