Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Pennington Gap, Virginia

Select a location:

Trail 10

You can expect a nice easy cruise up the mountain. It is a fairly gradual grade increase with occasional sections of loose rocks along the way. During the fall it seemed as though the trail…
Learn more about Trail 10
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Clinch Mountain Fire Tower

This trail goes up and over Clinch Mountain and descends into Moccasin Valley. There are many vistas along the way, both ascending and descending the mountain. The surrounding area is full of history and places…
Learn more about Clinch Mountain Fire Tower
Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Trail 23 - Flatwoods Road

Trail 23 is the main artery for the Dorton/Flatwoods Area of the new Pike County Hillbilly Trails System. Trail 23 is a wide, graded dirt and gravel access road for an array of utilities and…
Learn more about Trail 23 - Flatwoods Road
Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Jennings Creek Road

Jennings Creek Road travels along the border of Cherokee National Forest between the Horse Creek Recreation Area and the Old Forge NF Campground. The campground has walk-in sites with a parking lot only 10 to…
Learn more about Jennings Creek Road
Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa

Decoy-Magoffin Loop

As with many trails in the under-development system that will become Eastern Kentucky's expansive off-road trail offerings, this route is a DIY adventure created by locals that know these mountains like the backs of their…
Learn more about Decoy-Magoffin Loop
Total Miles
27.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Big Clifty Road

Big Clifty is a mild introduction to the forest roads in the area. This seven-mile track climbs to the Meadow View Lookout Tower and is easily traversed by a 2WD vehicle. Cell service is available…
Learn more about Big Clifty Road
Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Meadow Creek Tower Road

This short two-mile trail is a great quick route to visit the tower. It's relatively tame outside of a few sections with larger rocks. When paired with Big Clifty, it makes for a nice 10-mile…
Learn more about Meadow Creek Tower Road
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Hurricane Gap

Hurrican Gap is a well-maintained gravel road that travels from the Houston Valley area to just outside of Hot Springs, NC. While it's not particularly challenging, there are some great side trips along the way.…
Learn more about Hurricane Gap
Total Miles
8.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Paint Mountain Road

Paint Mountain is a great way to connect Hurricane Gap to the east, with some of the other roads and trails west of this area. It's 1 to 1.5 cars wide and outside of a…
Learn more about Paint Mountain Road
Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa

Brush Creek Road

Brush Creek starts out as a narrow paved road, but once it meets the western end of Weaver's Bend it transitions to gravel. This is a beautiful drive and the namesake creek parallels the road…
Learn more about Brush Creek Road
Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Weaver Bend

Weaver Bend Road runs from its intersection with Brush Creek to the French Broad River. It transitions from gravel to dirt. Along the road, there are several marked campsites including several riverside. At it's namesake…
Learn more about Weaver Bend
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Rich Mountain Lookout

This short route is a must-see if you're in the area. If you're traveling Hurricane Gap it's well worth the detour. There area few campsites on the way up the mountain. Cell service is available,…
Learn more about Rich Mountain Lookout
Total Miles
1.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Hall Top Road

Hall Top climbs 1,500 feet over the five-mile route from the rhododendron shaded valley to the rocky peak above. The majority of the route is maintained, but some of the steeper sections are rocky and…
Learn more about Hall Top Road
Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Hall Top Spur

The Hall Top Spur allows access to the Hall Top Fire Tower, Big Fill Road, and Rocky Top Road from the eastern border of this section of Cherokee National Forest. The road climbs steeply from…
Learn more about Hall Top Spur
Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

No Business Knob

No Business Knob is a tight but simple trail located in Cherokee National Forest. You will most likely get pinstripes from the branches lining the trail in an SUV or Truck. The trail is just…
Learn more about No Business Knob
Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Flatwoods Road 87D

This is mainly a gravel trail with several muddy spots. The trail is mainly flat but does have rolling hills to travel through. I encountered several mud holes but none of which are of any…
Learn more about Flatwoods Road 87D
Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

5583

The trail at the time was snow-covered (approximately 3-4 inches) but it is mostly a dirt/mud trail. I didn't encounter anything that a normal 4x4 couldn't handle. The trail from the road is mostly uphill.…
Learn more about 5583
Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

Main Forest Road

Main Forest Road runs from the entrance to Chuck Swan State Forest until it meets Forks of River Road, which will take you to the very end of this route. It's relatively smooth in comparison…
Learn more about Main Forest Road
Total Miles
13
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Gulf Road

Gulf Road is a great route to take to gain access to some of the tracks at higher elevations. From here you can head up to Max Patch, explore Martha Sundquist State Forest, head out…
Learn more about Gulf Road
Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Lost Creek & Clear Creek

This route provides a bit more challenge and adrenaline than the majority of the roads in Chuck Swan WMA, but still keeps it well within the capabilities of most stock and slightly modified 4x4s. Along…
Learn more about Lost Creek & Clear Creek
Total Miles
5.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Flatwoods Road to 87A

Running Flatwoods road from Hickory Tree TN to HWY 421. This includes a section of Forest Service Road 87A when open. The main route is open year-round and is a combination of gravel and unimproved…
Learn more about Flatwoods Road to 87A
Total Miles
22.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Mossy Springs

This route traverses from the southern portions of Chuck Swan WMA to one of the more remote areas on the northern border. Along this route you'll find some easy but fun roads, a natural freshwater…
Learn more about Mossy Springs
Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Brown Gap Road

This route will take you from the higher elevations back towards Hartford. It generally a mild road, but a few sections include ruts and mud holes that might be more challenging during rainy weather. Be…
Learn more about Brown Gap Road
Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Big Loop & Big Springs

This loop gives you a bit of everything there is to see in Chuck Swan WMA. This route is slightly rougher than Main Forest Rd, but still passable by capable 2WD vehicles except during the…
Learn more about Big Loop & Big Springs
Total Miles
15
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Creek Side Scenic Drive

This beautiful "Creek-Side Dirt trail is a must if you like driving on forest roads and you like the view/sound of the roaring creeks. If you ever plan to go to Max Patch (360 views…
Learn more about Creek Side Scenic Drive
Total Miles
6.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Old Buzzard Roost Road

Old Buzzard Roost Road is a nice adventure just a few miles from the interstate. You'll travel under the shadow of Mt. Sterling as you cross a few creeks and traverse switchbacks until you reach…
Learn more about Old Buzzard Roost Road
Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Buzzard Roost Road

While not as exciting in terrain as the closely named Old Buzzard Roost Road, this route has some amazing views and other interesting features. It's mostly gravel with a few sections that hold water or…
Learn more about Buzzard Roost Road
Total Miles
10.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Cataloochee Turnpike to Big Creek

Gravel Road through the GSMNP Cataloochee area to Big Creek. The road is suitable for most vehicles, but higher clearance is recommended due to some rocky areas. The road will close during big weather events…
Learn more about Cataloochee Turnpike to Big Creek
Total Miles
10.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Old Fincastle/Big Andy Ridge

This is an awesome scenic trail. You can skip the Old Fincastle section if you just want an easy drive through the Red River Gorge.
Learn more about Old Fincastle/Big Andy Ridge
Total Miles
13.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Jacobs Creek

This is a combination of gravel and dirt. It starts in the Jacobs Creek area and travels through the Cherokee National Forest from TN into VA. There are a few camping locations along the way,…
Learn more about Jacobs Creek
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi