The Up segment: N37 32.497, W79 34.9 Start riding in the same direction as you <br />
arrived (eastward) for 2 miles. This gentle climb turns from smooth asphalt to <br />
gravel, netting your first 475' vertical. At the end, you'll note a trail to the right, and <br />
a trail to the left with a bridge. Kiosks describe this as the Apple Orchard Falls trail <br />
(left). The Cornelius Creek trail to the right will provide your return trip.<br />
<br />
Take the Apple Orchard trail, continuing to rise, over beautiful, sometimes gnarly <br />
blue limestone singletrack. The creek contributes to a lovely atmosphere in concert <br />
with the Hemlocks and Rhododendron. Just about a country mile up this slow <br />
grinder, a bridge leftwards across the stream appears, leading up a short trail to a <br />
dirt road dead end with a kiosk. This is the bottom of Parker's Gap, and yes, you'll <br />
be going to the top of that particular gap.<br />
<br />
The Parkers Gap segment rises just over 1000' feet in 2.2 miles. A little ornery at <br />
spots, this one terminates in another gravel forest road, FR 812. Take a right on FR <br />
812, traveling 3.3 miles to Thunder Ridge itself, the Blue Ridge Parkway at the <br />
Sunset Fields overlook, a cool 3130' higher than the North Creek Campground.<br />
<br />
The Over segment: Across the parkway from Sunset Fields overlook is a gated <br />
fireroad. Take that until it opens up into the Sunset Field itself. You'll note structure <br />
remnants of the Air Force base that once was a fixture on Apple Orchard Mountain. <br />
Your exit is at the far right corner of the sometimes thickly grown field, which is <br />
due south. It's a wide trail, steep at the outset, but ride-able. As it crests, please <br />
note a hard right, even though the trail you're on continues. Take the right, or <br />
you'll find yourself in a fizzled field with nowhere obvious to go. You'll know you <br />
turned correctly as the trail shows definite use, and becomes a fun and fairly gnarly <br />
800' drop down to Overstreet Falls. <br />
<br />
Now, back up to the ridge. The trail dumps you out at the falls on a dirt road. Go <br />
right, upwards, for a 1.2 mile grade that spends a bit of time in the double digit <br />
percentages. It's over, thankfully, with a downhill drift to the parkway, then right <br />
back to the Sunset Fields overlook.<br />
<br />
The Back Down segment: From Sunset Fields overlook, take the falls trail, being <br />
courteous of day hikers along the way. This one is classic Blue Ridge singletrack of <br />
the finest kind: rocks, switchbacks, drops. Not real long, but sweet. It opens up to <br />
an open woods road. Take a left on the road, which becomes grassy and fun, <br />
rolling about a mile to the Cornelius Creek upper trailhead. You'll know your almost <br />
there because you'll be grunting up a nasty little steep granny pitch, uncommon to <br />
that section previously, which had been mostly downhill or slightly upward rolling. <br />
At the top, you'll note perhaps left and right options. You'll take the right trail, which <br />
is open and grassy until the first switchback left shortly thereafter reveals Cornelius <br />
Creek's true nature: rocks, loose rocks, and rocks. Steep and nifty at first, you'll <br />
heat the brakes until reaching a bottom of sorts. Follow the main trail down the <br />
ancient canyon alongside the creek, eventually crossing it several times. The whole <br />
run is a bit over 2 miles, but what a 2 miles it is! <br />
<br />
Upon surviving all that, you're reward is a gravel road downward drift for 2 miles <br />
back to the start. Up-N-Over well done. 21 miles, over 4500' of climbing, hazards <br />
galore, and both sides of Thunder Ridge slain!<br />
<br />
To get there: Take exit 168 off I-81 and proceed up Arcadia Road (SR 614), <br /><br />crossing the James River, a total of 3.2 miles to a left turn with signeage noting <br /><br />North Creek (FR 59). Proceed along North Creek just over 2 miles. Youâll note <br /><br />North Creek campground (water available). There are several parking options, the <br /><br />best perhaps being a pull off just past the campground on the right.
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