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 The White Rocks lookout hike is our favorite circuit in the
Great North Mountain area, that offers streams, different fauna,
and
a wonderful
view from White Rocks
eastward. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Shenandoah
National Park.
White Rocks is also accessible from the Little
Sluice Hike.
Start (from the lower parking area) by hiking uphill on the forestry service
road (FS) for 0.3 miles where you will reach a closed gate and
additional parking for five vehicles. Pass the closed gate and continue on the orange blazed FS road for 0.25 miles to the intersection of the pink blazed Old Mail Path
on the right.
Turn right on the pink blazed Old Mail Path, and be careful to follow the pink blazes as the Old Mail Path can be very muddy and obscured in places.
In 0.2 miles cross Cove Run and continue following the
pink blazed
Old Mail Path as it turns uphill for another 0.9 miles arriving at a wildlife clearing, and the intersection of
the orange blazed Racer Camp Hollow Trail/FS road.
Turn right on the orange blazed Racer Camp Hollow Trail/FS road, passing two more wildlife clearings before the FS road ends, and the Racer Camp Hollow Trail continues into the forest. After entering the forest, the orange blazed trail will gradually descend for 0.4 miles to Racer Camp Hollow Run, and a large campsite.
From the campsite, the trail will head up the valley crossing the run several times before reaching another campsite in 1.6 miles.
From the campsite continue 200 yards to the intersection of the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail and purple blazed Little Sluice Mountain Trail. Turn left uphill on
the blue blazed trail (the immediate blazes you see are the
green deer study markings). After 1.4 miles
arrive at the white blazed White Rocks Lookout Trail that
enters on the right.
Take the white blazed trail for 0.2 miles
where you will pass a high mountain campsite on the right. 0.1 miles past the campsite the trail will climb a steep rock scree. At the top of the scree stay left and continue around the knob to the white rocks lookout. Note: The white blazes on the top of the scree are faded and hard to see. Return 0.3 miles to the blue blazed Tuscarora
Trail to continue the hike.
Turn right on the blue blazed trail for 0.5 miles
before arriving at the intersection of the
pink blazed
Old
Mail Path.
Turn left on the pink blazed trail for 1.3 miles
as it descends Little Sluice Mountain before arriving back at a clearing and
intersection
of the
orange
blazed Racer Camp Hollow Trail.
Continue downhill through
the clearing, that you ascended earlier, on the pink blazed trail re-crossing the run
and arriving
back at the yellow blazed forestry service road in another
1.0 miles.
Turn left on the FS road back to the parking area. |
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