Virginia Overlanding Questions

[Jglad15]

So my buddy and I are planning to go to overland expo east this year. He is gonna be getting a small lift for his 4 runner with 33’s. For anyone on here that has camped/done trails in Va. Does anyone recommend any trails/camping spots in George Washington and Jefferson National forest that are relatively easy but still fun. I really wanna do Potts mountain. But I don’t think his rig will be built for that whatsoever. I also think Bald Mountain looks like a nice trail. We really want to be in the middle of no where to camp. There rules are that you just have to be 200ft off the trail and a leave no trace policy.

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[taintedsaint]

Peters Mill is a Jeep Badge trail near Edinburg VA. In the nat'l forest. Very easy, I run it with new members of our club in 2wd. Lots of places to camp in the area. Check out the forest service website for more info.

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

 

[Jglad15]

Peters Mill is a Jeep Badge trail near Edinburg VA. In the nat'l forest. Very easy, I run it with new members of our club in 2wd. Lots of places to camp in the area. Check out the forest service website for more info.

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

I’ve done that one! Very easy!! Thanks for the reply!

 

[Rburns1776]

Flagpole Knob via Switzer Lake / Dunkel Hollow road is very easy and pretty comparable to Peters Mill Run. Lots of good camping throughout. Union Springs to Flagpole is a little more challenging and my preferred route, a Step up from Peters Mill in difficulty for sure. Nothing a 4 runner on 33's would have trouble with on either route.

Bald mountain / Big levels is a decent trail and worth doing at least once. Id say its similar / maybe a hair less difficult than Flagpole via Union Springs. That being said, there are a few deep water holes to go through and they can get sink your jeep deep after it rains (the really bad ones do have by passes but you need to make sure you check depth / proceed with caution so you dont accidently end up in a deep one without realizing it). Also, in the spring / summer there are a couple narrow sections where brush makes pinstriping pretty much unavoidable.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jglad15]

Flagpole Knob via Switzer Lake / Dunkel Hollow road is very easy and pretty comparable to Peters Mill Run. Lots of good camping throughout. Union Springs to Flagpole is a little more challenging and my preferred route, a Step up from Peters Mill in difficulty for sure. Nothing a 4 runner on 33's would have trouble with on either route.

Bald mountain / Big levels is a decent trail and worth doing at least once. Id say its similar / maybe a hair less difficult than Flagpole via Union Springs. That being said, there are a few deep water holes to go through and they can get sink your jeep deep after it rains (the really bad ones do have by passes but you need to make sure you check depth / proceed with caution so you dont accidently end up in a deep one without realizing it). Also, in the spring / summer there are a couple narrow sections where brush makes pinstriping pretty much unavoidable.

Hope this helps!

Awesome thanks! That def helped!

 

[Lunentucker]

+1 Switzer Lake to the top at Flagpole Knob. You can camp around the lake or all the way up on the ridge.

Bald Mountain is equally beautiful.
Neither are particularly challenging unless you go up to Flagpole from the Union Springs side.

Broad Run is near Bald Mountain, and while there's no camping along the way, it's a cool ride with numerous scenic water crossings.

 

[Kajo]

Last year I did Pott's, Bald Mountain, and Flagpole with a predominately group of Toyota's with most on 33's.

Pott's was definitely challenging for them but we only had to winch one in the "Rock Garden." We camped at Caldwell Fields last year which was a bit of a drive but a good place for large groups. This year I am going to Pott's again in April. The current plan is to camp in the meadow on top of Pott's. There is also another campground called "The Pines" which is a good possibility if it is open.

Plenty of good campgrounds on the Trail to Flagpole from Switzer lake which can be done in 2wd. My favorite is to the left once you cross the "the concrete bridge". As others have said the drive from Union Springs to Flagpole is the more challenging route.

Bald mountain/Big levels is a fun trail with some deep mud holes. The south end has nicer camping areas from my experience.

 

[Benbean66]

I'm looking to get down to these areas this summer, and was wondering if the trails to these campsites are accessible if I was to drag my overlanding trailer along. It's got decent ground clearance on Timbrens, and 32" tires. Bypassing the big mud holes would be the smarter move, but I'd love to be able to check these spots off my bucket list. Obviously I'd have to check to make sure trailers are allowed first.

