Back Country Horsemen of the Virginia Highlands

Back Country Horsemen of the Virginia Highlands The Back Country Horsemen of the Virginia Highlands is committed to maintaining the multi-use trails in the Mount Rogers NRA in SW Virginia.

BCHVH partners with the Forest Service and trail users to solve maintenance issues and plan future trails.

Y’all come out for some fun and support the trails!
06/18/2026

Y’all come out for some fun and support the trails!

Thanks to BCHVH volunteers who joined hikers and participated in the Little Dry Run trail clean up for National Trails D...
06/08/2026

Thanks to BCHVH volunteers who joined hikers and participated in the Little Dry Run trail clean up for National Trails Day!! They accomplished clearing 2 miles of the 3 miles of trail. Another work day will be organized in the future to finish out the trail. Work still needs to be done on the washed out creek crossings but that’s going take time and engineering. Thanks to SAWS for organizing this volunteer opportunity! Partnerships like this helps get more work done and fosters camaraderie among user groups.

Just got word that as of today the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail (VHHT) is now open through the Raccoon Branch Wilderne...
05/29/2026

Just got word that as of today the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail (VHHT) is now open through the Raccoon Branch Wilderness! This section between hwy 16 and the Appalachian Trail was severely damaged in Hurricane Helene and impassable, preventing riders from through-riding the trail or making a loop. Thanks go to the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) crews who worked for two 8 day hitches and then some to complete the task. Thanks also go to volunteers from BCHVH who contributed to the work. Being in a wilderness area, where no mechanized equipment is allowed, all the work on the 3+ mile section was done with crosscut and other hand saws. Not sure if the trees were counted but there were hundreds!

Controlled Burn in the Comers rock/ Panther K**b area on 4/8/26The U.S. Forest Service, Mount Rogers National Recreation...
04/08/2026

Controlled Burn in the Comers rock/ Panther K**b area on 4/8/26

The U.S. Forest Service, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, will temporarily close several trails in the Panther Mountain and Comers Rock areas to ensure public safety during upcoming prescribed fire operations. The closures will remain in place during ignitions and until hazardous conditions, such as smoke, rolling debris, and snag hazards, are mitigated. The public is urged to avoid the closure area, follow posted signs and use caution on nearby roads due to increased fire traffic.

Forest Service Trails (FST) Temporarily Closed:
FST 301 – Iron Mountain Trail - Hale Lake to Divide (1.8 miles)
FST 305 – Little Dry Run Trail (4.1 miles)
FST 306 – Henley Hollow Trail (1.6 miles)
FST 337 – Virginia Highlands Horse Trail (9.0 miles)
FST 342 – Hale Lake Trail (0.7 miles)
FST 4571 – Unaka Interpretive Trail (1.0 miles)
FST 4613 – Dry Run Gap Trail (1.0 miles)
FST 4638 – Comers Rock (0.4 miles)

Recreation Sites Temporarily Closed:
Little Dry Run Trailhead
Hale Lake Trailhead & Day-Use Area
Comers Rock Overlook
Comers Rock Campground
Unaka Trailhead
Forest Service Road 728 West Fork Dry Run (Dispersed Camping/Hunting Access)
These trails and sites fall within or near the prescribed burn units where fire personnel, equipment and smoke may create unsafe conditions for the public.
Prescribed fire is an important tool used to reduce hazardous fuels, improve wildlife habitat and maintain forest health. Temporary closures are necessary to allow wildland firefighters to safely conduct operations and to keep visitors away from active fire and falling snags.
Trails will reopen once fire crews have completed mop‑up and assessed hazards. Updates will be posted to the forest’s website and social media channels.
For more information, please contact:
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area – 276-782-4361


Forest Service Shield
Jake Smith
Recreation Program Manager
Forest Service
George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
p: 276-782-4377
c: 828-386-5311
[email protected]
3714 Highway 16
Marion, VA 24354

Thanks to everybody who came out to the H***y Mountain Horse Camp Clean Up Day. It was a flurry of activity as folks rak...
04/07/2026

Thanks to everybody who came out to the H***y Mountain Horse Camp Clean Up Day. It was a flurry of activity as folks raked, mowed,blowed, w**d whacked, sawed, mopped and wiped!! The camp is beautiful and it’s now ready for visitors so plan your weekend (or weekday) trip to the H***y Mountain Horse Camp!

Hi folks, on April 6 we will be having our annual H***y Mountain Horse Camp Clean Up starting at 8:30am until around 1:0...
03/30/2026

Hi folks, on April 6 we will be having our annual H***y Mountain Horse Camp Clean Up starting at 8:30am until around 1:00. This horse camp was to be closed until BCHVH adopted it a few years back and we maintain it throughout the year to that the horse community can still enjoy it. If you would like to help with the clean up to get it ready for the season please contact Jeff Nelson at jeffnel[email protected]. Thanks so much!!

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251 Big Brush Creek Road
Fries, VA
24330

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