Allegheny Trail

HOW TO WALK AROUND THE GAP IN SECTION 4 OF THE ALLEGHENY TRAIL

Doug Wood, Trail Coordinator for Sect. 4

304-755-0440  CHINGWE@peoplepc.com 

These instructions are based on the 3rd edition of the Allegheny Trail Hiking Guide, not the 2nd edition. The description is from north to south.

ROUTE A north to south:

            This is probably the shortest route of the three choices given, but none have been accurately measured.  Follow the ALT to Slashlick Run (MP 11.91 N-S of Section 4 NORTH in the “Hiking Guide to the Allegheny Trail” textual description booklet) and turn R off of the trail and follow the old road all the way downstream to WV Rt. 92.  Turn L (south) on WV 92 and follow into White Sulphur Springs.  Turn R. onto U.S. Rt. 60 (west) and follow less than 1 mile to Tuckahoe or Dry Run Rd. on L at a large gas station also on L (the name of the road keeps changing at the whim of the WVDOH sign crews).  Turn L onto this secondary road and follow for 6-8 miles or so to Rt. 50/2 on L.  Turn L onto 50/2 and climb Allegheny Mtn. to a fork in the road.  This is VA Rt. 602, although it is likely unmarked as such.  Turn L at fork and continue to crest then down to a hollow and an intersection with another road on the R (VA Rt. 603, probably unmarked).  Turn R and follow 603 past Slaty Mtn. Nature Preserve (may not notice the sign) to an intersection with a hard road in an “L” shaped curve.  Remain straight, passing onto the hard road, soon crossing a bridge over Back Creek.  Continue straight at an intersection with a road on the L and eventually walk onto WV Rt. 3 and WV/VA Rt. 311 intersection at Sweet Springs, WV.  Cross the highway and begin climbing Peters Mtn. on VA Rt. 311 southward.  After crossing the mtn. you will reach Paint Bank, VA.  Turn R on VA Rt. 18 beside the COUNTRY STORE and follow to Laurel Branch, WV and Crowder Rd on the R.  Turn R. onto Crowder Rd at MP 00.00 N-S of Section 4 SOUTH DISJUNCT.

ROUTE B north to south:

            Atop Allegheny Mtn. south of Smith Knob (MP 08.17 N-S of Section 4 NORTH in the “Hiking Guide to the Allegheny Trail” textual description booklet), turn L onto an old woods road and off of the ALT, which goes R onto the old road.  This grassy road to the L drops into a gap of Panther Ridge and you must turn R somewhere in this gap to continue down into Big Run.  I have not been in this hollow for many years.  Eventually, on old & newer Forest Service roads, you will make your way down Big Run along Forest Service Rd 800 to VA Rt 661.  Turn R onto 661 and follow for approx. 1 mi. to the I-64 UNDERPASS.  Walk along the road under the interstate and turn L at a junction with another road.  Follow down to Callaghan and turn L onto U.S. Rt 60 following Dunlap Ck. downstream to Humpback covered bridge and VA Rt 600 on R.  Turn R and follow 600 for several miles to an intersection in a lowgap in Peters Mtn.  Turn L onto VA Rt 613 (probably unmarked) and climb for a couple of tenths of a mile or so, then drop down the other side, then turn R off of 613 onto Forest Service Rd 350 (may be unmarked).  Follow FS 350 for almost 10 miles to VA Rt 18 along Potts Ck.  Turn R onto 18 and follow into Paint Bank at a jct with VA Rt 311.  Turn L onto 311 for a short distance then R back onto 18 at a COUNTRY STORE.  Follow the rest of the directions given under Route A.

ROUTE C north to south:

            Beforehand, call Paul O’Connor to get permission to hike down Jones Hollow to Hoke Chapel United Methodist Church.  You can contact me to get Paul’s number.  Paul owns the lower portion of the old road along which you will hike.  This is a pleasant hike and I am more familiar with it than the Big Run route on Route B.  With permission granted, at a crossroads of dirt-surfaced roads in a gap of Allegheny Mtn. (MP 05.84 N-S of Section 4 NORTH in the “Hiking Guide to the Allegheny Trail” textual description booklet), turn L down Jones Hollow Rd off of the Allegheny Trail.  Follow this old road for approx. 4 miles to Hoke Chapel and VA Rt 661.  Turn R onto 661 and follow to theI-64 UNDERPASS.  Follow instructions given in Route B above.

ROUTES A & B give the southbound hiker opportunity to rest up at Smith Knob Shelter before leaving the Allegheny Trail for road walking around the gap in Section 4.

ROUTE A is likely the shortest route, but has fewer opportunities for emergency bivouac on public land until in the vicinity of Allegheny Mtn. east of White Sulphur Springs, WV. 

If you want to help complete the ALT in the gap, contact me and volunteer your time and elbow grease.  Thanks.