Tuscarora Trail - River Road to Route 9

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This portion of the Tuscarora Trail in West Virginia is the bulk of Section 11. It is part of Map L and described in greater detail in the Tuscarora Trail guidebook produced by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.

This stretch has something for everyone. Heading southbound you start with a nice singletrack climb. Once you reach the top you make your way down into the Ruth Morris Forest. Be alert for the double-blazing (Tuscarora is light blue) steering you sharply right once you cross the stream. The south bound blazing is not as thorough as the north bound. It is very easy to plow straight through and wind up in the middle of nowhere.

You come out of the forest and continue right onto a dirt road. The dirt road passes some houses and leads you to a private gate through which hiker/runners are permitted to go (or around if it is closed). Please be respectful of the private properties and stay on the road. The trail will veer back into the woods and will eventually make its way down into Swin Hollow and Route 8.

Now you are negotiating pavement for a mile and a half. Traffic is not that heavy here. You cross Sleepy Creek over Burnt Mill Bridge. A nice road climb then dumps you onto a dirt trail behind a house or two and down to Route 9.