50 Miles from VA 100 to Burke's Garden

[krishl]

I've done this route by motorcycle several times, but haven't wheeled it yet. It begins on VA 100, near Pearisburg at the junction with Wilburn Valley Road. There's a gas station / bar at the corner, that has a tasty two-hot dog + drink special.

Wilburn Valley Road is paved all the way to Sugar Run Road (which also intersects VA 100), but heading into the forest, the pavement on Sugar Run ends, and there are all sorts of trails in the forest there between Wolf Creek Mountain on the north, 100 on the east, 42 on the south, and 606 on the west. The route shown in the google map leads to 606 near Pumpkin Center. Rt 606 is paved, turn right and follow a short ways (don't remember how far) to Hogback Ridge (unpaved), which leads to Rt 612 near Bastian. Turn right on US 52 and follow through Bastian to Round Mountain Road (unpaved), which leads all the way to Burke's Garden.

The whole route is about 50 miles, and all but a few miles is unpaved, and there are lots of side trails along the way, including alternate routes out of Burke's Garden. The paved roads in Burke's Garden are narrow, and the scenery's worth a loop around the Garden before heading back out.





Chris

[krishl]

I set out to wheel this route today, but didn't do the Round Mt leg. I did discover a new (to me) trail though: Sulphur Spring Fork connects Kimberling to Hogback Ridge and is a sort of combo of Bobcat and Elliott Creek. Map, photos, and report to come.

[krishl]

As a service to SCC4X4, I headed out yesterday to check out this route. It was my first time riding the Jeep on these roads, though I'd ridden my KLR650 and DL650 on the whole route. My experience is that Sugar Run and its tributaries are usually the easiest, then Hogback Ridge, and then Round Mountain. Yesterday I confirmed that Hogback was a good bit more challenging than Sugar Run, and so didn't make it all the way to Round Mountain, but in the process, I discovered another trail that makes a nice combo with Sugar Run and Hogback. Don't know why I'd never ridden it before, but it's a great combo if scenery, creek crossings, and challenging trail.

I lit out from Blacksburg around 9AMish, taking 460 to Pearisburg, heading south on 100 and taking the right turn onto Wilburn Valley Road. Wilburn leads to Sugar Run, which leads through the National Forest on a few different routes. I took the one that leads down NoBusiness Creek. Here's the map of the road and the elevation profile:





The first ~7 and the last ~3 miles are paved. The rest is good forest road, most of which can be driven in any high clearance vehicle. I have even occasionally seen passenger cars that have managed to negotiate the ruts and mud holes. Here's a picture of the road and the creek that gives it its name:



After descending the western side, the road runs along NoBusiness Creek:



A right turn onto 606 and a mile of paved road leads to a left turn onto Hogback Ridge, which is much more interesting from an off-road point of view. Here are the map and elevation profile for Hogback Ridge:





There were many many mudholes. I went through the woods to avoid this one, which was a couple of feet deep according to the NASA-calibrated stick I used to sound the bottom:



Eventually Hogback opens out into a powerline cut, with a nice view of I77 to the north. You can even make out East River Tunnel. There's a sign there that would lead anyone coming from the I77 end of Hogback Ridge to believe the road doesn't go all the way through to Pumpkin Center, but it does.



There's also a side road that goes down to the other powerline towers, and I followed it about a mile to its end. It's narrow, with a steep dropoff and not too many good places to turn around. There's also a rugged looking turn off of the powerline road, which I decided not to explore, but learned later that it's the upper end of Sulphur Spring Fork.

Here's a switchback on the powerline road, and a narrow stretch where I ended up having to do a 5-point turnaround!





At the western end of Hogback Ridge, I had a choice of continuing on to Round Mountain Road and Burke's Garden, or heading on back towards Blacksburg. I chose the latter, taking the well-groomed Kimberling Road back towards Holly Brook and Rt 606. Well, when I came to the turnoff for Sulphur Spring Fork, which the map showed leading back up the mountain to Hogback Ridge, I decided to check it out. To Be Continued...

[krishl]

Sulphur Spring Fork is a pretty little creek, and the road goes right through it 7 times before heading up to Hogback Ridge. From the GPS, I could tell that I was going to arrive at the powerline road, and it turned out to be the "too rough to try" road I'd seen earlier. Here's the map and profile for Sulphur Spring Fork.





Here's a view of the creek from in the middle of one of the crossings:



And here's another view that I just thought was pretty:



After the 7 creek crossings, the road deteriorates rapidly and the last mile or so is similar to the v-shaped ditch that much of Bobcat Trail is. It's steep, muddy, and has a rollover dropoff on the right hand side that added a good bit to the fun.

Once I got back to Hogback Ridge, I made my way back to the western end (again) and followed Kimberling Road (again). Stopped for a hot dog at the little store on 606 near the Appalachian Trail, and followed the Dismal Falls road back up the mountain to Sugar Run, and then Green Valley Road and Eggleston Road back to 460 and home to Blacksburg. Total trip was 135 miles.

[drakan1908]

Wow!! Gonna need to head out one Sunday and check out these trails. Nice find.....

[BULLITT798]

I know this is a old post but my buddy Marvin and I went looking for this trail this past Sunday.

One word..WOW! This trail is definately worth the drive.The view was breath-taking. It is stock friendly accept for the mud holes. Kinda like old Brushy Mtn Jeep trail back in the day.Next to no trash up there and what we did see we picked up.

I will say it is more fun coming in from the bottom on the Pumpkin Center side than the RT 612 side.I followed Krishl's directions and went right to it.If you are bored with the local trails and looking for something different this one will be one you will like.

When the leaves go away we are going back up there to hit some off the spur trails that are legal.Maybe we can get a few of us together and make a day of it?

And one more thing, just make sure your tank is full when you get off Interstate 81 and don't do it alone.

[Scrambled]

Cant belive I missed this. Thanks Jerry for checking it out looks like a great place to take the kids on a scenic drive and maybe even a flyrod to see whats in the creek. Let me know when you guys are heading back my friend.

Later
Sean

[BULLITT798]

Cant belive I missed this. Thanks Jerry for checking it out looks like a great place to take the kids on a scenic drive and maybe even a flyrod to see whats in the creek. Let me know when you guys are heading back my friend.

Later
Sean

Yea, I cannot believe we have missed this trail. I guess we all need to broaden our travels to wheel. The same trails all the time around here local gets boring after awhile.

I'll post when we are heading back, probably the weekend of Oct 9-10 because I have a long weekend then.

Talk you soon...

Jerry

[jeep7342]

Looks fun and I would like to go after the poker run is over, if anyone would like to join me.

[jhowery]

I have run in this are a couple of times. Great scenery. SWVA4W's Road Trip is ito this area. We stay at the Stony Brook Camp Ground on Friday evening at the base of Big Walker Mtn. Explore the area on Saturday and come back across Hogback into Pearisburg on Sunday.