North River Gorge Trail
Length: 4.5 miles (one-way; car shuttle or turn-around required)
Starting location: We recommend you begin at the parking area for the Wild Oak National Recreation Trail on FDR 95. From Bridgewater, VA, travel 4.0 miles south on Rt. 42. Turn right onto Rt. 809 (becomes 747 Mossy Creek Rd). Go 3.4 miles to Mt. Solon and turn right onto Rt. 731, Natural Chimneys Rd. Travel 1.0 mile, turn left onto North River Rd. Go 3.6 miles to stop sign, turn right on Rt. 718 (Stokesville Rd). Go 1.0 mile, bear left on FDR 95 at the sign for the North River Multiple Use Area. Go 0.3 miles, parking lot is on your right. GPS 38.367603,-79.167609
Map (See attachment below)
Difficulty: moderate
Description: From the parking lot, begin by walking west on the Wild Oak National Recreation Trail; the trailhead is just to the left of the information kiosk. At 0.4 miles, intersect with FDR 95. Turn right and walk along the road briefly to the trail continuation on your left. Descend through mixed hardwoods to the North River Gorge. After about 1 mile, cross the swinging bridge and enjoy views of North River (a nice swimming hole is just downstream from this spot). After crossing the bridge, bear to the right. You will see the white-blazed Wild Oak Trail branching off to the left up the ridge of Lookout Mountain. Continue straight ahead as the North River Gorge Trail widens to to a grassy roadbed, with purple blazes.
After 0.2 miles you will see another wide trail crossing the river to your right, with purple blazes. This is a short cut-off trail back to a parking lot on FDR 95. Continue straight ahead without crossing the river. Go 1 mile to the first of eight river crossings. The wide trail is easy to follow as it crosses the river five times fairly close together. Then you will walk about 1.5 miles without a crossing through shady pines and hemlocks. The last three crossings are lovely, in a rocky gorge. Note the nice campsite just before the 7th crossing (camping is allowed anywhere along this trail). The trail ends at the North River Campground on FDR 95B.
Trail is open to horses and bicycles.
Starting location: We recommend you begin at the parking area for the Wild Oak National Recreation Trail on FDR 95. From Bridgewater, VA, travel 4.0 miles south on Rt. 42. Turn right onto Rt. 809 (becomes 747 Mossy Creek Rd). Go 3.4 miles to Mt. Solon and turn right onto Rt. 731, Natural Chimneys Rd. Travel 1.0 mile, turn left onto North River Rd. Go 3.6 miles to stop sign, turn right on Rt. 718 (Stokesville Rd). Go 1.0 mile, bear left on FDR 95 at the sign for the North River Multiple Use Area. Go 0.3 miles, parking lot is on your right. GPS 38.367603,-79.167609
Map (See attachment below)
Difficulty: moderate
Description: From the parking lot, begin by walking west on the Wild Oak National Recreation Trail; the trailhead is just to the left of the information kiosk. At 0.4 miles, intersect with FDR 95. Turn right and walk along the road briefly to the trail continuation on your left. Descend through mixed hardwoods to the North River Gorge. After about 1 mile, cross the swinging bridge and enjoy views of North River (a nice swimming hole is just downstream from this spot). After crossing the bridge, bear to the right. You will see the white-blazed Wild Oak Trail branching off to the left up the ridge of Lookout Mountain. Continue straight ahead as the North River Gorge Trail widens to to a grassy roadbed, with purple blazes.
After 0.2 miles you will see another wide trail crossing the river to your right, with purple blazes. This is a short cut-off trail back to a parking lot on FDR 95. Continue straight ahead without crossing the river. Go 1 mile to the first of eight river crossings. The wide trail is easy to follow as it crosses the river five times fairly close together. Then you will walk about 1.5 miles without a crossing through shady pines and hemlocks. The last three crossings are lovely, in a rocky gorge. Note the nice campsite just before the 7th crossing (camping is allowed anywhere along this trail). The trail ends at the North River Campground on FDR 95B.
Trail is open to horses and bicycles.
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Why we like it: This is a versatile trail for families who can walk as far as they like and play in the river as much as they wish. The trail is wide and can accommodate leisurely groups walking together. North River qualifies as a Wild and Scenic River, and you will quickly see why; the scenic beauty and wildlife is astounding. You are likely to see native brook trout, several types of crayfish and salamanders, and other types of aquatic life. The gorge is also favorite habitat for deer, bear, squirrel, beaver, raccoon, turkey and grouse, and other birds. Pack a picnic and spend the day playing in the river, or park a second car at the North River Campground for a shuttle back after walking the 4.5-mile length of the trail.
Watch out for:
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Swinging Bridge over North River
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| Mapofnorthrivergorge.pdf |