Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Buchanan, Virginia

This is a gravel FS road leading to prime trout water. It's a scenic short path off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Go to the end of the road and take a left onto Jennings Creek. The trout water parallels the road for a few miles. The water is stocked and there are 2 nearby campgrounds off Jennings Creek Ro...
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Bobblets Gap is a natural surface two-track that starts on the south side of the Blue Ridge near Montvale, Virginia, and traverses up the mountain. At the top, it goes under the Blue Ridge Parkway and back off the north side of the mountain range, where it intersects with the Appalachian Trail and a...
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Fringer Trail is a well-maintained gravel county road that provides users with quicker access to several hiking trails along Glenwood Horse Trail. The route offers a peaceful and convenient connection for those looking to explore the surrounding forest and recreational opportunities. The trail is fr...
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Colon Hollow, designated as Forest Service Road 782, begins directly across from the North Creek Campground. The trail starts at a historic log cabin, which serves as a notable landmark, though the structure is not open for entry. The route is easy overall, consisting of a well‑maintained gravel sur...
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North Creek, designated as Forest Service Road 59, begins where the pavement ends on North Creek Road. The route is open year‑round and remains an easy trail throughout, with a maintained gravel surface and low vegetation overgrowth. The most notable obstacles are potholes, all less than 6 inches de...
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Middle Creek is a scenic gravel route in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Running approximately 4.2 miles, this well-maintained Forest Service road climbs from 1,406 feet to 2,892 feet. Its smooth gravel surface is suitable for most high-clearance vehicles and standard SUVs. The...
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VA-614 is a well-maintained two-track and two-lane trail that either begins or ends near Peaks of Otter Park. When traveling from the Peaks of Otter toward U.S. 460, the trail follows a steady downhill grade and consists primarily of hard-packed gravel. The surface is generally smooth and free of ma...
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Bethel Road is a well-maintained, two-lane gravel road that provides users with access to FS 634, the Glenwood Trail, and several local hiking trails. At the summit of the trail, users will find a wide parking area that provides convenient access to the surrounding hiking opportunities. One of the n...
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Garden Mountain Road is a two-track trail accessed from Blue Grass Trail that travels up and over Sheets Mountain. The route is a mixture of gravel and dirt and provides a peaceful drive through the surrounding forest and mountain landscape. In some sections, the trail becomes somewhat tight, but th...
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Thomas Mountain, designated as Forest Service Road 768, is a maintained gravel road open year‑round. The route climbs steadily up the mountain, connecting North Creek at the lower end to Parker Gap at the higher end. Rutting is minimal, vegetation overgrowth is low, and the corridor remains consiste...
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Pulaski Tract - FS 634 is a well-maintained out-and-back gravel trail that offers users an enjoyable route through the surrounding forest. Along the trail are two small creek crossings, each equipped with concrete pillars that allow smaller, lower-clearance vehicles to cross without difficulty. The ...
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Pulaski Tract is accessed from the end of Bethel Road and follows the base of the mountain before ending at a permanently closed USFS gate. The trail provides users with a peaceful route through the forest and serves as an important connection to several of the area's best hiking opportunities. Alon...
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Wilson Mountain (FS 907) and Skillern Mountain (FS 316) form a continuous, well‑maintained gravel route that transitions seamlessly at the county line. The road surface is consistently smooth with only minor rutting, scattered small rocks, and light vegetation overgrowth. Overall difficulty remains ...
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Lapsley Run is a well-maintained trail accessed after traveling Elburnell Dr. This hard-packed gravel route is free of large obstacles, although users may encounter occasional small mud puddles along the way, especially after wet weather. The trail provides a peaceful drive through the countryside w...
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Blue Grass Trail is a decently maintained mixed gravel and dirt road that offers several options for exploring the area. The route can be traveled as an out-and-back, used as an access road to three other nearby trails, or enjoyed as a standalone through trail. This flexibility makes Blue Grass Trai...
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Elburnell Road is a well-maintained gravel road accessed just off Highway 220 and offers an easygoing drive through the surrounding countryside. The trail is free of major obstacles, making it a straightforward route for drivers looking to explore the area's rolling hills without navigating technica...
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Martins Lane is another well-maintained gravel road that provides users with easy access to beautiful countryside nestled beneath the surrounding mountains. The trail is free of major obstacles and is suitable for both 2WD and 4WD vehicles, making it an enjoyable route for a wide range of drivers. T...
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Allen Branch Road is a well-maintained gravel road that provides users with an alternative access point to the Blue Grass Trail. This hard-packed gravel loop is free of major obstacles and offers an easygoing drive through the surrounding countryside. The route travels through a beautiful rolling me...
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Parkers Gap trail is a gravel forest service road, running from Cave Mountain Lake to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The surface is gravel and pot hole strewn. Cell service is spotty throughout the area. Numerous side trails lead to camping spots and hiking trailheads. The scenery is beautiful during the f...
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Dagger Springs Road is a through trail that can be accessed either from the community of Gaia or from Blue Grass Trail, with the Blue Grass Trail approach being the recommended direction. Much of the route is a very well-maintained and wide county gravel road that has recently undergone improvements...
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Rattlesnake Trail is a 0.5-mile ATV trail that provides smooth, easy access from the large Rattlesnake Trailhead parking lot off State Highway 130 to the South Pedlar loop. It features large water bars and fast, flowy riding with rocks pushed to the sides. The trail winds through a scenic forest dom...
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Lone Mountain Trail is a 1.8-mile easy connector that cuts across the South Pedlar ATV loop, allowing riders to create shorter route options. The trail winds gradually through a beautiful forest dominated by eastern hardwoods, with tight corners and meandering curves that offer a more enclosed, inti...
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Terrapin Trail is a short, 0.6-mile connector linking the South Pedlar Trailhead parking area off State Highway 130 to the main South Pedlar loop. This easy, smooth trail is very wide with no obstacles, consistent with the rest of the trail system. It features the same hard-packed surface, scattered...
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Piney Trail is a 0.9-mile gradual ascent when traveling west to east, serving as a useful cutoff across the South Pedlar loop to shorten your ride. The trail is wide and smooth with well-placed waterbars, and any small loose rocks or leaf litter are mostly pushed to the sides. A few muddy ruts may b...
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Cow Camp Road is an inviting mountain route in the George Washington National Forest that offers offroaders of all skill levels a gentle climb through scenic hardwood forests and quick access to famous Blue Ridge hiking trails. Spanning approximately 3.4 miles, this unpaved forest road ascends the s...
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Hog Camp Road is a scenic 5.8-mile mountain route through the George Washington National Forest, perfect for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles, high-clearance SUVs, and SxSs looking for high-elevation access. Climbing over 1,200 feet from a minimum elevation of 2,465 feet up to a peak of 3,505 feet, t...
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Big Piney is a gravel road passing through a portion of the George Washington National Forest, offering access to hiking, camping and swimming. The trail is rocky and typically unmaintained after rain or snow. You may encounter shallow water crossings and obstacles under 12" on the trail, including ...
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A beautiful drive, and one stretch of Cove Creek Road even takes on the character of a western shelf road, skimming along the hillside with year‑round, stunning views. A few sections tighten up, but there’s still enough space for oncoming vehicles, making it a scenic and comfortable route for anyone...
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