FSR 72 Long Run Road

Got the the T intersection and it started raining buckets. Turned into a really run ride with some muddy ruts to go through. Great, easy ride!

Very icy, take it slow around corners and you will be fine with 4x4. Only saw 2 other vehicles the whole time.

Headed up the mountain about 4 pm, snow and ice along the trail, definitely want to take it slow, very doable solo but recommend bringing a buddy to follow or lead.

Very easy trail with a few shallow water crossings. One or two of the water crossings start with a steep descent and end with a steep ascent so a higher clearance vehicle will help to avoid rubbing/scraping. if you enter from the Virginia side you will likely exit in West Virginia with little to no cell service so make sure to download maps from the trail exit.

I ran the entire length of this trail and it was open. There is a gate where it intersects with vepco rd. I called the forest service before I came up and they said this road should be open. This trail goes through a large section of private property which is owned by a hunt club. There is a right of way through this property and as long as you stay on the trail you are perfectly fine. I highly suspect that people from the hunt club sometimes close (but not lock) the gate to discourage others from coming up there. My advice is before coming, call the forest service to confirm that this trail should be open. If you see a gate, check whether it is actually locked or not. If the forest service intends for the road to be closed, they will properly secure it. The western section past vepco rd is a nice level 2 trail with elevation changes, ruts, rocks, mud puddles, etc. but nothing difficult. There are a few campsites especially towards the northern end. I passed a few hunters, and surprisingly a couple cyclists.

Gate is closed on Hopkins Gap rd end.

Starting at the southern or eastern end beside the church, the road is comfortably wide, has well-graded gravel, and has had recent maintenance. Any vehicle can easily traverse this part. No one was at the guard shack. Once you intersect Dictum Ridge, the trail becomes a level 2, and it is not as well-maintained. The branches and briars in this longer section may cause minor pin-striping in the tight spots later in the spring/summer. The views are great! We only saw one other vehicle on the trail, and two vehicles parked at campsites.

Went after a rain the day before so mud puddles were all over the place

I only used part of this trail to exit the forest, from Vepco Rd going east to Hopkins Gap Rd. I just wanted to make it clear that this eastern section of the trail is graded and gravel. Please be careful and avoid the temptation to go too fast, especially around the blind hairpins, where you could end up meeting someone else doing the same.