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This is the route I used. I was staying near the trail crossing of VA 42. Follow directions to the AT crossing of VA 42 (See Mile 0.0) near the intersection of VA 42 and VA 629. Continue east on VA 42 for another 2.1 miles. Go left on VA 638 and cross the ridge to Johns Creek Valley. In 4.2 miles at a T intersection, go left on VA 632. This is paved for most of its length except for the last mile or so which is gravel. You pass the intersection with VA 601 and then a sign indicating state maintenance ends. Beyond this point it is USFS 156. In about half a mile, the parking area is on the right. This is 5.1 miles from the intersection with VA 658. There is a sign saying this is Wilderness Parking and that the road ahead is dead-end with this being the last turn-around point. See Pictures for this section (31) for a view of the parking area.
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The marker on the attached map indicates the location of the parking area. GPS N37.3880 W80.4689 The AT crosses the road just beyond the parking area. Northbound to Section 31 is left (compass southeast), southbound to Section 32 is right (compass northwest).
Hikers please help. Any updates on this route would be appreciated. it has been several years since I was there. Use the Submit Information Link at the top of the page. Updated 08/03/19
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5-7
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David Cullen
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Follow Directions to the trail crossing of VA 601 in Rocky Gap (Mile 5.4) Continue down the other side of the mountain for 2.2 miles to the intersection with VA 632. Go left on VA 632 (which becomes USFS 156) for 0.8 miles to the parking area. See next listing for more details about the road and the parking area.
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This is a shorter route from Newport than the one given in the previous listing. However that route is mostly over paved roads. This one is mostly on gravel roads. When I was in the area, VA 601 had a reputation for sometimes being in poor condition. The estimated travel times for the two routes on the Google maps differ by only 5 minutes. 08/03/19
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David Cullen
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See directions to the AT parking lot on Salt Sulfur Turnpike (mile 5.9). If coming via Mountain Lake the directions are the same except that it is 3.3 miles from Mountain Lake Resort to the trail head and parking lot for the War Spur Trail. If coming the other direction via Stony Creek Valley, the trailhead is two miles beyond the AT parking area on VA 613. In this case the parking area and trailhead are on the left. The marker on the attached map indicate the trailhead for the War Spur Trail. The GPS coordinates (N37.3908 W80.5080) were obtained from https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/war-spur-trail .
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The AT can be reached via the War Spur Loop and War Spur Connector. These are SIDE TRAILS. I have not hiked this route, but have checked out the trailhead. I can find no reports on the Connector Trail but the link given in the Directions has several comments about part of the Loop being overgrown. Included in the Pictures for this section is a photo of the map on the bulletin board at the trailhead. The loop splits a short distance from the trailhead. Take the left branch. About a quarter mile from the trailhead, the War Spur Connector goes left. It meets the AT in 1.3 miles. The northbound AT is to the right while the southbound is to the left. When I was there a very old trail sign at the AT junction referred to War Branch rather than War Spur. 10/22/09 Updated 08/03/19
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6-8
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David Cullen
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Take US 460 West from Christiansburg VA, or East From Bluefield VA/WV to the intersection with VA 700. There is a sign for Mountain Lake at the intersection which is about 2 miles northwest of Newport via US 460. Turn (right if Westbound, left if Eastbound) onto Rt. 700, proceed thru the Sinking Creek Valley and up the mountain for 6.6 miles, to the Mountain Lake Hotel/Resort. There VA 700 merges into VA 613/ Salt Sulphur Turnpike (a gravel road). On Google Maps this is called Mountain Lake Road. Go 5.3 miles and look for a gravel parking area on the left. The AT crossing is just beyond this. See next listing for a map.
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At the AT crossing, there's a sign for Wind Rock on the right (northbound AT) and for Bailey's Gap on the left (southbound AT) . Pretty overlooks and lots of ridge walking Northbound, pretty "dry" except in early, wet spring. Rocky downhill trip Southbound, water mainly from springs. Revalidated in April 2024 by Nancy H.
