Crawford Mountain Trail

Crawford Mountain Trail (Forest Trail #485) is a long-distance hiking route in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests on the North River Ranger District in Virginia. It’s commonly used as a connector to Elliott Knob via the North Mountain Trail (#443).

The route runs along a ridgetop. Expect scrubby high-elevation conditions and a trail that can be overgrown in summer; winter typically makes it easier to stay oriented and can open up sightlines.

Blazing is yellow. In practice, you’ll be able to follow the trail most of the time, but summer growth can hide tread in spots, so plan on careful foot placement where the path funnels through vegetation.

Length varies by how you link to nearby summits and ridge segments; the route is often hiked in a range of roughly 2.6 to 7.5 miles depending on the specific summit target and whether you do a ridge traversal.

Primary access is via FR 1269 (McKittrick Road) from Jerusalem Chapel Road (Rt. 720) in Lone Fountain. An alternate approach uses Chimney Hollow Trail (#489) from US 250.

The FR 1269 gate on McKittrick Road may be open seasonally, typically April 1–May 16, so time your start with the gate window if you’re using that access.

Because this is a ridgetop hike through growth-prone sections, scout the tread before committing to harder-to-see stretches and be extra cautious after wet weather when vegetation and footing can get slick—especially if you’re relying on blazes through thicker brush.

More information: Visitor information, Crawford Mountain Wanderings - Wandering Virginia, Five Chesapeake summits to take your breath away