WV: Dolly Sods Br Mt Loop | Backpacking in West Virginia

WV: Dolly Sods Br Mt Loop

Author:	gclarkx
Date:	23 Oct 2005 12:52:53 PM
Activity:	Backpacking ActivitySearchBackpacking
State:	West Virginia (WV)
Distance:	17.89 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 5108 ft Total Loss: 5410 ft Net Change: -302 ft
Difficulty:	9 / 10
Tags:	West Virginia, Backpacking, Davis, loop
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

WV: Dolly Sods Wilderness, Breathed Mt Loop: On this 18 mile loop you will pass through wide open mt top balds and dark pine groves. You will cross many beautiful creeks through steep valleys. You will cruise down smooth trails and stumble down trails of rock rubble. The terrain is rough and you'll need all of 1.5 days to fast pack this route; but it is worth every effort. It is also worth spending 3 days to savor some of the beautiful camp areas and secluded surroundings. Weather is changeable and windy. Some creeks are impassable in high water. TO TRAILHEAD: RT33 E from Elkins. L on Rt32 in Harmon. 3.8mi to Bonner Mt Rd East. Follow Signs to FR19 & FR75.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Day1

Dist: 11.00 mi	Points: 1781	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Track for Day 1 goes from Red Creek Campground to Rocky Point Trail. Best to stop before I did though. Camp along the creek in the pines at the end of Big Stone Coal Trail.

Day2

Dist: 6.89 mi	Points: 974	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

From Rocky Point Trail back to Red Creek Campground.

Points of Interest

Location: 39.031059°, -79.386269°
BS1.jpg

Location: 39.008583°, -79.353889°
RC6.jpg

Location: 39.020885°, -79.351395°
RC4.jpg

Location: 39.018295°, -79.364624°
BM1.jpg

Location: 38.987957°, -79.371376°
RP1.jpg

Location: 39.027081°, -79.348343°
RC2trailnorth.jpg

BKCAMP

Location: 39.031944°, -79.340614°
Great campground. Cross creeks to the secluded grassy area. 2.1mi to here.

BKTH

Location: 39.033569°, -79.314117°
Trail Head. On FR75 just north of the campground entrance. Park at Trailhead or in campground. BK = Blackbird Knob Trail RC = Red Creek Trail BM = Breathed Mt Trail BS = Big Stone Coal Trail RP= Rocky Pt Trail

BKTRC

Location: 39.030685°, -79.348793°
Left (S) onto Red Creek Trail. 3' high Cairn at this intersection. 2.8mi to here

BKTURC

Location: 39.032448°, -79.343437°
Straight @ 3 way. Intersection with upper red creek trail. 2.33mi to here.

BM1

Location: 39.018570°, -79.357498°
The top of your climb. Go straight, the trail is marked with cairns, sort of.

BMCamp

Location: 39.017460°, -79.367302°
Protected camp in pine grove. Great view.

BMTBS

Location: 39.033463°, -79.384598°
Left (S) on Big Stone Coal Trail. Look for the old wooden sign for the trail. Don't follow the double track jeep trail that goes more West although that is a bail out to a forest road in case you need it.

BS1

Location: 39.019958°, -79.379326°
Cross Creek. End Day 1 around here. Gets steep and rocky further on with no where to put a tent.

BSYDUE

Location: 39.004890°, -79.376747°
Bear L to stay on BS trail.

BSYRP

Location: 38.997768°, -79.371658°
Bear L to start the Rocky Point Trail going SE. This trail is spectacular but very rough. It traverses a section where the Mt breaks off and falls into the valley below. You walk on the broken cliff area - very rocky.

cairn

Location: 39.031982°, -79.382751°
BS2trail.jpg

CAR1

Location: 38.920925°, -79.523994°
Harmon. Left (N) on Rt32. then 3.8 mi to Bonner Mt Rd.

CAR2

Location: 38.965118°, -79.504570°
Right (E) on Bonner Mt Road. Follow until road ends on Laneville rd then turn Rt.

CAR3

Location: 38.973602°, -79.423218°
Hard left bend, then turn Rt toward Laneville.

CAR4LV

Location: 38.974026°, -79.417343°
Laneville. Forest Service Area signs etc.

CAR5

Location: 38.972393°, -79.398033°
FR19 follow Dolly Sods FR19 signs. Very rough dirt road.

CAR6

Location: 38.967010°, -79.345474°
FR75 bear left (N)

RCCamp

Location: 39.020790°, -79.352966°
A great campground just before the creek crossing.

RCCMP

Location: 39.032135°, -79.314529°
Red Creek Campground. Car Camp here the night before. Trail head is on FR75 just North of the campground entrance.

RCTBM

Location: 39.017525°, -79.353806°
RIGHT UP STEEP HILL ON BREATHED MT TRAIL. START OF THE LOOP, YOU WILL END UP HERE TOMORROW TO CLOSE THE LOOP.

RCX

Location: 39.019684°, -79.352905°
Cross creek so that the main creek going south is on your left after you cross. Cross at Cairn toward cairn on other side.

river

Location: 39.030228°, -79.339462°
RC1.jpg

river view

Location: 39.015427°, -79.351578°
RC3.jpg

RPCAMP

Location: 38.990459°, -79.368149°
Overnight camping. Look for cairn and small trail going uphill. Camp at top of trail on the hill.

RPPoint

Location: 38.987411°, -79.367958°
Trail bends to the N around the end of the ridge. Rocks in trail. No, the trail is rocks. Did I mention rocks? Great views and dramatic seclusion are worth the rough trail.

RPTRC

Location: 38.999886°, -79.359581°
Bear L at 3 Cairns up the hill to start the Red Creek Trail. Look sharp, don't go straight on the false trail like I did.