The managing agency for the Devil's Fork Loop Trail itself is the Clinch Ranger District of the Jefferson National Forest. GPS: 36.81768, -82.62490 (GPS Driving Directions May Be Unreliable)
Dungannon, Virginia 24245
Description:
***VERY EXTREME HIKE***
****HIGH CHANCE OF GETTING LOST****
*****DO NOT ATTEMPT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A LEISURELY DAY HIKE*****
***IMPORTANT***
*****THE ROAD TO THE
PARKING LOT IS VERY RUTTED AND IS NOT ACCESSIBLE BY ALL VEHICLES, HIGH CLEARANCE AND 4WD IS NEEDED. YOU CANNOT PARK ALONG THE ROAD AND WALK BECAUSE THE PROPERTY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD IS POSTED, YOU MUST GET TO THE PARKING AREA AT THE END OF THE ROAD.******
The Devils Fork Loop Trail provides an impressively beautiful route through an old-growth hemlock and rhododendron forest. The trail is EXTREMELY challenging, with as many as 18 stream crossings (at the height of the winter thaw), a 1,200-foot elevation change and many opportunities to lose the trail. Be sure to bring enough water or water filter for this strenuous hike; there are no facilities on or near the trail. Amazing rock formations, waterfalls, swimming holes and mountain views give you plenty to see and do, but keep one eye on the trail, as the going can be rough. Although the trail follows yellow blazes for its entire 7 miles, poor maintenance means it is often difficult to find the blazes and the path, which, in several places, scrambles over large rocks or up very steep cliff faces. Though the past several years many groups including the High K**b Conservation Agency, Boy Scouts of America, and Clinch Coalition, have helped in cleaning the trail and re-marking the blazes but still use CAUTION! The western leg of the loop follows the Devils Fork, and your first crossing is about 0.25 mile from the parking lot. This, like many of the trail's water crossings, has very slippery rocks and seasonally changing water levels. After this, the trail breaks in two directions. The less strenuous route is to the left, following the loop clockwise. This also lets you hit the highlights of the trail much earlier. The only hint that you are on a rail-trail is the abandoned coal car that sits on the trail about halfway up Little Mountain. In fact, the western side of the loop is the only portion on an old rail bed. This railroad was used to transport logs and coal, and thus the corridor is not as wide as a standard-gauge railway, and the grade is much steeper, which provided the trains with better access to these resources. The trail's main attraction is Devils Bathtub, located just 1.5 miles from the start. The rushing water of Devils Fork shoots out of the soft sandstone and swirls quickly through this stone luge, plummeting into a beautiful pool of blue-green water. Another trail highlight, shortly after Devils Bathtub, is the 50-foot waterfall at the mouth of Corder Hollow. The trail enters a very different landscape as you leave the Devils Fork and begin hiking along the ridges of several mountains. The forest has little underbrush and the path can be easily lost. Your adventure concludes on an old logging road with about a mile of steep switchbacks to the loop's end, where you cross Devils Fork for the last time. There are primitive camping facilities near the parking lot. You can continue hiking by taking the Straight Fork Ridge Trail (1.8 miles) via the parking lot. The scenery on Straight Fork Ridge is similar to the Devils Fork Loop Trail, but the latter is considered the more interesting of the two trails. Parking and Trail Access:
From US Alternate Hwy. 58, take State Route 72 south toward Fort Blackmore. In Dungannon, SR 72 merges with SR 65. Just before they separate in Fort Blackmore, take SR 619 to the right. Alternatively, you can take US 23/58/421 (Daniel Boone Heritage Hwy.) toward Gate City. In Gate City, continue going straight as the road becomes East Jackson Street and, ultimately, SR 71. Head east on SR 71 for a little over a mile. From here, take SR 72 to the left toward Fort Blackmore. Shortly after SR 65 and SR 72 merge, turn left onto SR 619 then follow SR 653 for a short segment; when they break, look for the Devils Fork sign where SR 619 takes a sharp left and becomes Forest Road 619 (there is no street sign). Travel over the one-lane bridge and turn left just before the abandoned white house. Follow this unmarked dirt road to the end, where you will find parking for the trail. The road to the parking lot is very rutted and may not be accessible by all vehicles. You will pass the trailhead on your right just before you reach the parking lot; there are also stairs up to the trail from the parking lot.
