Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Chatham, Virginia

Overstreet Creek climbs from just over 1,300 feet in elevation to 3,250 ft, where it meets the Blue Ridge Parkway. This four-mile-long route is mostly gravel, but some of the steep sections include larger rocks. The namesake creek parallels the road for most of the length, and several waterfalls are...
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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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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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This is a dead-end route leading to a junction of 4 other trails. This route has only 2 dispersed sites. This is a maintained gravel forest service road and is primarily used for horseback riding on the gated trails. The surface is smooth gravel. Cell service is adequate at the end.
Learn more about Middle Creek

Goff Mountain Road, designated as FS 951 and sometimes referred to as Battery Creek, is an easy, well‑maintained gravel road suitable for most passenger vehicles. A few larger embedded rocks appear along the route, but none present significant difficulty for typical ground‑clearance vehicles. The t...
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This out-and-back starts in the valley, and after following along Hunting Creek, it tops out at a gate just past the aptly named Camping Gap. There are a couple of small campsites near the bottom, and plenty of space is available at the grassy clearing near Camping Gap. The majority of the road is g...
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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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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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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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Petites Gap descends the northern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the parkway. After descending a few switchbacks, it parallels a fork of Elk Creek until leaving the National Forest. There are a couple of campsites along the way. Some are large enough for a vehicle, or possibly two. At least ...
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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 ...
Learn more about Wilson Mountain

Peters Creek, also known as Hunt Club Road and designated as Forest Service Road 54, is a well‑maintained gravel road that remains open year‑round. The trail serves as access to the Piney Ridge trailhead, located on the right fork of the road, just after the local hunting and fishing clubhouse. The ...
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Little Otter, designated as FS 322, is a short, well‑maintained gravel road that remains open year‑round. The trail offers an easy and relaxing drive through the forest, with low vegetation overgrowth and no meaningful obstacles along the route. Several signs appear near the beginning of the road, ...
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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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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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Little Cedar, designated as Forest Road 320, is a seasonally open route with access from April 1 through January 10. The entrance can be easy to miss from Cheatham Road, but a small vertical sign marking 320 is posted at the start. A no trespassing sign is also present near the entrance; this applie...
Learn more about Little Cedar

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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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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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...
Learn more about Lone Mountain

Otter Trail is a 1-mile loop that branches off the South Pedlar Trail, offering riders a short detour to change up the pace or add a bit of mileage. Like the other trails in the area, it features a wide tread with well-built waterbars and sweeping curves that meander through dense forest. The trail ...
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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...
Learn more about Rattlesnake

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...
Learn more about Terrapin

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...
Learn more about Piney

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...
Learn more about Lone Mountain

This is a rocky fire road in the George Washington National Forest, connecting Highway 60 to Wiggins Hill Road. It is typically unmaintained after rain or snow and you may encounter shallow water crossings and obstacles under 12" on the trail, including small ledges. The road is typically one to two...
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Hog Camp Road provides access to a variety of hiking and camping opportunities in the George Washington National Forest. The south end is well traveled and easily passable, however north of the Mount Pleasant Scenic Area, expect more rugged terrain.
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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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FR 1176 leads from Big Piney up to a peak where cell towers can be found. The drive up includes several rocky sections, some steep sections and rock ledges. This trail also provides access to Greasy Springs Trail.
Learn more about FR1176