West Fork Trail

Dogs Unknown

Most sections are completely covered with loose rock. Serious ankle tester.

This is also where the "Assault on Black Rock" race happens in March. Check it out. It's a hell of a race.

Starting at the trailhead you pass the gate and begin climbing the trail. It is covered with loose rock for the duration of most of this trail, making it challenging to run down but not a problem to climb. After about .4 miles you'll pass the East Fork Trail on the right. Stay to the left and continue up this trail. About 2 miles in you'll hit The Pinnacle Trail junction. The Pinnacle Trail heads out another 1.4 miles to an overlook. The West Fork Trail continues straight and after another .5 miles will reconnect with the East Fork Trail once again. This provides an opportunity to do a loop. The East Fork Trail is much less traveled than the West Fork, but is also steeper, more overgrown, and has more obstacles.

If you continue up the West Fork Trail it will generally terminate at the turn off to Black Rock. This steep trail climbs aggressively up to the summit and then you can continue west to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Instead of taking the left, there is also the option of going straight. I don't think it is a formal trail but it is an old road that is still used as a trail. This will descend for a couple of miles before ending at a creek crossing.