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Submission
Forest Road 85 travels 3.6 miles to the summit of Flagpole Knob, wobbling along the top of the Alleghany Mountains following the border between Virginia and West Virginia. This high elevation access route brings the wildlife watcher into habitats not encountered elsewhere on the North River Loop of the Virginia Bird & Wildlife Trail.
Location: Forest Rd 85A, Dayton, VA 22821
From Briery Branch Dam - travel west on Forest Road 924 for 4.5 miles to the top of the ridge, where FR 924 will intersect with Forest Rd. 85 and County Road 25. There will be three choices of roads: a hard left will take you south on FR 85 towards Reddish Knob,the middle road will take you west on West VA County Rd 25. To go to Flagpole Knob, take the right, unpaved road, which is north on Forest Rd 85. Continue 3.1 miles to a grassy opening on the right.
Use caution on this road AT ALL TIMES OF THE YEAR; during winter months it may be impassable. THIS ROAD IS VERY ROUGH AND MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR LOW CLEARANCE VEHICLES. 4-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance is recommended.
Came up via Switzer Lake road from Hwy 33. Was a rough trip, but no probs with my Colorado.
Fun trail. For easier route, go up from Switzer Lake Road and out at Briery Branch Gap. For a bit of a challenge, go up Union Springs...
Good starter off-road trail. It's about as technical, or maybe slightly more so, as Peters Mill Run. We ran it northbound from 924 to 33. The trail ended right beside Switzer lake.
