Mudhole Gap Hike

Mudhole Gap Hike

• Mile 0.0 - From the Bear Wallow parking area off Fort Valley Rd/VA 678 pass around the closed gate and start up the purple blazed Mudhole Gap Trail that follows a forestry road. Soon pass around a second gate and continue along the wide forestry road.
• Mile 0.2 - Pass the white blazed Bear Wallow Spur Trail on your right that will be your return route. The purple blazed Mudhole Gap Trail trail continues around Green Mountain.
• Mile 1.3 - Pass the pink blazed Sidewinder Trail on the right that connects with the Tuscarora Trail. Continue along the Mudhole Gap Trail. From this point the forestry road can become more overgrown with grass during the summer months.
• Mile 3.45 - The forestry road ends where the Mudhole Gap Trail enters the treeline then starts downward towards Little Passage Creek.
• Mile 3.52 - The Mudhole Gap Trail turns right where it meets Little Passage Creek. There is an unmarked trail here that leads downstream and ends at a local road. Continue upstream on the purple blazed trail for another 0.3 miles to the first of 5 crossings of Little Passage Creek.
• Mile 3.82 - Cross Little Passage Creek for the first time.
• Mile 3.94 - Second crossing of Little Passage Creek.
• Mile 4.1 - Third crossing of Little Passage Creek.
• Mile 4.3 - Fourth crossing of Little Passage Creek.
• Mile 4.5 - Cross Little Passage Creek for the 5th time. There is a campsite directly beside the creek on the left. After crossing the creek there is another campsite on the opposite bank. This makes a great car campsite and base for several hikes in the area. Follow the trail out to the road where the Mudhole Gap trail ends at FR66 and orange blazed Massanutten Trail.
• Mile 4.6 - Turn right on FR66 and orange blazed Massanutten Trail passing several disused forestry structures. Pass a parking area on the right then a closed gate. The orange blazed Massanutten Trail will pass a large wildlife clearing on the right in 0.1 miles.
• Mile 5.8 - Cross Little Passage Creek on the forestry road/Massanutten Trail.
• Mile 6.6 - The Massanutten Trail turns left off the forestry road and will pass around the western side of the reservoir before re-joining the forestry road on the top end. You can take either option, however we prefer to stay on the forestry road as it provides better views of the reservoir.
• Mile 6.9 - Arrive at the Strasburg Reservoir. The reservoir is open to fishing with the appropriate fisheries state license, however swimming, boating or another activity on the lake is prohibited. Continue on the forestry road around the east side of the reservoir passing a campsite at the top end shortly before the Massanutten Trail rejoins the forestry road.
• Mile 7.1 - Cross Little Passage Creek a final time on the forestry road.
• Mile 7.2 - Pass the intersection of the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail on the left. There is a information kiosk and bench here.
• Mile 7.45 - Arrive at the Tuscarora Trail intersection on the right that climbs over Green Mountain. There is another kiosk and bench at this intersection. Turn right on the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail then immediately cross Little Passage Creek for the final time. The next 0.8 miles to the Green Mountain ridgeline and intersection with the Meneka Peak trail is the steepest section of the hike gaining 560ft.
• Mile 8.25 - Reach the ridgeline and intersection with the white blazed Meneka Peak Trail. Continue on the blue Tuscarora Trail down the eastern side of Green Mountain. The trail descends through the Bear Wallow area then has views of Fort Valley before making a large switchback.
• Mile 10.1 - Pass the pink blazed Sidewinder Trail on the right. Continue along the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail another 0.9 mile to the intersection of the white blazed Bear Wallow Spur Trail on the right.
• Mile 10.9 - Arrive back at the Bear Wallow Parking area.