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Pond Run-Racer Camp Hollow/White Rocks Loop Last Reviewed: 07/05 |
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Description: The Pond
Run/Racer Camp Hollow Loop is a strenuous 11 mile circuit hike
with several stream crossings and a 1200 foot elevation gain
in the first 2 miles. Total elevation gain for the entire loop
is 1600 feet. You can make the hike a little longer and
challenging by bypassing Racer Camp Hollow Trail and hiking up
to White Rocks. This adds about 0.6 miles and a few more 100
feet of elevation gain to the outing. This and a short rock
scramble pays off with nice views of Cedar Run Valley, Little
North Mountain, Massanutten Mountain and, on a really clear
day, the Blue Ridge of Shenandoah National Park. For a
slightly shorter and somewhat easier hike with the same view
go to
White Rocks
Circuit.
As you start up hill you'll come to a pink or orchid farm gate on the right and a pull in for 4 cars on the left. This is where the hike starts. |
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Zipped National Geographic. TOPO! GPS and Universal GPX Files |
Trail Notes: From the parking area walk back down Waite's Run Rd for 1 mile, crossing the single lane bridge. Immediately turn left onto blue-blazed Pond Run/Tuscarora Tr. Proceed up and over a steep hill, descending to Pond Run. Climb steeply for about 2 more miles crossing Pond Run several times.
At
the top cross a boardwalk and arrive at the junction of
Halfmoon Tr. (right/yellow-blazed)and Tuscarora Tr.
(left/blue-blazed). A new white blazed spur trail leads
straight ahead a short distance to a rocky ledge with pitch
pines which lends a nice view of Halfmoon Lookout, Long
Mountain and the northernmost part of Trout Run
Valley.
If
you visit the vista return to the trail junction and turn
right on blue blazed Tuscarora Trail (aka Three Ponds Trail on
some maps). If you came up Pond Run and don’t want to visit
the vista turn left on the Tuscarora Tr. Cross a couple of
well-constructed boardwalks and continue on a forest road. The
forest road will make a sharp right, uphill turn. Continue
straight here on a blue blazed footpath.
In 1.37 miles arrive at the junction with orange blazed Mill Mt. Tr. straight ahead. hill. The previously passed forest road will be to your right behind a bearm. Turn left here to stay on the blue blazed Tuscarora Tr, a forest road at this point.
Proceed
0.6 miles past closed purple-blazed Peer Tr. on your left and
yellow-blazed Little Stony Creek Trail on your right. (For
backpackers, there is a great campsite just up Mill Mt. Tr. on
the left side of the trail and another good one along the main
trail just before Stony Creek Tr. on the right. Sugar Knob
Cabin, surrounded by other tent sites and a dependable spring
is a short distance down Little Stony Creek Tr.) In another
0.87 miles arrive at the junction with purple blazed Little
Sluice Tr. on your right and orange blazed Racer Camp
Hollow Tr. on your left.
To complete the short version of the hike, turn left onto Racer Camp Hollow Tr. Descend through the cove, crossing the stream a few times before climbing up and out onto a forest road. Continue on the forest road and in 2.45 miles from the last trail junction arrive at the pink blazed Old Mail Tr. coming in from your right. |
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Immediately after this intersection turn left into a wildlife clearing. Walk to the back of the clearing to pick up the continuation of the Old Mail Tr. Follow it downhill for 1.28 miles through a pleasant mix of deciduous and pine trees. Cross Cove Run, staying on the Old Mail Trail, which may be wet in spots.The Old Mail Tr. ends at the intersection of Wilson's Cove Tr, a yellow blazed forest road. Turn left and follow it back to the cars (0.49 miles).
To complete the long version of the hike, pass the afore-mentioned Racer Camp Hollow Trail and continue up the blue blazed Tuscarora Tr for another 1.29 miles. The white blazed White Rocks Spur Tr comes in sharply from the right and is easy to walk by. To make it even easier to miss the sign marking it is nailed onto a tree several yards back on the trail. A key to finding its location is to start looking to the right just as the Tuscarora starts a slight descent. Turn right and follow switchbacks down the spur trail for about 0.26 miles passing a campsite on the right. You’ll have to scramble up and over some rocks to reach the overlook.
Return to the Tuscarora Tr and turn right. In 0.51 miles arrive at the northern terminus of the Old Mail Trail. Descend for 0.95 miles and cross a woods road (Racer Camp Hollow Trail). Walk through a wildlife clearing and follow the above directions for the short version to complete your trek. ________________________________________ Name: Joe Tinker Hike Name: Pond Run-Racer Camp Hollow /White Rocks Loop* Hikedate: 7/5/05 Ranking: 5
comment: I hiked the described circuit as a 2 night backpacking trip. I parked at the gate in Wilson Cove and hiked in the reverse direction from what is described here. (Up old Mail Path to Tuscarora, down Pond Run to road). Campsites are plentiful and good. The Pond Run section of the Tuscarora Trail is VERY steep near the top of the mountain. I'm glad I was descending. The Old Mail path is a much better trail for climbing the mountain. ________________________________________ Name: Cham
Green Hike: Pond Run White Rocks ________________________________________ |
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