Flag pole knob closed.

[1MOA]

Va 4x4 trails is reporting that flagpole knob itself will be closed due to repeated off trail violations shortly.
FROM ANNOUNCEMENT :
To clear up some speculation on some FB groups: Flagpole Knob (the place, NOT the forest road) will be closed shortly to all vehicle traffic. The boulders some of you have seen will be placed to close off the makeshift trails that go through ”the mudholes,” the areas on the south side of the trail between the knob and Union Springs/Dunklehollow, and Flagpole Knob itself. The knob will still be accessible to foot traffic only. Every existing legal trail (consult the MVUM) is open and will stay open as long as we maintain them, and as long as we stay ON them.

Source of the information is the North River Ranger District station.

 

[Von Hayek]

Boo.

 

[matzell]

This is said, but I see it happen all the time. People that are not educated on how to properly 4wheel. It may be the newer side by sides, I see a lot of that, the Overlanders that do not know, or just the idiots that blaze a trail wherever they want. When people go around tank traps, boulders etc, to go on "their public land" takes the fun away from everyone!

This is just yet another said day.

 

[1MOA]

I called the North River Ranger District Office in Bridgewater this morning. I asked about trail closures or maintenance from Union Springs Trail to Flag Pole Knob to Branch Gap. This is what they told me.
You will be able to go from Union Dam to Branch Gap. Flagpole Pole Knob will be closed to traffic. You can park and walk up. Cutoffs of the main trail will also be blocked but not any trails. There are no plans for the mud pits at this time.This work may happen in the fall. Hope this clears things up.

 

[Jakes40]

we’ve seen other areas. I personally think it’s side-by-side and I also think it comes from the lack of regulation, the Force service does not have the money to hire officers to sit on these trials and they’re not using their volunteers the way they should. One question that needs to be asked is how do they comply with the ADA requirements? I guess if you’re handicap, you’re not allowed to view flag poles view.

 

[1MOA]

They don't have staff at all. They said almost 100% of their resources are for keeping fire road access and fire mitigation and fire fighting. This spring was the first year in a decade that they had no controlled burns. The story brook trail that borders New Market/ Luray has been closed since 2024 because the bridges and the overlook burned during the wildfires and they have not rebuilt any of that at all.
I know we joked that park management by padlock is the easiest solution but I think we are watching it happen.

 

[onemanarmy]

There is no shame anymore and the millions that move to an area very quickly do not care about anyone else...its overrun for shortsighted gains.....nor do they care about the future of anything.
way too many people

 

[Jakes40]

They don't have staff at all. They said almost 100% of their resources are for keeping fire road access and fire mitigation and fire fighting. This spring was the first year in a decade that they had no controlled burns. The story brook trail that borders New Market/ Luray has been closed since 2024 because the bridges and the overlook burned during the wildfires and they have not rebuilt any of that at all.
I know we joked that park management by padlock is the easiest solution but I think we are watching it happen.

I wish they would lean on there volunteers more.
If the off-road community would get there heads out of there Asses and band together we could make a difference but there are to many “It’s not going to help” and ”It’s a waste of time” people out there.

 

[matzell]

I wish they would lean on there volunteers more.
If the off-road community would get there heads out of there Asses and band together we could make a difference but there are to many “It’s not going to help” and ”It’s a waste of time” people out there.

VA4WDA has for years. I was there one winter when it was 2 deg outside and had the ranger take us around and show us what was closed. We all thought we were there to discuss ways to keep them open and clear. This was off rt 33 west of Harrisonburg. I have not given up, but that was a serious blow from nowhere.

 

[Jakes40]

VA4WDA has for years. I was there one winter when it was 2 deg outside and had the ranger take us around and show us what was closed. We all thought we were there to discuss ways to keep them open and clear. This was off rt 33 west of Harrisonburg. I have not given up, but that was a serious blow from nowhere.

Thats the other side of the problem. I don’t think the Forest service wants the trails open. To them they spend money for asshats to drive anywhere they want.

 

[matzell]

I read up a little on this. It appears that the trail is open point to point but the off shoots are closed to vehicle traffic. Not 100% clear on this but did see some stuff on the line.

 

[Land Shark]

^^^This is what I have gathered as well but still not 100%

 

[1MOA]

Thats the other side of the problem. I don’t think the Forest service wants the trails open. To them they spend money for asshats to drive anywhere they want.

That is EXACTLY the way they look at it. The side by sides just made the point that they can't stop them at all just more clear to them. The sawyers at Edinburg VA showed me the Instagram posts from a side by side forum out of MD that had directions and a map with pictures on how to drive through the campground at the top of peters mill and get around the barriers. There is a same post on Flagpole from the same group.

 

[captainva]

Time for an Australia style solution, seize and crush violators. Shouldn't be hard to figure out who's who with flock everywhere...