SNP Trail ISO Co-Maintainer – Lower Pass Mountain
By Tom Moran
The lower section of Shenandoah National Park’s Pass Mountain Trail needs a co-maintainer. This section is about 1.3 miles, and is easily accessed from a large parking area on the side of Rt. 211 where the segment begins. There are no stream crossings and the elevation change is a moderate 730 feet. Pass Mountain Trail is popular due to its accessibility and that it provides the best access to two rewarding areas to hike off-trail – Oventop Mountain ridge, which features exposed rock formations with views to either side of the ridge, and the Butterwood Branch area which was well populated in the era before the park was formed. The parking area is less than 5 miles from Sperryville and its helpful amenities.
While much of the trail is open and requires light maintenance, due to the demise of large shade trees the first 50 yards or so of the trail beginning at Rt. 211 becomes overgrown and requires several visits annually to clear the weeds. The first half of the trail section, including the beginning segment, is non-Wilderness and thus powered weeders can be used. At about the mid-point of the section, there is a stretch perhaps 100 yards long that is overgrown with vines that occasionally pull smaller trees down across the trail. A maintainer should be prepared with loppers and hand saws to deal with issues in the section. Larger blowdowns can be reported for follow up by crosscut crews. This area is Wilderness, so hand tools only are permitted to be used.
If you are interested in learning more about the opportunity available on the Pass Mountain Trail, contact District Manager Tom Moran at twmoran19@gmail.com.