GET Guidebook 1b

Edition 1/25/2013

Section 1b
DEVILS NOSE
 WV 9 to Lower Campground
10.7 miles

Devils Nose

 

Parking

1.  North end of section, Spruce Pine Park.  From I 81 Exit 16 take WV 9 west 14 miles to Spruce Pine Hollow County Park on the left of the highway.  The trail crosses about 0.5 mile west.
2.   Audubon Road parking.  From I-81 Exit 16 take WV 9 west for 10 miles.  Turn left on Mountain Lake Road (CR 17), turn right on Audubon Road, continue through the housing area until you reach Maverick Road.  Turn right and follow to the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Area parking lot.  Follow the white-blazed trail 0.6 mile to the Tuscarora Trail. 
3. Same as #2, except stay on Audubon Road to the top of Third Hill Mountain and park at the end of the road in SCWMA parking lot. 
4.  Same as #2, except stay on CR 17 until Lodge Road (CR 9/12) after passing golf course.  Turn right on Lodge Road and follow to top of the hill where white blazes on the left will lead farther uphill to the SCWMA parking lot.  Follow the white-blazed Whites Knob Trail west 1.6 miles to the Tuscarora Trail. 
5.  South end of section, Lower Campground.  Take WV 9 from I 81 for 6 miles, passing through Hedgesville.  Continue to Back Creek Valley Road (CR 7).  Go south for 7.3 miles.  South of Jones Spring go west, right, at Sleepy Creek Road (CR 7/9) for 6 miles, passing the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area office and the registra¬tion point.  Here the road forms a Y.  The Tuscarora runs in both directions.  Go right for 1.8 mile to the end of the road and park.  Walk back 0.1 mile to the access road to the Lower Campground.

Shuttle

 North to south: Go back east on WV 9 for 8 miles, turn right on Back Creek Valley Road (CR 7).  Go south for 7.3 miles.  South of Jones Spring go west, right, at Sleepy Creek Road (CR 7/9) for 6 miles, passing the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area office and the registration point.  Here the road forms a Y.  The Tuscarora Trail runs in both directions.  Go right for 1.8 mile to the end of the road and park. 
 South to north: Go back out the entrance road to Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area, about 8 miles to Back Creek Valley Road (CR 7), turn left.  Go 7.3 miles to WV 9, turn left (west) 8 miles to Spruce Pine Hollow County Park on left of the highway.

Maps

  PATC Map L
USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangles: Big Pool, WV-MD; Cherry Run, MD-WV-PA; Glengary, WV-VA; Stotlers Crossroads, WV-VA

