Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Pantops, Virginia

Browns Gap Turnpike, also known as Route 629, is a dead‑end route that terminates at Shenandoah National Park. The route begins as a maintained gravel driveway for roughly the first 10 percent of the trail, with difficulty increasing to about 2/10 due to washouts and channels approximately 6 inches ...
Learn more about Browns Gap Turnpike

State Route 610 or Howardsville Turnpike is an easy and beautiful connector trail going up to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. This route is great if you are looking for an alternate way up to the parkway to access great hikes such as Humpback Rocks, or going down to get to the Sherando Lake Recreatio...
Learn more about Howardsville Turnpike

Tuckaho Road is a short, 0.9-mile gravel road managed by the U.S. Forest Service within George Washington National Forest. The surface is smooth and well-maintained, suitable for full-width 4×4 vehicles, high-clearance rigs, SxS, ATVs, dirt bikes, and even non-4x4 vehicles. There are no major obstac...
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Maintained gravel forest service road. This route includes numerous hiking trailheads. The southern portion of the route has very spotty cell service, which improves in the northern portion. The northern portion includes many dispersed camping areas located along a small creek. The route is well-tra...
Learn more about Cub Run

Crabtree Meadows is a scenic 5.1-mile point-to-point offroad trail in Virginia's George Washington National Forest that is ideal for stock high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, SxSs, and dual-sport motorcycles looking for a mix of gravel and rocky terrain. Starting from State Route 56, the route...
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Dead end route to a mountain pond. This route gradually climbs the mountain and ends at multiple locked gates. The route has some exposed base stone and muddy sections but generally maintained gravel forest service route. The route follows a creek with several dispersed camping areas along the creek...
Learn more about Emerald Pond

Coal Road is an easy, scenic 13.3-mile forest service corridor in the George Washington National Forest, perfect for beginners, scenic drivers, and recreationists seeking access to nearby trailheads. This well-maintained route features a mix of asphalt on both ends and graded gravel throughout the m...
Learn more about Coal Road

St. Mary's Road is a trail leading to the parking area for the St. Mary's Wilderness area. It is a short gravel forest road with little to no cell service and a large trailhead parking lot at the end. One vehicle-accessible campsite is located just before the parking lot along the creek, and another...
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Greasy Springs is a scenic and moderately challenging 4.5-mile out-and-back trail in Virginia's George Washington National Forest, perfect for four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs looking to access the Appalachian Trail. Originating off Rocky Mountain Towers Road, this narrow, single-width two-track r...
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FR1176, also known as Rocky Mountain Road, is an ideal route for offroaders seeking a short but scenic mountain climb that leads to impressive high-elevation vistas in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Beginning at Salt Log Gap at an elevation of 3,235 feet, this 1.7-mile trail a...
Learn more about FR1176

Big Mary is an easy-going 2.9-mile gravel forest service road in the George Washington National Forest, perfect for novice offroaders, scenic drivers, and outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore the beautiful Appalachian backcountry. Following the scenic corridor of Big Mary Creek, this trail feature...
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The Chrisman Hollow Trail, also known as FS 274, connects US 211 at the south end and State Road 674 at the north end of the trail. It takes you to several trailheads, including the Lion's Tale Trail, which offers an ADA-accessible, half-mile trail along the Passage Creek. There are several primitiv...
Learn more about Chrisman Hollow - FS 274

This short offshoot from Hog Camp Trail leads to the Mount Pleasant Scenic Area with opportunities for hiking and camping.
Learn more about FR51-AT

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 ...
Learn more about Big Piney

Tillman is an easy, scenic 5.5-mile forest road in George Washington National Forest, perfect for beginners, passenger vehicles, and those seeking quick access to prime Appalachian outdoor recreation. This well-maintained gravel route, also known as Forest Road 101, winds through a lush mountain lan...
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This is a gravel access route leading to the Staunton Dam, with access to North River Campground as well. The terrain is maintained gravel, but the road is subject to flooding during wet seasons. There are bathrooms with vault toilets along this route, as well as numerous dispersed campsites aside f...
Learn more about North River Road

This Forest Service road has beautiful views of the Appalachian Mountains and 4WD is not required to see them. You will see several campsites right off the road, but there's one with a spectacular view of the mountains at 38.58666, -79.05788. This campsite is large enough for several rigs to set up ...
Learn more about FSR 72 Long Run Road

White Oak Draft, also known as State Route 466, is a short gravel road that’s generally well maintained. The surface includes several large potholes, though they’re typically less than 6 inches deep. A shallow creek crossing sits roughly halfway along the trail. Vegetation overgrowth is minimal, and...
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Hone Quarry recreation area is a dead end trail passing by a reservoir. The trail starts paved from the state highway passing by day use picnic areas and a pay campground with amenities. The trail continues to the reservoir with fishing and kayaking opportunities. After passing the reservoir the tra...
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Little North Mountain WMA has a mix of seasonally open routes that all dead-end eventually. This route includes a scenic, lightly maintained state road to access the area. The roads are marginally maintained gravel with some small mud holes and stream crossings. Be aware that all Virginia WMAs requi...
Learn more about Little North Mountain WMA

Tuckaho Road is a short, 0.9-mile gravel road managed by the U.S. Forest Service within George Washington National Forest. The surface is smooth and well-maintained, suitable for full-width 4×4 vehicles, high-clearance rigs, SxS, ATVs, dirt bikes, and even non-4x4 vehicles. There are no major obstac...
Learn more about Tuckaho

FR1176, also known as Rocky Mountain Road, is an ideal route for offroaders seeking a short but scenic mountain climb that leads to impressive high-elevation vistas in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Beginning at Salt Log Gap at an elevation of 3,235 feet, this 1.7-mile trail a...
Learn more about FR1176

This short offshoot from Hog Camp Trail leads to the Mount Pleasant Scenic Area with opportunities for hiking and camping.
Learn more about FR51-AT

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 ...
Learn more about Big Piney

Tuckaho Road is a short, 0.9-mile gravel road managed by the U.S. Forest Service within George Washington National Forest. The surface is smooth and well-maintained, suitable for full-width 4×4 vehicles, high-clearance rigs, SxS, ATVs, dirt bikes, and even non-4x4 vehicles. There are no major obstac...
Learn more about Tuckaho

FR1176, also known as Rocky Mountain Road, is an ideal route for offroaders seeking a short but scenic mountain climb that leads to impressive high-elevation vistas in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Beginning at Salt Log Gap at an elevation of 3,235 feet, this 1.7-mile trail a...
Learn more about FR1176

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 ...
Learn more about Big Piney

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...
Learn more about Hog Camp