George Washington National Forest

[Warren Peck]

Anybody going up to the GWNF this weekend (Oct 20-22) to see the fall colors in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. All Toyota 4x4's are welcome. The FJ trail team will be there.

The National Forest is located about 20 minutes west of Harrisonburg, VA on Route 33. The campsite will be at the meadow by Skidmore Lake off Rt 33. This is a "primitive" campsite. There will be no porta potties or potable water, so make sure you pack accordingly.

Follow Route 33 west out of Harrisonburg. You will start going up the mountain and hit all the "switchbacks". Going up the switchbacks there will be a left turn (It is the ONLY left turn with a turning lane). From the intersection of I-81 and Rt 33, it is approximately 21.3 miles to the turn. Take that left and follow the gravel road down the mountain approximately 2.3 miles. At the bottom of the mountain there will be a concrete bridge. Turn left immediately after the bridge and you will enter a small meadow. To the right you will see a trail that leads to a large meadow where we will be camping.


Intersection of I-81/Rt. 33 West to the Shell station is 2.6 miles
Shell station to left turn onto gravel road is 18.7 miles
follow gravel road for 2.3 miles to meadow.

 

[Cruiser804]

Are there any decent trails open there? I haven't been in a while but last time I was it was all fire roads.

Should be a nice week end.

 

[ff347]

Please post pics/results/reports if you can! I will be visiting the area the next week and some realtime info would be great.

Thanks!

 

[John Smith]

Are there any decent trails open there? I haven't been in a while but last time I was it was all fire roads.

Should be a nice week end.

Nope, nothing has changed except some of the fire roads are now gated so there is even less wheeling to be had. Old Long Run Rd trail is gated on the church end and Second Mountain is sometimes gated.

If you go it should be to see the leaves and hang with people and have fun driving the fireroads still open. There is not hardcore wheeling to be had there.

 

[ff347]

Looking on the GNWF website, they have a few pdf.'s one of Peters Mill from Edinburg to Little Fort Campground and Taskers Gap are all of these basically fire roads? The legend says ATV/OHV easy.

 

[76FJ40]

Peters Mill is near Edinburg, VA, about 60 miles from the trails west of H'burg. Peters Mill is even more of a fireroad than the trails by H'burg. Porsche "adopted" this trail, graded it, and put in a bridge so Cayenne owners would have a place to wheel. Peters Mill is barely a challenge in the snow.

 

[ff347]

Peters Mill is near Edinburg, VA, about 60 miles from the trails west of H'burg. Peters Mill is even more of a fireroad than the trails by H'burg. Porsche "adopted" this trail, graded it, and put in a bridge so Cayenne owners would have a place to wheel. Peters Mill is barely a challenge in the snow.

Ok, that about answers all that. We are gonna be looking at some property around Montgomery, Floyd, etc. sounds like some of the roads on the property sound more challenging. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[76FJ40]

The wife and I may bring her FJC down for the day on Saturday. What time are you planning to leave camp so I can catch you before you leave?

 

[Riad]

Peter's Mill is kinda fun on snow. Sit back relaxed kinda snow wheeling. I was there last year with 4' snow on the ground with my kids. They loved it. Is dictum open? I can't remember where the 'Dry River ' trail is at GWNF. That can be fun too.

 

[Felix]

Peter's Mill is kinda fun on snow. Sit back relaxed kinda snow wheeling. I was there last year with 4' snow on the ground with my kids. They loved it. Is dictum open? I can't remember where the 'Dry River ' trail is at GWNF. That can be fun too.

To get to Dry River (aka Salt Shed) you turn into the trail head off 33, on the left coming out of Harrisonburg, before you get to the switchbacks. There's a run-down shed just off the road.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Damnt, I didn't see this thread. I would have loved to come up.

Got any pics?

 

[TheGr8Doughboy]

Dang... I gotta keep an eye on this part of the forum... I would have loved to be there. How did it all go?

Chris

 

[VA Runner]

Here are some pics. I would have posted sooner, but had to fly to Denver yesterday, just returned tonight.

As others have said no hardcore wheeling at GWNF, but the fall colors were awesome, a little chilly for camping, but the family had fun.

We camped with some of the Toyota Trail Team guys, away from the meadow where the rest of the folks were.

I will post some other pictures.

 

[VA Runner]

A few more.

 

[VA Runner]

Some more.

 

[VA Runner]

Last 2. Not the best pictures of the trails, sorry about that.

 

[cajun65]

Great pics! Makes me want to go camping.

 

[ff347]

Thanks for the pictures! Just a few more days and I'll be there.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Thanks for the pics. What trails did you guys end up running?