Trail #301

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Portions of this are rocky, but thankfully there are no water crossings.

Trail #301 is a tough MTB/running trail in Fort Mountain State Park. Most of the trail is wide and well-maintained with continual rolling climbs and descents. Start at the MTB parking area and run 1 mile on the connector to the 301 loop. Turn right (to run the loop clockwise) and enjoy nice rolling hills through coniferous forest and the occasional mountain laurel thicket.

After 4.5 miles of a gradual rolling descent, you'll reach the "Powerline", a steep, sometimes rocky plunge of 1,000 feet in a mile. The next few miles are up and down until you reach mile 10.6 where you begin "Conti's Climb", a long, steady 2-mile uphill along Mill Creek where you'll regain the 1,000 feet that you lost on the Powerline. At mile 12.5, you'll finish the loop and proceed back along the connector to the MTB parking area.

This trail travels through primarily pine forest, with the occasional mountain laurel and rhododendron. I've seen black bears and bobcats. Poison ivy is everywhere along the trail, but the 301 is wide so it's not a big problem.