Laurel Run - Columbia Furnace, Virginia


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Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping
8.8 mls
Hiking Time:
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5 hours plus a half hour for lunch
2,100 ft
George Washington National Forest
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e.g.. 12000 Government Center Parkway 22035 or Fairfax VA
Parking directions are for the first area and the closed gate at Laurel Run. If the gate is open, continue for another 1.1 miles and park on just before yellow marked trail closed gate.
Note: Forestry Road 252 has private property on either side before re-entering the GWNF and reaching the parking area.
Do Not camp or park on private property.

The Laurel Run/Stack Rocks circuit has some of the best views in the area. The panoramic views along orange blazed North Mountain Trail are spectacular on a clear day. If the first gate is closed just before Laurel Run you will have to park just before crossing Laurel Run. The hike will be 8.8 miles long from this point. If the gate is open you can avoid the extra out and back on FDR252 by parking 1.1 miles further at the yellow blazed Laurel Run Trail entrance reducing the hike to 6.6 miles.

If you park a the first gate start the hike by walking 1.1 miles up FDR252 before arriving at the start of the loop where the closed gate and yellow blazed Laurel Run Trail turns to your right.

Start up the yellow blazed trail and in one hundred yards arrive at a split in the trail. Bear left continuing up yellow blazed Laurel Run Trail for 2.1 miles. The trail will pass through two wildlife clearings before winding back and forth becoming steeper as it gets close to the mountain ridge. Just before reaching the junction of the North Mountain Trail, Laurel Run Trail will pass a small pond on your left.

Arrive at the junction of the North Mountain Trail and a forestry service road. Orange blazed North Mountain Trail will turn left. Take the orange blazed trail for 0.7 miles and look for a white blazed side trail that will take you to the Wil's Point Overlook.

Continue for another 1.6 miles as the orange blazed trail crosses over two more knolls on the mountain before arriving at the junction of the purple blazed Stack Rocks Trail.

Turn left downhill on the purple blazed Stack Rocks Trail as it winds steeply downhill for 1.3 miles before arriving at the junction of the blue blazed FDR252 road.

Turn left on blue blazed FDR252 for 0.9 miles as it winds back around the valley to the starting point of the loop and yellow blazed Laurel Run Trail on your left.

If you had to park at the lower parking area continue down FDR252 for the remaining 1.1 miles back to the lower parking area.

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Hiker Reviews For The Laurel Run Hike (5 Most Recent)
Review the Laurel Run hike here!   Average Review Rating:

By: Southern Preacher Rating: Date of Hike: Saturday, June 27, 2009

Hiked this trail this past weekend with the wife and eight-year old son. The road gate was locked, which meant we had to hike the first mile or so up the road. Somebody had painted over the ROAD CLOSED sign the following: Why is this road always closed? I have to admit that I wondered why as well. The road seemed to be in great shape. I'm not sure why it's closed. The views from the ridge were, of course, spectacular. When we returned back to the main road we turned right and headed further up the road for about a half mile or so. There are a couple of small meadows on the left that were filled with wildflowers. On the way down the road we saw a small bear on the left side of the road. I managed to snap one photograph of it before it saw us and booked it up the mountain. Overall, I enjoyed the hike to the ridge. However, I would have enjoyed it much more if we had been able to drive up the road to the trail head and spend more time hiking along the ridge. Although there were two cars parked down below, we didn't see a soul during hike. Very quite and very peaceful.


By: Rating: Date of Hike: Sunday, October 26, 2008
Great workout going up to the ridge line. The views along the ridge are absolutely spectacular I still use an SLR with film, and I shot 2 rolls. The Purple Trail descending is well maintained, but the switchbacks are a challenge to the knees. Went on a beautiful fall day. Couldn't ask for more. A little hard to find the trail head, but worth the adventure.

By: Rating: Date of Hike: Sunday, October 19, 2008
Let's see, let's do it chronologically:

First, if you have a car with clearance lower than my 06 Civic, be cautious shortly after passing the forest gate at the first parking area - there's a dip that barely brushed my underbody. After that though, no worries, it's a nice road that's in better condition than the road to Mount Pleasant I did last weekend.

It was definitely a good climb, and the overlook gave some good eastward views. If only half of you wants to linger there, don't worry, there are more views to be had along the ridge. The only bad thing about this hike is that all the views are eastward, no westward views.

Right after the first good turn on the purple trail, you should see a good viewpoint right off the trail. Don't miss it! You can photograph Big Schloss, Tibbet Knob, and Signal Knob in the same photo! In fact, you can see fainter mountains further to the northeast than Signal Knob, and according to my google map calculation, those mountains are in the vicinity of Sky Meadows, over 40 miles away! One other thing you can view from there is the Bryce Mountain ski resort.

Saw/heard a variety of animals as they prepare for the season of white.

The only campsites I remember seeing are those that are near the road you took to get there. Not sure why this is rated as a 4.

Recommended.


By: Soloban Rating: Date of Hike: Saturday, March 15, 2008
This was good hike.  The hike up the mountain on the yellow trail isn't too steep but good enough to give you a workout on climb up.  On the map it appears that when you come up to the Y where the blue and yellow trails meet that you will go straight to stay on the yellow.  In actuality, staying straight will put you on the blue trail, you'll turn 45 deg to the right to stay on the yellow and head up the mountain.

Be sure to bring plenty of water if you are staying the night (~1 gal).  You will cross a stream a few times going up the yellow trail but you wont see water again until you are back down on the blue trail nearly back to the parking area. 

The view on top of the orange trail was great you could see for miles into VA and WV.  There are 2 or 3 campsites on top of the ridge.  They will be fairly obvious when you come upon them.

Be vary careful going back down the purple trail.  Its no joke!  When we hiked down there were plenty of leaves, fallen trees and loose rocks on the trail, that when combined with the steep grade that make for good ankle twisters. (My banged up elbow still hurts a week later from a slip ).

The streams in the area are cold and clean, they are quite refreshing after pumping it through your filter.


By: Rating: Date of Hike: Saturday, February 03, 2007
This was a great hike.  The weather was cold and snow covered the ground.  Definitely wakes you up in the early morning.  The views were beautiful. We saw fresh tracks which we believe to be Coyote tracks on the ridgeline.   The downward hike on the purple trail was steep.  The trail description and directions were accurate.  Love this website .  Plan on hiking this one again.

    View all 10 reviews for the Laurel Run hike

Mid July

Early February (photos provided by Patty)
 

Mid March

Late April

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