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Length	Difficulty	Streams	Views	Solitude	Camping
13.0 mls
Hiking Time: Elev. Gain: Links: Resources:	7.5 hours plus a half hour for lunch 2,100 ft with three different ascents George Washington National Forest Printable Topo Hike Map (PDF) Woodstock Weather Forecast Graphic Precip/Temp Forecast Current Weather Radar Loop (Java) Garmin (GDB), GPS eXchange (GPX) (What's this?) 3D View of Route!
From:	e.g.. 12000 Government Center Parkway 22035 or Fairfax VA Park at the closed gate on FDR88/Johnston Rd Note: The gate entrance to the GWNF where VA608/Johnston Rd turns into FDR88/Johnston Rd intermittently closes in the winter to traffic due to road deterioration. This adds an additional 6.0 miles to the hike, 3.0 miles out/back to mapped parking area. Check with the GWNF for gate status at 540-984-4101.

A long hike to take in just a single day, the Little Sluice hike is best done as an overnight hike. There is a great campsite on the White Rocks trail, 50 yards from the lookout.

To start, hike up FR88 for 0.5 miles past the gate where you parked and turn left uphill on the orange blazed Bread Road Trail. Follow the trail as it gets steeper for 1.3 miles before coming to the ridge line and junction of the Little Sluice Mountain Trail.

Turn right on the purple blazed Little Sluice Mountain Trail as it descends and rises along the Little Sluice Mountain ridge for the next 2.5 miles. Be alert to remain on the purple blazed trail, as there are several old woods roads that intersect it.

You will arrive at a four way intersection and the purple blazed trail you have been following turns left becoming the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail. You need to make a right turn onto the Tuscarora/Three Ponds Trail which is both green and blue blazed, the greens blazes were used for a deer study.

Ascend for 1.4 miles before beginning your descent where the white blazed White Rocks Trail leads to the best vista of the hike. Turn right and follow the white blazed White Rocks Trail to the vista in 0.3 miles.

After returning to the Tuscarora/Three Ponds Trail, continue for 0.5 miles where you meet the pink blazed Old Mail Trail. Turn right at the trail junction staying on the blue blazed trail . The trail becomes less rocky as you follow it for another 0.3 miles before you need to turn right as the blue blazed trail now turns downhill.

This section of the trail winds through a pine grove before coming to the next trail junction in 1.3 miles. Turn right and cross a small run following the blue blazed trail for another 0.7 miles to the junction of FDR 1863.

Turn right and ascend on yellow blazed FDR 1863 for 1.5 miles before the road ends at a small clearing. At the left of the clearing, yellow blazed Cedar Creek Trail continues downward for another 0.5 miles before meeting the low water route.

Turn right continuing to follow yellow blazed Cedar Creek Trail and pass a small wildlife pond on your left in 0.8 miles. In another 0.5 miles you will emerge onto FR88. Continue down FR88 past Bread Road Trail for another 0.6 miles back to the parking area.

This was the most solitary hike I've ever taken.  Could've been the time of year, but I did not see another person for the entire 11 1/2 miles.  The trails still had snow on them on the west-facing trails, which made the going a little tougher.  Also, with all of the melt water and recent rain, the Cedar Creek trail was basically a small creek itself.  However, the view from White Rocks is worth the effort!  Nice view of the Cedar Creek valley and through Sheffer Gap into the Shenandoah valley.  There are also a few somewhat obstructed views on the Tuscarora/3 Ponds trail when you reach the ridgeline into Racer Camp Hollow (probably fully obstructed during summer).  A great hike for a solitary experience.  Note:  During winter, if FDR 88 is closed, there is another area where you can park your car, and avoid the extra three miles to the trailhead.  From Woodstock, take US 11 north to a left tun onto Saumsville Rd(VA 600).  Follow VA 600 over Little North Mountain and into the Cedar Creek valley.  When this road comes to a T intersection, take a left onto Van Buren Rd/VA 603 (Right continues on VA 600).  VA 603 will turn into FDR 1863, and wil end at a gate near the intersection with two other forest roads.  There is enough room for two, maybe three cars approximately 100 ft. down the road to the left.  To start the hike, go through the gate on FDR 1863.  The intersection with the Tuscarora trail is about 1/4 mile down the road.  Continue straight at this point to coincide with the description on the main page.