Useful Information
  Emergency - In WV, Dial 9-1-1

Trail Description, North to South

Miles Detailed Trail Data
 0.0  From WV 9 one-half mile west of Spruce Pine Hollow County Park, Great Eastern Trail and Tuscarora Trail enters woods. Cross small stream in 200'. 
 0.1  Turn left and follow Meadow Branch through rapidly disappearing hemlock and rhododendron.
 0.2   Cross small stream. 
 0.4  Turn right and cross bridge over Meadow Branch.  White-blazed trail ahead leads to Spruce Pine Hollow County Park. 
 0.5  Spruce Pine Hollow Campsite on right: four tent pads, picnic table, three benches and fire ring.  In 50' cross white-blazed trail.  To left leads uphill to Spruce Pine Hollow Shelter and a privy.  Trail to right leads past the 18th century Rumsey Mill foundations and a source of water at Meadow Branch.  In another 50' uphill cross the remains of the filled-in millrace that can be traced through the woods to the east. 
 0.6  White-blazed trail to left leads to Spruce Pine Hollow Shelter site and a privy. 
 0.7  Reach hilltop.  Just after starting downhill, Sons of the American Revolution cornerstone.  Enter PATC property here.  Camping permitted.  Descend on switchbacks.
 0.8  Turn left on private drive.  (End of PATC property.  Club has right-of-way only on roads.  Stay on them.)
 1.2  T fork.  Leave private drive.  Go straight.  (Road left goes to WV 9.)
 1.3  Road forks.  Take left fork going uphill.
 1.8  Leave road and go right up a steep ridge on series of switchbacks.  Log book box on left.  PATC property; camping permitted within boundaries marked by red circled trees. 
 1.9  Skirt power line right-of-way. 
 2.0   Trail levels off. 
 2.1  Boundary markings.  End of PATC property and beginning of Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area.  Camping permitted only in designated campgrounds. 
 2.2  Old oak trees on right appear to be swallowing boulders. 
 2.3  Begin short but steep climb on rock steps.  At the top is a view to the right of the Potomac Valley and Interstate 70.  The white-blazed trail to the right lead to the top of Sleepy Creek Mountain and the jeep road to Whites Gap.  Turn left and follow trail as it stays close to cliffs. 
 2.4   View to left of Tuscarora Mountain in PA, Mountains in MD and Short Hill Mountain to east.  
 2.6  Trail passes through area of huge boulders to right and left; some caves. 
 2.8  White-blazed trail to right leads to intermittent spring. 
 2.9  From here to Devils Nose, trail skirts the cliffs offering views of the canyon cut by Meadow Branch. 
 3.0  Trail turns right, limited view to left. 
 3.1  Trail turns right, informal trail to left leads to good view of mountains to north, Short Hill Mountain to east and canyon below. 
 3.2  Trail begins steep descent, informal trail to left leads to view, after hop to boulder, of Devils Nose Canyon area.  After descending 160', white-blazed trail to left leads in 150' to Devils Nose and renowned view of canyon with Meadow Branch below. 
 3.3  Trail turns left.  After finishing climb, there are limited views of Third Hill and Sleepy Creek mountains to the south, as they form the triangular-shaped valley that is the watershed for Meadow Branch. 
 3.4  Cross intermittent stream. 
