George Washington National Forest · VA
Back Creek Gorge
Easy trail from Blowing Springs Campground tracing an old railroad grade up the Back Creek gorge in George Washington National Forest, passing a low falls and swimming hole; noted for spring wildflowers.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the hiking plan today.
Today's best: hiking
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
Score breakdown
- ✓ 72°F air — Right in hiking's ideal range
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 1.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 48 ft
- Difficulty
- easy
Trailhead
Coordinates
38.0629, -79.8883 — VA.
Park
Part of George Washington National Forest.
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Frequently Asked
How long is Back Creek Gorge?
Back Creek Gorge is a 1.3-mile route with 48 feet of elevation gain — easy — gentle grades, generally suitable for families and beginners with normal fitness. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
Who manages Back Creek Gorge, and where do closure alerts come from?
Back Creek Gorge is in George Washington National Forest, which is managed by the managing agency. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the agency. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.