 

[Kajo]

I'm looking to get down to these areas this summer, and was wondering if the trails to these campsites are accessible if I was to drag my overlanding trailer along. It's got decent ground clearance on Timbrens, and 32" tires. Bypassing the big mud holes would be the smarter move, but I'd love to be able to check these spots off my bucket list. Obviously I'd have to check to make sure trailers are allowed first.

All the campgrounds/camping spots I have used were accessible for overlanding trailers. One of my buddies has a homemade "overlanding" trailer and he left it at the campsite for Pott's and Bald Mountain.

 

[Arcticelf]

That covers all of my suggestions. Long run Road, north of Flagpole, and the little towns around Suger Grove WV are also fun to go explore if you want more overlanding and less wheeling.

All of the trails at Flagpole are doable for a stock jeep, or a T4R on 33s, Potts is on my to-do list this spring.

 

[Benbean66]

My son and I met my brother in Harrisonburg this weekend for a quick one nighter at Flagpole Knob. I took my trailer and Pete just had his JLU. We went in from Union Springs. Wow, what a trail. Beautiful, scenic, and definitely provided some challenges especially pulling a 2,100lb trailer. But we made it, and the experience was worth the few pucker moments. Highly recommend this trail, and can't wait to do it again.

 

[Jglad15]

My son and I met my brother in Harrisonburg this weekend for a quick one nighter at Flagpole Knob. I took my trailer and Pete just had his JLU. We went in from Union Springs. Wow, what a trail. Beautiful, scenic, and definitely provided some challenges especially pulling a 2,100lb trailer. But we made it, and the experience was worth the few pucker moments. Highly recommend this trail, and can't wait to do it again.

That’s awesome! I’m heading there the last weekend in April! And union springs to flag pole knob is first on our list.

 

[Jglad15]

My son and I met my brother in Harrisonburg this weekend for a quick one nighter at Flagpole Knob. I took my trailer and Pete just had his JLU. We went in from Union Springs. Wow, what a trail. Beautiful, scenic, and definitely provided some challenges especially pulling a 2,100lb trailer. But we made it, and the experience was worth the few pucker moments. Highly recommend this trail, and can't wait to do it again.

+1 Switzer Lake to the top at Flagpole Knob. You can camp around the lake or all the way up on the ridge.

Bald Mountain is equally beautiful.
Neither are particularly challenging unless you go up to Flagpole from the Union Springs side.

Broad Run is near Bald Mountain, and while there's no camping along the way, it's a cool ride with numerous scenic water crossings.

Well we finally went Friday night and it was a blast. We opted to drive home late Saturday since all that rain was coming in and didn’t want to have to pack out in all the rain. But the trip was awesome! Very relaxing. And gorgeous! Even with it being very cloudy, some sun in the afternoon it was just beautiful. We camped right past Switzer the first night. The first site off to the right after the water crossing. It was super relaxing sleeping next to the sound of the stream. Then Saturday morning we drove from union springs to meadow/flagpole knob and back to switzer. Marked off a couple of spots for when we go back. The trails were awesome too. Some nice lil climbs and water crossings. Got pretty dirty too! I would love to try and get back next month!

 

[Maccam26]

Well we finally went Friday night and it was a blast. We opted to drive home late Saturday since all that rain was coming in and didn’t want to have to pack out in all the rain. But the trip was awesome! Very relaxing. And gorgeous! Even with it being very cloudy, some sun in the afternoon it was just beautiful. We camped right past Switzer the first night. The first site off to the right after the water crossing. It was super relaxing sleeping next to the sound of the stream. Then Saturday morning we drove from union springs to meadow/flagpole knob and back to switzer. Marked off a couple of spots for when we go back. The trails were awesome too. Some nice lil climbs and water crossings. Got pretty dirty too! I would love to try and get back next month!

I see you are in the exped club for mattresses lol love those

 

[Jglad15]

I see you are in the exped club for mattresses lol love those

Yeah man!! A lil on the expensive side but they are comfortable for a camping mattress. So I’m not gonna complain. I got it on sale too.

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