Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Rio, 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 ...
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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

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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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...
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This route is one side of the old Shoe Creek Trail that is now gated in the middle at private property. The surface is gravel from the state road to the parking area for the Upper Crabtree Falls and is fairly easily passable. There are a couple of small creek crossings with loose rock before the par...
Learn more about Crabtree Meadows

Coal Road is a 13-mile-long forest service road near Shenandoah Acres Campground and Sherando Lake. Any vehicle type should be able to travel the gravel sections, and the road is paved on either end. You will find many hiking and biking trailheads along the road, the most notable being Cellar Mounta...
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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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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

Tillman is a gravel Forest Service Road connecting several other Forest Service Roads to a State Highway. The area includes several reservoirs with fishing and kayaking opportunities. There are several well-traveled hiking trailheads along the route with parking areas. Tillman is a well-maintained g...
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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

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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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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Out-and-back trails are primarily used to access the Appalachian Trail crossing. This is a narrow 2-track that is muddy in places and has numerous short side trails. There are many nice camping spots throughout the length of the trail. Near the start, you'll have limited cell service. The trail cont...
Learn more about Greasy Springs

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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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

Leading ridge track is a seasonal two way track from North River to Todd Lake Recreation Area. The track is natural dirt surface with minimal gravel maintenance in areas. Several hiking trails cross the area. Several dispersed camping opportunities along the track. A large elevated clearing near the...
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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

Edinburg Gap is a minimally maintained Forest Service Road located in the George Washington National Forest. The road is one vehicle wide with plenty of space to pass and can be accessed by either end. The road passes through one shallow stream and an area of rockier terrain but is still accessible ...
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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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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...
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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

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

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

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

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 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.
Learn more about Hog Camp