DuPont State Forest

Organizers of the 21 October '01 DuPont State Forest IMBA Epic mountain bike ride obtained permission to cross private property for a short portion of the ride. Because IMBA promotes responsible riding, and because the Forest wants to maintain good relationships with adjoining private property owners, DSF Epic organizers have altered a portion of the Epic ride so that we can distribute a "no poach" route for the general public. The "no poach" route is detailed below. We strongly suggest that prospective riders obtain a DSF map and review this ride before setting out on it. Carrying a map allows the rider who suffers a mechanical (or worse, a physical) problem to easily "bail" and return to a vehicle or to a section of the Forest where help can be obtained. A map also allows the rider to extend this ride if it isn't 'epic' enough! Note that the locations of several access areas are listed in route instructions; this allows riders to start/end in different locations, or to ride the Epic in legs after arranging shuttles. Please remember that DSF trails are shared by many users, including equestrians, mountain bikers, trail runners, hikers, and (in season) hunters. Use IMBA's rules of the trail as a guide to trail courtesy. Mountain bikers should yield to all other users when meeting on the trail.

Getting there: The instructions are written with a start/end location of the Guion Farm Access Area off Sky Valley Road. (directions) With a map, the rider can easily alter these instructions to accommodate the main DuPont Buck Forest and Hooker Falls Access Areas on Staton Road, or the Corn Mill Shoals Access Area on Cascade Lake Road parking lot as start/end points. Visit http://www.DuPontforest.com/ for driving instructions to DSF.

Prologue.

0.00 Leave Guion Farm Access Area to the Northwest (across the field behind the house) (Hickory Mountain Road)

0.25 Stay on Hickory Mountain Road

0.55 Left onto White Pine Trail

0.75 Right onto Hooker Creek Trail

2.00 Right onto Ridgeline Trail (formally Range Trail)

2.20 Left onto Hickory Mountain Loop

2.90 Straight across end of old rifle range

3.05 Straight to the right end of shed and left on Hickory Mountain Road

3.35 Left onto Boundary Trail

3.65 Right onto Guion Trail

3.75 Left onto Rifle Trail

4.25 Right on Sky Valley Road ~75 ft, and left onto Shoal Creek Trail

5.50 Right onto Sky Valley Rd to Guion Farm Access Area

5.70 Leave Guion Farms Access Area to the south across field to the right (Tarkiln Branch Road)

End of Prologue

The Epic begins

5.75 Left staying on Tarkiln Branch Road

6.10 Right staying on Tarkiln Branch Road

6.15 Left staying on Tarkiln Branch Road

6.40 Right staying on Tarkiln Branch Road

6.60 Left picking up Wintergreen Falls Trail (former Grassy Creek Road)

7.00 Left staying on Wintergreen Falls Trail

7.10 Bike Lay down; visit falls, turn around

7.20 Left Sandy Trail (former Grassy Creek Road)

7.25 Left and cross creek on Grassy Creek Trail (former Grassy Creek Road)

8.05 Left onto Joanna Road

8.90 Right staying on Joanna Road

9.80 Right onto Pinnacle Mountain Road

11.70 Right onto Turkey Knob Rd (Sign is missing, watch for cable and signpost)

12.11 Left staying on Turkey Knob Road

12.15 Left then immediately Right staying on Turkey Knob Road

13.15 Straight staying on Turkey Knob Road

13.55 Right picking up Reasonover Creek Trail

14.10 Start reroute section of Reasonover Creek Trail

15.10 End of reroute; ('old' Reasonover Creek Trail climbing hill to right. There is a wet stream crossing between here and Lake Julia.)

15.60 Left onto Lake Julia Road

16.02 Right onto Conservation Road

16.18 Left onto Bridal Veil Falls Road (Note: you're at the base of Bridal Veil Falls-great snack stop and good place to play on rock beside the Falls. If the water is not too high, one can walk upstream on the rocks to the left for a view of the upper falls. The upper falls can also be viewed at the horse tie-out. Crossing the river here puts you on private property.)

16.71 Leave falls on Corn Mill Shoals Trail

17.13 Right, staying on Corn Mill Shoals Trail

17.22 Straight across power line cut (avoid 'dead end' to right)

17.76 Straight, staying on Corn Mill Shoals Trail (Laurel Ridge Trail enters on left)

18.00 Straight, staying on Corn Mill Shoals Trail (Shoals Trail enters on left)

18.15 River crossing (very slippery). Left into woods on other side staying on Corn Mill Shoals Trail

18.26 Left onto Burnt Mountain Trail

19.41 Keep right onto Burnt Mountain Trail

19.46 Keep right

19.86 Keep right

20.51 Right onto Corn Mill Shoals Trail

20.52 Left onto Little River Trail

20.98 Stream crossing or bridge of the left

21.09 Straight (Cedar Rock Trail enters on left)

21.72 Left onto Cedar Rock Trail, climb to power line

21.93 Enter power line cut, turn hard left and enter woods via rock slab; follow cairns (small rock piles)

22.68 Left staying on Cedar Rock Trail (Big Rock Trail enters on right at the top of the hill at this junction)

23.28 Right onto Little River Trail

23.83 Right onto Corn Mill Shoals Trail

24.48 Straight (Big Rock Trail enters on right)

24.53 Right onto Longside Trail (Note: the Corn Mill Shoals Access Area is 0.1 mile straight out Corn Mill Shoals Trail here)

24.73 Right staying on Longside Trail (Twixt Trail enters left)

25.33 Right onto Pine Tree Trail

26.33 Left to Staton Road. Cross diagonally to left to new continuing of Pine Tree Trail

26.58 Right onto Sheep Mountain Trail

27.18 Straight at unmarked intersection

27.83 Right on Staton Road

27.93 Left onto Buck Forest Road (main entrance to DuPont State Forest)

28.33 Left onto Triple Falls Trail, then an immediate right onto High Falls Trail (Note: you are entering a high-use area of the Forest. Please expect and respect other users. Hiker numbers will be especially high for the next 1.5 miles)

28.43 Right staying on High Falls Trail (There is a path to the bottom of the falls.)

28.78 Stay on High Falls Trail

29.08 Right onto Triple Falls Trail (and go toward picnic shelter) (There is a path to the river.)

29.18 Left onto Galax Trail

29.43 Left to Staton Road, then right on highway

29.53 Left into Hooker Falls Access Area

29.58 Around cable at rear of lot

29.68 Right onto Hooker Ridge Road

29.73 Right staying on Hooker Ridge Road

29.78 Right onto Holly Road

31.03 Right onto Staton Road

31.08 Left onto Lake Imaging Road at the Lake Imaging Access Area

31.38 Left onto Jim Branch Trail

32.03 Straight

32.08 Left onto Buck Forest Road

33.08 Right across field (Hickory Mountain Road)

33.33 Guion Farm Access Area

This site produced by Friends of DuPont Forest.

Send comments or questions to webmaster.

Updated by Lynn Harton per 2005 maps.

This site produced by Friends of DuPont Forest.
Send comments or questions to DuPont State Forest Management, Friends of DuPont Forest, or webmaster.