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Solid access to the IMT ridgeline.


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Map Key

2.5

Miles

4.0

KM

Singletrack

3,644' 1,111 m

High

2,964' 904 m

Low

707' 215 m

Up

102' 31 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (4°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Description

If you want to ride trail to Iron Mountain, Beartree is a good way to do it, with more friendly grades than most of the other access points.

To get to this trailhead, take Beartree Gap Road toward the campground. As you turn in from US 58, you'll see the trail on the left. Look for the first lot on the right, outside the main gate. Roll back to the trail on pavement to start the ride.

From the campground, this trail is all up, but has several breaks in the climb. The last mile or so is the most mellow. The length of this trail partly follows a decently-aligned old road bed, but the forest has grown back to tighten the corridor. The tread has some rocky sections. The crux of this trail is about 1.25 mi where it heads up its steepest section. Here, it is ditched and very rocky. Remember this area when going down this trail as well.

An intersection with "Yancy" is about a mile in (stay left). Near the top is another trail intersection with Shaw Gap. This approaches on the right after a short downhill. Stay left there as well and the IMT will be right there.

Contacts

Shared By:

Paul Stahlschmidt

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 8 votes

#6446

Overall
  4.6 from 8 votes
5 Star
63%
4 Star
38%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
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1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#133

in Virginia

#6,446

Overall
2 Views Last Month
629 Since Apr 10, 2014
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Started our ride from Beartree Camp, Trail is to the left as you turn off of 58. Clean trail, mostly climbing until the last mile or so. Took this to Iron Mountain then to Beech Trail back to 58 then Creeper Trail back to Damascus. About 14 miles and fun.
Aug 26, 2020 near Chilhowie, VA
Beartree Gap/IMT intersection.
Apr 6, 2018 near Chilhowie, VA
Shaw Gap
Apr 19, 2014 near Chilhowie, VA
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