 3.5  Trail turns right and descends to Meadow Branch crossing.  Limited view to left of canyon below.  In 200', to left, white-blazed Fishermen's Trail leads down steep cliff into the heart of the canyon and dead-ends at Meadow Branch.  Interesting environment with many large rhododendron bushes and old hemlocks. 
 3.6  Meadow Branch crossing site; bridge to be completed 2010/2011.  Easily forded except during spring flooding; a large log upstream has been used by some hikers when water is at high level.  Once across, begin ascent sometimes skirting the cliff. 
 3.7  Trail turns right and continues uphill until it leaves the evergreens and reenters deciduous woods. 
 3.9  Cross woods road.  To right the road dead ends after crossing Meadow Branch.  White-blazed trail to left leads 0.6 mile to parking lot at end of Maverick Road. 
 3.9 to 5.8 Trail winds around several deep ravines with views through the trees of Sleepy Creek Mountain to west. 
 5.6  Ignore ATV track crossing trail. 
 5.8  Trail passes through parking lot at end of Audubon Road.  Continue uphill following Third Hill Mountain forest road. 
 5.9  Trial turns left and leaves road, climbing to top of Eagles Nest Mountain. 
 6.0  Series of views of Blue Ridge to left as trail skirts cliff. 
 6.1  Trail turns right and reaches height of 1480' before beginning a 1.4 mile descent to 960'. 
 6.2  Turn left, rejoining the forest road. 
 6.6  Turn right, Dug Road comes in from the left.  One of the older roads, Dug Road would have been used by 19th century wagon teams to haul coal. 
 6.7  Turn right following Dug Road.  In future, PATC plans to relocate the trail off Dug Road at top of the hill. 
 7.0  Turn left, leaving Dug Road. 
 7.2  Rejoin Dug Road; in 100', turn left, ascend and cross forest road.  White-blazed Whites Knob Trail joins Tuscarora Trail from the left.  Continue through overgrown wildlife clearing. 
 7.5  Whites Knob Trail turns right; reaches Old Coal Mine Trail in 0.2 miles.  Tuscarora Trail/GET continues straight ahead, crossing stream and then turns right uphill, leaving the forest road. 
 7.7  Turn right, rejoining the forest road. 
 8.0  Turn right, leaving the forest road. 
 8.2  Cross intermittent stream. 
 8.3  Cross intermittent stream; in 100' the trail begins to level off, avoiding the steep sidehill that slope down to Meadow Branch. 
 8.9  Turn right as trail descends with switchbacks to Meadow Branch. 
 9.0  Cross intermittent stream and forest road, entering woods, avoiding a sometimes swampy, cleared area.  In 400' turn left onto a forest road parallel to Meadow Branch and see evidence of beaver.  Otter are sometimes spotted on the far bank. 
 9.1   Turn left into woods, leaving forest road. 
 9.2  Cross intermittent stream. 
 9.3  Turn left onto forest road. 
 9.5  Turn left off forest road. 
 9.7  Cross power line right-of-way, diagonally to left. 
 9.8  Enter woods and cross intermittent stream. 
 9.9  Bear left onto forest road. 
10.0 Cross intermittent stream and turn left.  Red-blazed horse/bike trail joins from the right; the red-blazed trail leads to Meadow Branch and the Whites Gap Trail.  Pass red gate for forest road on left that leads to a wildlife clearing. 
10.7 Pass around metal farm gate.  This is edge of Lower Campground; tent sites with fire ring, parking and privy.  No water at campgrounds until Myers Spring in two miles.  South end of section.  Tuscarora Trail and GET continue on gravel road ahead. 
 

