Mogan Ridge West Trail

Dogs Leashed

There is no water or restrooms. Wear blaze orange during deer and turkey seasons. Ticks are abundant in the summer.

The trailhead parking is located by a large antenna at the end of Morgan Road. The trail begins as a well maintained gravel access road with only one moderate hill. There are a few old gated firelanes that branch off of the road, but watch for the blue diamond blazes to guide the way. The full trail loop leaves the gravel road via a split to the north at about 1.4 miles.

Eventually the trail returns to the main gravel road, and about 6.6 miles into the run the trail branches off to the south down a long gradual hill with a natural surface where roots and horse tracks may pose more challenges in wet weather. After crossing a small stream, the trail mostly hovers along the valley until it reaches the highway to the south.

There is a gate by the highway, but little room for parking. From here, the trail is covered in gravel and heads up a long gradual climb to the ridge top. Bouncing along the ridgetop the trail has a natural surface and a few soft spots that could create challenges in wet weather, and you pass through some areas of woods that have been cleared within the last several years which cause the grasses to grow high in the summer. Near the very top, the trail returns to the gravel road where you can head west to return to the parking area.

This trail may hold more interest in the early spring or during fall color changes, but is otherwise rather ordinary with no significant natural features to marvel at.