Reservoir Hollow Trail

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This trail crosses several streams. Be prepared to jump or rock hop. The water is never over shin-deep, but you may get wet feet in certain seasons. Also, signs are not clear along the middle of this trail. It is possible to miss the official trail at one point and accidentally follow the spur to Indian Rocks or the trail to the peak of Elephant Mountain. Following the trail from 12th street in Buena Vista, you'll reach a "T" intersection with left and right arrows. This is the turn for Elephant Mountain (to the left) and you continue right to stay on Reservoir Hollow. About a quarter mile beyond this (eastward, away from town) there is a small pile of rocks (cairn) and two paths. The left branch is the official continuation of this trail, and the right is a spur to Indian Gap Trail (Indian Rocks) . It is not always easy to follow this spur, but some people use it. Anyway, stay to the left at this point to stay on the Reservoir Hollow Trail and onwards to the us 60 Trailhead.

This is a nice and easy trail that is good for bringing the dogs. It passes the stream a few times and there are a few nice views of the valley plus the town has several restaurants to enjoy after the hike. The trail approaches the Blue Ridge Parkway very near to Indian Rocks. Although there is not an officially marked path, many people use this trail to hike from town to Indian Rocks via a short cut-through.

There are official trailheads posted by the National Parks Service at both ends of this trail (12th street in Buena Vista and Route 60). In the middle of the trail, there is a spur for Elephant Mountain with no trail sign. Starting from 12th Street in Buena Vista, you follow the sign to a trail past a few huge rocks that block vehicle traffic. The “road” quickly becomes a path. At the intersection with the spur for Elephant Mountain, there is no sign indicating the continuation of the Reservoir Hollow Trail to the right, nor for the spur to Elephant Mountain to the left. However, both trails are clearly visible and passable on the ground.

The trail continues due north and terminates at a small parking area on US 60 where there is room for a couple vehicles to pull off and park. At this parking area, there is a NPS trailhead marker indicating a path and then a bit further into the woods an official trailhead for Reservoir Hollow.