North Mountain Trail at Longdale Furnace

It’s a long climb to the top of North Mountain, but the ridge top single-track trail that awaits is well worth it. Get ready for awesome cliff-top views and a sometimes technical but mostly smooth trail. At the high point you’ll ascend a stone staircase between house-sized boulders to a craggy pinnacle. The ride back down is fast and furious for a total ride of 16.5 miles.

This trail is not the North Mountain Trail near Dragon’s Tooth. Combine this ride with the Whiterock Tower ride.

Distance

• There are 8.42 miles of the main trail system, but shorter routes are available, and the trail can be lengthened to 13.2 miles.

Hike it

• The trail heads southwest along North Mountain, and at Mile 3, narrow rock stairs ascend between huge boulders. There is a wide view of the surrounding landscape from atop the boulders.
• The trail takes a sharp right turn as you move off the mountain and into Longdale Recreation Area.
• It drops down off the ridge and follows a drain for a short distance until it intersects with the FT 467B – North Mountain Trail Connector.
• It then turns south around the nose of a ridge and drops down into Bob Downy Branch.
• Soon after reaching Bob Downy Branch the trail crosses Fire Road 271 (Tri County Road). The trail follows Bob Downy Branch to the intersection with FT 658 (Yaccr’s Run Trail). The trailhead at FR 447 and SR 770 is difficult to access in the winter months because of snow and ice accumulations on road surfaces.

Directions/Parking

• From Roanoke, Take I-81 N to US Hwy 220 N off exit 150B in Cloverdale. Stay on US Hwy 220 for 30 miles to Iron Gate where you will turn onto Longdale Furnace Rd/ US Hwy 269. Turn right onto Tri County Road, and you will have arrived at the destination in just under a mile.
• Parking is available at the trailhead.

• Directions
• Website