White Rock Cliff Hike

Mile 0.0 – 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.

Mile 0.3 – 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.

Mile 0.55 – Take the pink blazed Old Mail Path, passing a kiosk and 2 benches on the right. This section of the Old Mail Path can be very muddy in the spring.

Mile 0.8 – In 0.25 miles cross Cove Run and continue following the pink blazed Old Mail Path as it turns uphill through short scrub and pine arriving at a wildlife clearing, and the intersection of the orange blazed Racer Camp Hollow Trail/FS road.

Mile 1.6 – Turn right on the orange blazed Racer Camp Hollow Trail/FS road, pass 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.

Mile 2.8 – From the campsite, the trail heads up the valley crossing the run several times before arriving at a hunters campsite in 1.7 miles.

Mile 4.5 – From the hunters 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 the trail will have crested the ridge then arrives at the white blazed White Rock Cliff Lookout Trail on the right. There is no signage at this intersection, but has several small cairns.

Mile 5.9 – Take the white blazed trail for 0.2 miles where you will pass a high mountain campsite on the right. Pass the campsite where shortly the trail will climb a steep rock scree. At the top of the scree stay left and continue around the knob to the Opa Lookout. Note: The white blazes on the top of the scree are faded and hard to see. Return to the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail to continue the hike.

Mile 6.4 – Turn right on the blue blazed trail for 0.5 miles then arrive at the intersection of the pink blazed Old Mail Path on the left, and the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail turns right.

Mile 6.9 – 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 you were at earlier in the hike.

Mile 8.2 – Continue downhill through the clearing, on the pink blazed trail re-crossing the run and arriving back at the yellow blazed forestry service road.

Mile 8.5 – Turn left on the FS road passing the closed gate and upper parking area.