VA Elizabeth Furnace – Access Issues on Hazard Mill and Page Valley Roads

[Raymo853]

Page county has a similar web map viewer.

http://www.pagecountygis.com/

[Kar]

Bit of a map nerd here, thus my awareness (though not quite knowledge) of GIS! The property lines shown on Warren County’s GIS viewer are not entirely accurate, but the viewer is certainly useful in trying to figure out who owns what and where the property lines might be.

I misspoke about Hazard Mill Road– the state appears to own none of it. Headed west from Panhandle Road/Indian Hollow Road, the first mile or so of Hazard Mill Road passes through federal (Forest Service) land before reaching the large privately-owned farm (chickens?). The road doesn’t hit federal land again for a mile and a half, where the logging road (gated) branches off to the right and the old campground road (also gated) branches off to the left, and the main road heads down toward the river to reach a dead end.

I have only traversed Hazard Mill Road once myself, from the campground side headed back toward civilization (as I was doing a loop). My memories are vague, but I do know I was not harassed that day– but the “PRIVATE ROAD” and “NO TRESPASSING” signs for westbound travelers were copious and clear, and they delivered the message to me sufficiently. I have not passed through again.

The old campground itself is recognizable as a campground and is surely still used by hikers once in a blue moon. The access road between the campground itself and Hazard Mill Road, however, is overgrown and unmaintained. Has not seen a vehicle in many many years. Basically a sea of grass. It is semi-passable on foot in the wintertime, but in the summer it would be a jungle. Ground Zero for ticks. Not worth using it to loop down to the end of the logging road.

Side GIS note: Waze’s map editor wiki has a convenient link list of Virginia GIS utilities. I can and have gotten lost down that rabbit hole.

Side side note: For anyone visiting the Massanuttens, I’d strongly recommend picking up the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Map G (and the companion Guide to Massanutten Mountain Hiking Trails). Map G shows all the trails, parking locations, and access points in the north end of the Massanuttens. Still much better than any online resources I’ve seen; really invaluable. (Plus the PATC is heavily involved with the maintenance of these trails.)

[Raymo853]

I have gotten a good amount on info from various sources. Still waiting on a few call backs as well. Plan to post an update summarizing what all I have pieced together.

Tersely, Hazard Mills Road is private down by the chicken farms at the end of Milford Gap Trail. Page Valley is public up to Indian Grave Trail.

Some of the other threads:
http://forums.mtbr.com/virginia-wv-maryland-dc-delaware/va-elizabeth-furnace-access-issues-1006595.html

http://www.more-mtb.org/forums/topic/va-elizabeth-furnace-access-issues-on-hazard-mill-and-page-valley-roads/

[Raymo853]

I field checked Page Valley Road and Habron Gap and Indian Grave trails. Without a doubt, the access to all three is 100% fine. There are no access issues along the road the whole way to the parking area at the bottom of Indian Grave trail head. (photo below)

The road is very public, lots of cabin rentals, small hotels/resorts, a few artists shops and industry aimed at the paddling and angling community. You just won’t be o’kay here, but welcomed, as the valley seems to be building as a tourist spot. If you do ride it, the gravel on the northern end is big and loose. Annoying, large, loose and recently re-gravelled.

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[Raymo853]

Regarding Hazard Mills Road, the portion near the lower terminus of the Millford Gap trail, is undistributed bordered on both sides by a single land owner who does not consider the road open to the public. I totally understand their right to this, and as an agronomist, understand how visitors can cost poultry operations hundreds of thousands of dollars if they spread disease. If I owned that operation, I would want the road closed.

The claims the portion of Hazard Mills near Indian Hollow Road is private may not be valid, but I see no reason to challenge this. Why risk trouble when that road goes no where and there are other roads to ride nearby? Better to be happy than right, and go ride something like Jawbone.
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