Looking for medium sized hiking trails in Virginia/West Virginia

[Average American]

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and I would just like to say I am happy it exists.

So here's the deal. I plan on backpacking the Appalachian Trail in about a year or two (I am a teacher and have the summers off, so I am hoping I can do half the trail in one summer and the other half the next summer after that). However due to college and a very busy schedule, I have not done any major backpacking over the past few years and I need to get back into tip top shape. I currently live in western Virginia somewhat near Roanoke and I am looking for some medium sized (20 to 100 miles long) trails that I could do over the coming spring and summer.

Unfortunately I am having some trouble finding medium sized trails in my area. Most trails in the local state parks and national forests tend to a series of super small trails all connected together instead of just single long ones (I am originally from PA where trails like that are fairly common).

Oustide of section hiking the Appalachian Trail and Alleghany Trail in WV, the only medium sized trails I can find are the Shenandoah Mountain Trail and the Fore Mountain Trail. Do you guys know of any other medium sized trails in my area, or do you think I am stuck combing a bunch of small trails together and making a backpacking trip out of those? Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

[tdoczi]

can a loop of the size the OP is looking for be made from the iron mountain trail and the creeper?

[3_dogs]

Look at the network of trails in the Spruce Knob and Dolly Sods areas of West Virginia. You can put together some loops in those areas.

In the Spruce Knob area you can pick a trailhead along Gandy Creek and climb to Allegheny Mountain Trail and loop anywhere from there. You can then descend another trail and road walk back to your vehicle. Gandy Creek is a trout stream, so that road sees lots of foot traffic. Here's a map of the area: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5433335.pdf

Dolly Sods has a network of trails for creating loops. Read about Dolly Sods before you go. Many trails are flooded, muddy, and not always well marked. Make sure to read about Unexploded Ordinance. Doubt you see any. It's rare anyone finds it, but just be aware. Army used Dolly Sods as an artillery training range during WWII. Here's a couple of map links: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5152038.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5090651.pdf

[Dogwood]

Nat Forests.

[Hikingjim]

Look at the network of trails in the Spruce Knob and Dolly Sods areas of West Virginia. You can put together some loops in those areas.

In the Spruce Knob area you can pick a trailhead along Gandy Creek and climb to Allegheny Mountain Trail and loop anywhere from there. You can then descend another trail and road walk back to your vehicle. Gandy Creek is a trout stream, so that road sees lots of foot traffic. Here's a map of the area: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5433335.pdf

Dolly Sods has a network of trails for creating loops. Read about Dolly Sods before you go. Many trails are flooded, muddy, and not always well marked. Make sure to read about Unexploded Ordinance. Doubt you see any. It's rare anyone finds it, but just be aware. Army used Dolly Sods as an artillery training range during WWII. Here's a couple of map links: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5152038.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5090651.pdf

I did a short trip in that area years ago. About 20 or 25 miles, starting from spruce knob, doing a loop or two, and then going back up to spruce knob. Not a bad shorter hike

You could also consider the triple crown loop if that's close to you. Some of it would be AT that you will be duplicating, but that's a great section to do twice and the experience can be quite different in different seasons
You could also get some weekend training with loops around grayson highlands/mt rogers or old rag (shenandoah), depending on exactly where you live and how far you want to go. eg: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/v...onal-park-loop
There are some very nice potential loops in SNP that are IMO nicer than just taking the AT through there

[Average American]

Thanks for the info everybody! I will definitely try out the Iron Mountain Trail (although the creeper trail seems better suited for biking than hiking). I will also definitely look into Dolly Sods and Spruce Knob as well.

In a few weeks a friend and I will be hiking the Fore Mountain Trail (18 miles from Covington to Douthat State Park). It seems like an easy trail to start with. Hopefully later on when it gets warmer and I can try out the other trails you guys have mentioned. Wanted to backpack earlier but western Virginia has gotten 3 weeks straight of rain and occasional snow.

What about central and eastern Virginia? I know there's no mountains east of the Blue Ridges, but are there any possible trails in that area for backpacking?

[Average American]

Look at the network of trails in the Spruce Knob and Dolly Sods areas of West Virginia. You can put together some loops in those areas.

In the Spruce Knob area you can pick a trailhead along Gandy Creek and climb to Allegheny Mountain Trail and loop anywhere from there. You can then descend another trail and road walk back to your vehicle. Gandy Creek is a trout stream, so that road sees lots of foot traffic. Here's a map of the area: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5433335.pdf

Dolly Sods has a network of trails for creating loops. Read about Dolly Sods before you go. Many trails are flooded, muddy, and not always well marked. Make sure to read about Unexploded Ordinance. Doubt you see any. It's rare anyone finds it, but just be aware. Army used Dolly Sods as an artillery training range during WWII. Here's a couple of map links: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5152038.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5090651.pdf

Thanks for the info in the links, it is very helpful.

[Pastor Bryon]

What about hiking the AT? I'm in your neck of the woods; happy to meet up with you to drop off your vehicle and then shuttle you to a start point where you hike back to your vehicle. Pick a section and go for it.

If not, you could combine some loop trails like the Hotel Trail and Mt. Pleasant Loop to get a decent number of miles.

[JNI64]

+1 for dolly sods, 30mile loop highest platue this side of the Mississippi I believe. Some really great campsites, stars are incredible and wild blue berries