North Mountain/Pete's Cave Trail Parking
This is an out-and-back hike following the ridgeline of the North Mountain that forms the boundary between Rockbridge and Alleghany Counties in Virginia. This hike contains an abundance of overlooks, many of which look east toward Big and Little House Mountains, the town of Lexington, and the Blue Ridge Mountains near Buena Vista, Virginia.
UNDER 7 MILES
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
DRIVE TIME: 45 MIN*
HIKE TIME: 4 HOURS
DISTANCE: 6.8 MILES (OUT & BACK)
VIEWS: WILD & WOODED
*Drivetime from Lexington Visitor Center
TRAILHEAD & PARKING
Look for parking area on your left as you crest the top of the gravel road. There are two trailheads across the gravel road and a little down the east slope of the mountain. There are no trail signs here.
DESCRIPTION
W & L’s Outing Club published a guidebook some years ago which proclaimed of the North Mountain Trail, “Undoubtedly, this is Rockbridge County’s finest trail!” Anyone who has hiked it would be hard pressed to argue.
It is possible to start hiking the North Mountain Trail from its western end at the George Washington National Forest’s Longdale Recreation Area, but most folks drive up to the ridge line using Route 770, start from the east, and only hike the best part of the trail.
DETAILS: Click Website Link below for trail details, photos, and maps.
Latitute 37.8051 and Longitude 79.6470