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.
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Hiker
Reviews For The Little Sluice Hike (5 Most Recent)
I did this hike as a two part hike. We hiked the orange and purple trail as well as a good portion of the blue trail starting around noon on the first day. I carried about 85lbs of stuff on my back the whole way and it was quite the enjoyable work out. we camped in an extremely nice area on the white blaze trail at the top on the north side of the mountain, and the view was spectacular. There was a nice camp fire ring and a clearing for tents. On the second day we hiked the remainder of the blue trail as well as the yellow. That was long and difficult but it was navigable. The night we did stay at the top was a wet one, it had stormed all night so the following day you can bet that there was alot of mud and creek bed on the yellow blaze trail. The only discrepancy that i could find with the hike was that the yellow blaze trail became extremely narrow and cluttered along a center portion of the trail that was about 1.5 miles long. It was mostly creek bed with plenty of fallen trees and small rock slides. Also be cautioned that there are some incorrect blazes posted along alot of the paths so be sure to keep a compass and topographical map with you! Be cautioned that there were some motocross people there quite a while back who left streamers and special markings along the trails so that the 'riders' knew where to go. These are incorrect at some points and if you do follow them, they will lead you away from the trail and miles away from where you are supposed to be. Just pay attention to your blazes (not the signs or streamers) your topographical map and compass and you will be just fine. Overall this was a great hike and it could not have gone better. You may contact me at wtfcanada@gmail.com
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, November 09, 2008
Not much of an adventure. Most of the hike is along an unimproved road. The camp site at White Rocks had a fire ring and plenty of cleared flats. The view from White Rocks was great. Don't try to drive up the Orange Blazed Road if your car isn't 4x4. I'm not really familiar with much of the hiking in the area but there has got to be better.
By:
Mark Rankin
Rating:
Date of Hike: Tuesday, August 05, 2008
This very nice woodlands hike affords a challenging route to complete as a day hike. The view of Massanutten mountain and the Shenandoah National Park from the White Rocks overlook are well worth the ascent. We hiked in a counter-clockwise direction, and it seems like this is better than ascending the rocky Bread Road Trail to start. This hike incorporates nearly every imaginable terrain type. Some good views can be glimpsed of WV to the west from the Little Sluice Ridge. A significant portion of this hike follows forest roads and other abandoned roadways, so this may not be the hike to take for one who prefers a route confined to narrow paths. We did not encounter another soul during the 6 3/4 hours that we dedicated to completing this loop.
By:
Chris M.
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 03, 2007
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.
By:
Scott L.
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, August 07, 2005
A nice walk in the woods, but not much more than that. Nothing wrong with the loop, just that we spent nearly the entire trip under a canopy of trees.
Once we climbed to the ridge line the bugs went away.
Didn't see anyone else on the trail.
A little muddy on the return trip after a previous night's rainfall, but nothing that couldn't be easily handled. However, I could see how footing on the yellow-blazed trail could become very difficult if the water was running a little higher as we walked about .5 mile on slippery rocks.
After the hike, however, we went into the town of Woodstock. Great place. Small town feeling. A real main street. There is a restaurant/antique store/used-book place on the main drag. I recommend a meal there afterwards.
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