Trail Description, South to North

 0.0  Edge of Lower Campground.  South end of this section.  Great Eastern Trail passes around metal farm gate and leaves Lower Campground.
 0.6  Reach red gate on right, continue straight ahead and in 150' turn right onto forest road and cross intermittent stream.  Red-blazed trail to left leads to Meadow Branch and Whites Gap Trail. 
 0.8  Turn right, leave forest road. 
 0.9  Cross intermittent stream and enter power line right-of-way, crossing diagonally to left.
 1.0  Enter woods. 
 1.2  Turn right on forest road.  
 1.4  Turn right, leave forest road. 
 1.5  Cross intermittent stream. 
 1.6  Turn right onto forest road.  Meadow Branch is on your left with evidence of beaver activity.  Otter are sometimes spotted on the far bank. 
 1.7  Turn right, leave forest road, trail stays in woods avoiding sometimes swampy open area.  In 400' cross forest road, enter woods, cross intermittent stream and begin ascent with switchbacks. 
 1.8  Toward top of hill, turn left and trail begins to level off.  For next several miles, Sleepy Creek Mountain is visible through the trees to left. 
 2.4  Cross intermittent stream. 
 2.5  Cross intermittent stream. 
 2.7  Turn left onto forest road. 
 3.0  Turn left off forest road. 
 3.2  Turn left onto forest road and cross stream.  In 150' white-blazed Whites Knob Trail joins Tuscarora Trail from left.  The yellow-blazed Old Coal Mine Trail (350' to mine) is reached from the white-blazed trail to the left in 0.2 mile. 
 3.5  Pass through overgrown wildlife clearing, cross forest road with white-blazed trail turning right toward Whites Knob.  Tuscarora Trail/GET continues straight and in 100' turns right onto Dug Road; one of the older roads in the valley it would have been used by 19th century wagon teams to haul coal. 
 3.6  Turn right off Dug Road and cross intermittent stream.  Trail parallels Dug Road awhile, avoiding severe erosion. 
 3.7  Return to Dug Road.  In future PATC plans to relocate the trail off Dug Road all the way to top of the hill. 
 4.1  Turn left onto Third Hill Mountain forest road. 
 4.2  Turn left continuing on forest road, Dug Road continues straight down hill. 
 4.6  Turn right off forest road and at 1480' on Eagles Nest Mountain begin long descent to Meadow Branch. 
 4.7  Several views of Blue Ridge in distance to the east from cliffs. 
 4.9  Turn right and descend to parking lot at the end of Audubon Road. 
 5.0  Cross parking lot and enter woods. 
 5.1  Ignore ATV track crossing trail. 
 5.1 – 6.9 Trail winds around several deep ravines with views of Sleepy Creek Mountain through trees. 
 6.9  Cross forest road.  White-blazed trail to right leads 0.6 mile to parking lot at end of Maverick Road.  To left, road dead ends after crossing Meadow Branch. 
 7.1  Begin to leave deciduous woods and descend into environment of old hemlocks and large rhododendron. 
 7.2  Meadow Branch crossing site; bridge to be completed 2010/11.  Easily forded except during spring flooding; a large log upstream has been used by some hikers when water is at high level.  Once across, turn right and begin ascent to Devils Nose. 
 7.3  White-blazed Fisherman's Trail on right leads down steep cliff into heart of the canyon and dead ends at Meadow Branch.  In 100’ turn left, limited view on right of canyon. 
 7.4  Cross intermittent stream and ascend.  At top of rise, there are limited views of Third Hill and Sleepy Creek mountains to the south, as they form the triangular-shaped valley that is the watershed for Meadow Branch. 
 7.5  Turn right to descend to Devils Nose white-blazed trail that leads to Devils Nose renowned view of Meadow Branch in the canyon below.  Tuscarora Trail/GET turns left and leads uphill. 
 7.6  Toward top of rise and informal trail leads right to view of the canyon, after a hop to a boulder. 
 7.7  Turn left.  Informal trail to right leads to good view of mountains to north, Short Hill Mountain to east and canyon below. 
 7.8  Turn left, limited view at the rock straight ahead. 
 7.9  White-blazed trail to left leads to intermittent spring. 
 8.0  Trail passes through area of huge boulders to right and left; some caves. 
 8.3  View to right of Tuscarora Mountain in PA, mountains in MD, and Short Hill Mountain to east. 
 8.4  Turn right; white-blazed trail leads to the top of Sleepy Creek Mountain and the jeep road the Whites Gap.  Just prior to steep descent on rock steps, there is view to left of the Potomac Valley and Interstate 70.  Begin 1.8 mile descent from 1260' to 490'
 8.5  Old oak trees on left appear to be swallowing boulders.  
 8.6  Boundary markings.  Beginning of PATC property.  Camping permitted within boundaries marked by red-circled trees. 
 8.7  Trail skirts power line right-of-way and begins steep descent on series of switchbacks.  Limited views of mountains north in MD and PA. 
 8.9  Log book box on right; trail turns left onto forest road.  End of PATC property.  Club has right-of-way only on roads through Spruce Pine Hollow; please stay on the roads. 
 9.4  T fork.  Turn right. 
 9.5  T fork.  Go straight.  Road on right leads to WV 9. 
 9.9  Turn right, leave private road.  Enter PATC property, camping permitted. 
10.0 After switchback, Sons of the American Revolution cornerstone on left.  Beginning of SAR private property; no camping until shelter or Spruce Pine Hollow Campsite in 0.2 mile. 
10.1 White-blazed trail to right leads to Spruce Pine Hollow Shelter and privy. 
10.2 White-blazed trail to left leads past the 18th century Rumsey mill foundations to a source of water at Meadow Branch.  To right trail leads to Spruce Pine Hollow Shelter and privy.  After 50' entrance to Spruce Pine Hollow Campsite on left: four tent pads, picnic table, three benches and fire ring. 
10.3 Cross bridge over Meadow Branch and turn left.  White-blazed trail to right leads 0.1 mile to Spruce Pine Hollow County Park. 
10.5 Cross small stream.
10.6 Turn right and cross small stream. 
10.7 Cross WV 9 on an angle to left.  End of Section 1b.  GET continues with Tuscarora Trail on road across WV 9.

 

Trail Report for this section

GET Guidebook Contents

Guide to Section 1a (north)

Guide to Section 1c (south)