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Cecil.Sink @ vdh.virginia.gov
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Directions from the north (Stony Creek Valley). See Mile 11.1 for directions to the AT crossing of VA 635. From this point continue on VA 635 for 4.5 miles to the intersection with VA 613. Go right onto VA 613. The road becomes gravel, passes White Rocks Campground, and starts to climb. At 1.2 miles from VA 635, go left, staying on VA 613. It is an additional 1.8 miles to the top of the climb and the AT parking lot. The parking is on the right side of the road. The marker on the map indicates the parking area. GPS:N37.4118 W80.5227
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The AT crosses the road here. If coming from Stony Creek, the northbound trail goes left (east) towards Wind Rock and Johns Creek Valley. The southbound trail goes right, going through a very rocky section on the side of Big Mountain before descending to VA 635. If coming from Mountain Lake (see above), the left and right designations are reversed. Revalidated in April 2024 by Nancy H.
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10-15
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David Cullen
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From the intersection of VA 635 and VA 613 ( See Mile 5.9) follow the latter 1.3 miles to an intersection. Here VA 613 goes left. Continue straight ahead on VA 721. I have not driven the rest of this route, but according to the Google directions, go 2.4 miles, go left and then go another 2.4 miles on this gravel road to the trail crossing.
Alternatively, go north on VA 613 from the AT parking area (Mile 5.9) The intersection is reached in 2.2 miles. Go left onto VA 721. Note: According to the AT Guide to Central Virginia, this number VA 734. According to the Google directions is is numbered VA 721. I'm not sure which is correct.
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There is no parking in the immediate area of the crossing, so this should be considered an access point only. The northbound AT goes left uphill towards Bailey Gap shelter. The southbound trail goes right downhill towards VA 635. 10/22/09
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Zero See Comments
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David Cullen
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See directions to the south end of the section (Mile 13.2). Continue another 1.6 miles on VA 635. Look for a substantial wooden footbridge on your left. This is the AT crossing. There is possibly some roadside parking here. A short distance beyond the crossing (compass east) is the parking area for the Cherokee Flats River Access. 10-12 cars could park there.
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The AT crosses VA 635 here. The red marker on the the attached map indicates the trail crossing. GPS: N37.4141 W80.5844 The southbound trail goes north, crossing the footbridge over Stony Creek. The bridge can be seen in the north street view from the point of the marker. The northbound trail goes south. It is difficult to see in the current street views. The entrance to the Cherokee Flats area is the first driveway on the left in the east view. There is a marker for the Cherokee Flats area on the map. Photos of the crossing, the bridge and the Cherokee Flats area are in the Pictures for this section (32). 11/29/09 Updated 08/06/19
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See directions
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David Cullen
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Very limited parking where the trail crosses, but just steps away is the Cherokee Flats parking area. There is an unblazed trail at the back of the lot (by the kiosk) which you can use to avoid walking along the road. Facing the trail from the parking area, take the left trail. It will bring you to the footbridge on the AT. Of course you could use the road as well to access the AT. 03/31/19
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WardandDA @ gmail.com
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The intersection of VA 635 and US 460 is 2 miles west if the the town of Pembroke (via US 460). It is shortly before westbound US 460 crosses the New River. Go north on VA 635. Go 9.8 miles. Just before a bridge over Stony Creek, look for a parking area on the left. There is a USFS information kiosk there. The marker on the attached map indicates the parking area. GPS: N37.41855 W80.6045. The parking area can be seen in the north and west street views from this point.
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The lot has a trailhead kiosk that includes information on Peter's Mountain and a map of the location vis-a-vis the AT. At the back of the parking lot, there is a blue-blazed access trail which leads 0.1 miles to the AT. No signage from the AT, but again, obvious trail and its location so close to the road would make it hard to miss if you were looking out for it from the AT. At the AT intersection, southbound to Section 33 is left, northbound to Section 32 is right. (Revalidated April 2024 by Nancy H.)
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5-6
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David Cullen
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