Furnace Mountain Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This steep 3.3-mile ridge trail leads from the valley floor to the Trayfoot Mountain Trail. Access can be found at the end of VA663 with a few parking spots on the side of the dirt road at the turnaround area. If you venture with your vehicle down the road when it squeezes down to one lane, you'll be forced to back up the entire way to the turnaround area.

From the parking area, hike a short distance up the Madison Run Road to a cement post that will point you to the right and across the creek. The trail doesn't waste any time getting to the uphill part. After following the ridgeline for about a mile and a half, you'll encounter another cement trail marker that provides directions to the Furnace Mtn Summit Trail. The summit is only a 0.5 mile detour, and the views to the northeast are will worth the deviation.

After the detour, the trail continues up the ridge and some switchbacks for another 1.5 miles until it reaches its end at the junction with Trayfoot Mountain Trail.

You can make this a loop trail by heading east on the Trayfoot Mountain Trail to the AT, head north on the AT, then west down the Madison Run Road back to your car. This loop and access to all of these trails can be gained at the Black Rock Parking or Browns Gap Parking areas.