Little Schloss - Columbia Furnace, Virginia


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Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping
13.2 mls
Hiking Time:
Elev. Gain:
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6.0 hours plus a half hour for lunch
2,220 ft
George Washington National Forest
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e.g.. 12000 Government Center Parkway 22035 or Fairfax VA
Park on FDR92 0.8 miles from FDR88/Johnson Road, at the turn and large parking area across from the trailhead.

Little Schloss is just one of the many beautiful circuit hikes that are possible in the Great North Mountain area. Little Stoney Creek is also a favorite with backpackers, with many camping sites along its banks. The vista from Little Schloss is spectacular. This area also experiences an explosion of Mountain Laurel in early to mid June.

From the parking area cross FDR92 and start up the purple blazed Little Sluice Mountain Trail. The trail will increase in steepness, then in 1.0 miles turn down its eastern side before heading steeply back towards the ridge. At this point, there are also several good views of Stultz Gap to the southeast. The trail will also make several switchbacks near the ridgeline.

Turn left/south to go the Little Schloss overlook. This is an unofficial trail and is not blazed. The 70ft rock scramble to the Little Schloss overlook is a very steep.

Return from the overlook and head north on the purple blazed Little Sluice Mountain Trail passing several vistas. 0.3 miles along the ridge, the trail will turn right passing the first good campsite, then enter a high mountain meadow with campsite, and stand of mature spruce.

After passing through the meadow the purple blazed trail continues, now following a wider seasonal forestry road (FR), then gradually descends before reaching the intersection of the orange blazed Bread Trail/FR in another 0.7 miles.

Stay left along the purple blazed trail/FR for 2.6 miles, where the purple blazed trail ends at the intersection of the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail, and orange blazed Racer Camp Hollow Trail that continues straight.

Turn left uphill on the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail as it passes over Sugar Knob, before arriving at the intersection of the yellow blazed Little Stoney Creek Trail in 1.0 miles.

Turn left down the yellow blazed Little Stoney Creek Trail, and in 100 yards pass the PATC Sugar Knob Cabin, and 70 yards past that a seasonal spring. The yellow blazed Little Stoney Creek Trail will continue down the valley for 2.2 miles before reaching the next campsite along the banks of the creek. Pass several more campsites in the remaining 1.3 miles to FDR92, and Little Stoney Creek parking area.

Turn left and hike the remaining 2.5 miles along FDR92 back to the Little Sluice Trail parking area.

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

By: snowman Rating: Date of Hike: Friday, March 05, 2010
Great hike except- if you go in the winter plan for an extra three - four miles (round trip). there is a gate that closes off the forest road. if you park right before the gate and hike up the road to the trail head it works but leave extra time. we hiked in to the spuce stand campsite -very cold/high wind- then hiked the long way out, lots of snow. took us a bit over the 6 hours becouse of the snow. lots of great views.  would definitly do it again but maybe in the summer next time

By: Retired boyscout Rating: Date of Hike: Saturday, July 11, 2009
We did the reverse direction of this hike, and it was awesome. The elevation gain was barely noticeable, which made for a nice long comfortable hike, and the rock scramble at the end was a great reward for the rest of the journey. The trail gets VERY difficult near the Little Schloss peak, the other reviews are not kidding when they suggest wearing long pants (and long sleeves!). It was uncomfortable to push through the thorn patches to get to the rock scramble summit, but it was well worth it. If we had had more time I would have tried to get around the peak as the part that you face out on the summit is the ridgeline behind the hill.

By: Jeef Rating: Date of Hike: Friday, July 10, 2009
I did this hike by parking at the 1st parking lot and then walking to the 2nd parking lot so that I'd come out at my car.  The way in was "okayish" i wasn't that impressed.  I hiked about 7 miles the 1st day and camped at a very nice campsite just off the junciton of the purple blue and orange blazes.

Scenery wise the 2nd day was quite wonderful.  Very deserted feeling walking through waist high grass.  I didn't heed the advice as well as i should have about wearing strong long pants because you are walking through neck high thorns at some points. 

An aisde: I spent all night puking because i got food poisioning so that was not so good.  But a nice hike -> VERY overgrown.  I'd reccomend a GPS so you dont get off trail. 

I did not find the descent from little schlos too steep. 


By: Pete Rating: Date of Hike: Monday, May 25, 2009
This was a nice hike that had a little bit of everything: views, forests, streams, steep and flat.  It seems to be very infrequently traveled and it was nice to get away from the crowds.  It is a good idea to wear long pants - since few people are on the trail, you do have to walk through a bit of brush.  Don't miss the rock scramble at the top it's fun and there is a great view.  Total, it took us a bit over 5 hours, including a brief stop for lunch.

A tip: bring a change of clothes/sandals/towel for a dip in the swimming hole.  It's located very near the second parking lot. The water is crystal clear and feels great.


By: Rating: Date of Hike: Friday, October 17, 2008
Great hike!  I made an overnight trip of it leaving on a Friday afternoon.  I read the reviews and noticed that the trail had been cut recently so that the thorns on the Little Sluice trail upward from the parking area weren't as bad as some had seen earlier in the year.  The trail is still kind of tight in the undergrowth and there were some downed trees that had been cut. There were also some fresh blazes.  The blazers must have been using a small can of paint though.  You can go 200ft or more between some so you have to pay attention.  Getting to the summit of Little Schloss is the hardest uphill on the trip but Sugar Knob is longer.  The trail opens up per the directions once you pass the first couple of campsites near Little Schloss.  The colors are coming in and the weather was cool.  Some of the first campsites have a nice view of the valley that's interesting as the lights come on in the evening.  Didn't see a soul until Racer Camp Hollow on Saturday.

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Late April
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