Flatwoods Multiuse Trail System

Flatwoods Multiuse Trail System: A Gentler Side of the Breaks

Tucked deep in the hardwood forests of the Breaks is an area topographically ironic to the rugged canyon it borders. Named the Flatwoods by early settlers, this area features gentler terrain and was home to many mountain families in the past. Remnants of old homesteads are evident throughout the trail system, allowing hikers and cyclists to view the history and heritage of the Breaks. The Flatwoods trail system also leads to the Breaks Wildlife Viewing area, a cooperative project between the Breaks Interstate Park and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

The following trails are open to hiking, mountain bikes, and e-bikes. Using different loops in the system, hikers and cyclists can choose routes from 1 – 5 miles.

Flatwoods Loop Trail. Length: 2.35 mi. Color: White: Walking Time 1-1/2 Hours. A gentle and relaxing trail that mainly follows old roadbeds through a section of the park known historically as the Flatwoods. There are steeper sections that cyclists will want to consider. The trail flows through mature oak and hickory forests and passes through the wildlife viewing area. The trail can be accessed from the Flatwoods parking area, the Bike Barn, Bungalow Drive, the campground store, and at Campground D.

Fern Hollow Trail. Length: 0.5 mi. Color: Blue. Walking Time: ½ hour. This trail follows an old roadbed through a secluded hollow to a former homesite. Hikers and cyclists can use the Fern Hollow Trail to cut the Flatwoods Loop in half. Extremely scenic in warmer months due to the abundance of fern and mosses on the forest floor.

Hickory Ridge Trail. Length: 1.3 mi. Color: Orange. Walking Time: 1 hour. A moderate trail for hikers and a difficult trail for cyclists. An extremely scenic hike in the spring and fall. The trail ascends to the top of a ridge covered in mature oaks and hickories. There are abundant opportunities to view wildlife, including bears.

Mountain Home Trail: Length. 2.5 mi. Color: Red. Walking Time: 1 – 2 hours. A moderate trail for hikers and a difficult and technical trail for cyclists. The trails contours through numerous ridges and hollows, allowing hikers and cyclists to experience all three types of forests in the park; cove, slope, and ridge. The trail also passes former home places of mountain families who called the Breaks home. The highlight of the trail is an abandoned 1940s Nash automobile that the forest has overtaken.