Dry Run Trail
Posted by Chris | Filed under Trail Information, Western Virginia
Total Distance: 9 miles
Location/Directions: Dry Run Trail may be accessed in two places. The first access is at the end of FDR 339. From route 220 North turn right onto Cypress street from Covington. At the end of Cypress Street the road becomes dirt. This is the beginning of FDR 339. The trail begins at the end of the road. The second access is on FDR 125 (Dolly Ann). From Route 220 north turn right onto Doll Ann Drive. Turn right at the yield sign and follow this road to where the travel road begins. This is FDR 125. There is a wildlife clearing on the left about four miles north up FDR 125 at the intersection of FDR 148 and FDR 125. Parking is available in this area.
Difficulty: Most Difficult
Elevation Gain: N/A
Maps: N/A
Finding the Trailhead: Parking is available at the end of FDR 339 (gate closed seasonally) and at the intersection of FDR 125 and FDR 448. The trail beings at the end of FDR 448 and ends at the intersection of FDR 448 (Fore Mountain Trail) on top of Fore Mountain. The trail is marked with orange plastic diamonds.
The Hike: Dry Run Trail begins at the end of FDR 339 and winds down to Dry Run where it crosses the creek for the first time. The trail follows Dry Run up the drain to the boundary of the Dolly Ann Special Management Area. It crosses Dry Run twice and both are shallow easy crossings. Pieces of this section are well maintained while in some stretches water flows down the trail.
An old road begins at the boundary of Dolly Ann Special Management Area and continues to a gate on FDR 125D.
This section of the trail is a relatively easy hike with great views of Big Knob and Bald Knob, two of the highest points in the Allegheny Mountains. The trail runs along the side of the mountains and through a couple wildlife clearings before reaching a Forest Service gate on FDR 125D. The orange plastic diamonds that have marked the trail stop at this gate. From the gate the trail is easy to follow as it follows FDR 125D and FDR 125 (Dolly Ann). This is a steep section of the trail that is used primarily by four wheel drive vehicles and is muddy after rain.
At the intersection of FDR 125, the trail crosses the road and continues up to the top of Fore Mountain on FDR 448. This is also a four wheel drive road that is only opened for disabled hunters during hunting season. The hike to the ridge top is a steady easy climb where inclines are never above ten percent. The trail ends at the intersection with Fore Mountain Trail at the top of Fore Mountain.
There are a couple short stretches of the trail that are in need of improvement, but overall the trail is in excellent shape. This hike should take approximately four to five hours to complete and can be hiked in either direction.
