Wild Oak Trail
Encyclopedia
The Wild Oak Trail is a 25.6 miles (41.2 km) National Recreation Trail
located in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians
in Central Virginia
. It is part of George Washington National Forest. The trail is a loop, and begins at the headwaters of the North River
, and traverses up to several ridge tops. Due to the trail's difficulty and length, it sees little traffic.
by the Secretary of Agriculture in 1979. Much of the land surrounding the trail and the North River was cleared for farming, which continued through the 1930s. It was during this time that portions of the trail was cleared by the Civilian Conservation Corps
to help in providing access for fighting Forest Fires.
Camp Todd, which the trail passes by after a crossing of the North River, was used as a herdsman's cabin and a Fire Guard station.
, rattlesnakes, fox
, grouse
and bobcats may be encountered by users of the trail.
There have been more than forty species of trees and thirty wildflowers identified along the Wild Oak Trail.
and backpacking
. To complete the entire loop, various guides suggest devoting a day to each of the trail's three sections.
The trail is well marked and easy to follow. Challenges for the hiker include steep ascents and descents, and few water supply points. There are backcountry camp spots along the trail.
Hikers should be aware that the area is popular with hunters in the fall and should exercise necessary caution.
Also, the trail and overlooks tend to be overgrown with vegatation late in summer, so an early Spring or early Fall hike is recommended.
Mountain Biking is also a popular activity on the Wild Oak Trail. Part of the Shenandoah 100
Ultra-Endurance race
uses the trail.
The Virginia Happy Trails Running Club hold a couple "unofficial" trail running events a year on the Wild Oak. Participants may run the loop multiple times.
Horseback Riders also utilize the trail, while using Camp Todd to stay overnight.
In addition, the primitive North River Campground is located two miles (3 km) from the trail.
National Recreation Trail
National Recreation Trail is a designation given to existing trails that contribute to health, conservation, and recreation goals in the United States. Over 1,000 trails in all 50 U.S. states, available for public use and ranging from less than a mile to in length, have been designated as NRTs...
located in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians
Ridge-and-valley Appalachians
The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division and are also a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from southeastern New York through northwestern New...
in Central Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It is part of George Washington National Forest. The trail is a loop, and begins at the headwaters of the North River
North River (South Fork Shenandoah River)
The North River is a river in the mountains and Shenandoah Valley of northern Virginia, the United States. It joins the South River at Port Republic to form the South Fork Shenandoah River....
, and traverses up to several ridge tops. Due to the trail's difficulty and length, it sees little traffic.
History
The Wild Oak Trail was designated a National Recreation TrailNational Recreation Trail
National Recreation Trail is a designation given to existing trails that contribute to health, conservation, and recreation goals in the United States. Over 1,000 trails in all 50 U.S. states, available for public use and ranging from less than a mile to in length, have been designated as NRTs...
by the Secretary of Agriculture in 1979. Much of the land surrounding the trail and the North River was cleared for farming, which continued through the 1930s. It was during this time that portions of the trail was cleared by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
to help in providing access for fighting Forest Fires.
Camp Todd, which the trail passes by after a crossing of the North River, was used as a herdsman's cabin and a Fire Guard station.
Animals and Plants
There are a variety of birds, reptiles and mammals in the area. DeerDeer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, rattlesnakes, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, grouse
Grouse
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. They are sometimes considered a family Tetraonidae, though the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae...
and bobcats may be encountered by users of the trail.
There have been more than forty species of trees and thirty wildflowers identified along the Wild Oak Trail.
Activities
The trail sees a variety of user activity, including hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and backpacking
Backpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
. To complete the entire loop, various guides suggest devoting a day to each of the trail's three sections.
The trail is well marked and easy to follow. Challenges for the hiker include steep ascents and descents, and few water supply points. There are backcountry camp spots along the trail.
Hikers should be aware that the area is popular with hunters in the fall and should exercise necessary caution.
Also, the trail and overlooks tend to be overgrown with vegatation late in summer, so an early Spring or early Fall hike is recommended.
Mountain Biking is also a popular activity on the Wild Oak Trail. Part of the Shenandoah 100
Shenandoah 100
The Shenandoah 100 is an ultra-endurance 100 mile mountain bike race held in central Western Virginia near Stokesville. The race is normally held on the Sunday during Labor Day weekend. The race has been run continuously since 1998...
Ultra-Endurance race
Marathon mountain bike races
Marathon mountain bike races, often referred to as cross country marathon , are a very demanding form of mountain bike races covering at least 40 kilometers usually in mountainous terrain. Events held in Europe are typically just a little longer than the average cross country mountain bike race...
uses the trail.
The Virginia Happy Trails Running Club hold a couple "unofficial" trail running events a year on the Wild Oak. Participants may run the loop multiple times.
Horseback Riders also utilize the trail, while using Camp Todd to stay overnight.
In addition, the primitive North River Campground is located two miles (3 km) from the trail.