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Fork Mountain Trail - Desert Branch Descent

Difficult
 3.0 (1)
  1. Areas
  2. WV
  3. …Southern W. Virginia
  4. Richwood

“Lots of rocks and roots make for a tricky downhill hike along Desert Branch - a challenging finish to Fork Mtn-Ridge. ”

Brenda Korte
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Map Key

3.9

Miles

6.3

KM

Point to Point

3,053' 931 m

High

2,346' 715 m

Low

133' 40 m

Up

762' 232 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

14%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs Unknown

Description

This trail can be accessed by hiking up FSR 946 or by continuing straight across FSR 946 at the end of Fork Mountain Trail. The trail starts as a steep bench road and then continues downhill along Desert Branch through dense forest to reach Hwy 39 and the Gauley Ranger Station. There is a short marshy section toward the top that is challenging to navigate.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Monongahela National Forest Office

Shared By:

Brenda Korte
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Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#10

in Richwood

#30772

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#10

in Richwood

#304

in West Virginia

#30,772

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36 Since Jul 12, 2019
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