Virginia's legal trails
 

Here's a link to most of Va's legal trails. Please don't hold us accountable if they are Jo longer open.

Va Trails

Public Information on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
 

My two cents
"Always have at least TWO Vehicles when you wheel!
Food, water, first aid kit, etc, and other emergency/repair items should be in both vehicles
Travel at your own risk"

Public Information on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

http://www.fs.usda.gov/gwj

Maps - Motor Vehicle Use Maps

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gwj/maps-pubs/?cid=FSBDEV3_000547

The MVUM is a requirement of the Travel Management Final Rule and reflects travel management decisions on each forest. The MVUM displays National Forest System (NFS) routes (roads and trails) or areas designated open to motorized travel. The MVUM also displays allowed uses by vehicle class (highway-legal vehicles, vehicles less than 50 inches wide and motorcycles), seasonal allowances and provides information on other travel rules and regulations. Routes not shown on the MVUM are not open to public motor vehicle travel. Routes designated for motorized use may not always be signed on the ground but will be identified on the MVUM. It will be the public’s responsibility to reference the MVUM to determine designated routes for motor vehicle use.

The MVUM will be updated to correct mapping errors or discrepancies and update travel decisions. The next update will be in January 2009 and occur annually thereafter.

The MVUM is a black and white map with no topographic features. It is not a stand alone map and is best used in conjunction with a Forest Visitor Map or other topographic map. The MVUM is free to the public at each local Ranger District office and at the Roanoke Supervisor’s Office. The MVUM is available on this website and may be printed from your home computer.


Office Hours and Information
All offices are open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Supervisor's Office
5162 Valleypointe Parkway
Roanoke, VA 24019
Toll Free: 1-888-265-0019
Local: 540-265-5100

Clinch Ranger District
9416 Coeburn Mountain Road
Wise, VA 24293
276-328-2931
Counties: Dickenson, Letcher (KY), Lee, Pike (KY), Scott, and Wise

Eastern Divide Ranger District
110 South Park Avenue
Blacksburg, VA 24060
540-552-4641
Counties: Bland, Botetourt, Craig, Giles, Monroe (WV), Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke, Smyth, Tazewell, and Wythe

Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District
27 Ranger Lane
Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579
540-291-2188
Counties: Amherst, Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Nelson, and Rockbridge

James River Ranger District
810A East Madison Street
Covington, VA 24426
540-962-2214
Counties: Alleghany

Lee Ranger District
95 Railroad Avenue
Edinburg, VA 22824
540-984-4101
Counties: Frederick, Hampshire (WV), Hardy (WV), Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
3714 Highway 16
Marion, VA 24354
Toll Free: 1-800-628-7202
Local: 276-783-5196
Counties: Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe

North River Ranger District
401 Oakwood Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Toll Free: 1-866-904-0240
Local: 540-432-0187
Counties: Augusta, Highland, Pendleton (WV), and Rockingham

Warm Springs Ranger District
422 Forestry Road
Hot Springs, VA 24445
540-839-2521
Counties: Bath and Highland



The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

The George Washington National Forest in west central Virginia and the Jefferson National Forest in southwest Virginia were administratively combined in 1995 to form the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The two national forests contain nearly 1.8 million acres; one of the largest blocks of public land in the eastern United States. The forests include 1,664,110 acres in Virginia, 123,629 acres in West Virginia, and 961 acres in Kentucky. The forest headquarters is the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Roanoke, Virginia. The forests include the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and seven Ranger Districts.



The forests are primarily Appalachian hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood forest types located within the Blue Ridge, Central Ridge and Valley, Allegheny, and Cumberland Plateau provinces. The forests are home to:
40 species of trees,
2,000 species of shrubs and herbaceous plants,
78 species of amphibians and reptiles,
200 species of birds,
60 species of mammals,
2,340 miles of perennial streams,
100 species of freshwater fishes and mussels,
53 federally-listed Threatened or Endangered animal and plant species.



The forests are managed for multiple uses and provide many products and benefits. Developed recreation opportunities are offered at over 200 sites on the forests (including campgrounds, picnic areas and boat launches), along with nearly 2,200 miles of trails, and 1,700 miles of open roads. Elevations range from 5,729 feet at Mount Rogers to 515 feet along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. Highlights include:
325 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail,
12 National Recreation Trails totaling 143 miles,
the 140,000 acre Mount Rogers National Recreation Area,
3 National Scenic Areas,
3 National Forest Scenic Byways,
nearly 3 million annual recreation visits,
23 Wildernesses,
700,000 acres of lands actively managed for the production of timber and wood products,
Over 1 million acres classified as generally remote areas where a variety of activities may occur.

From what I've been seeing on Facebook is that the private land owners around shoe creek trail are trying to get the trail shut down, And gated off.

I think they're really just trying to get people off their property and to keep ten from trashing it. Just like other places.

Well from what I've been reading on some of the different groups I'm on. They have been saying the private land owners around the trail want it shut down. They say there's to much traffic tying up the trail during hunting season and the "wheeling people" are scaring off the game. And supposedly tearing up the trail and there land.

The Google map does not appear to still be working. When you click on the locator pins they all say to go use a new version, but the new version does not appear to have correct information on it. Is there another source of this info out there? Who is managing the Google map?

trails still open correct?

UPDATE: As of right now Shoe Creek is closed to motor vehicles. There are gates at the lower trail head (Massie Mill) and at the upper end (top of Crabtree Falls). Only land owners are allowed onto the trail to access their land. The Forest Department is going to keep the trail closed to motor vehicles until the land is able to "naturally recover".

Has there been any updates to this? I'm not finding anything...

Nope, no change. Shoe Creek is still closed to all motor vehicles outside of those belonging to the local land owners. The sad reality is that we most likely will not see Shoe Creek become open to public use (vehcle wise that is since you can hike it).

Pins aren't working. Just got a Jeep about 3 weeks ago went around tn. Just wanting to know any in VA. I know some down in NC.