George Washington National Forest · VA
Big Schloss Trail
Out-and-back from Wolf Gap in George Washington National Forest to Big Schloss, a white-sandstone outcrop on Great North Mountain with roughly 270-degree views over Trout Run Valley on the VA/WV line.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the mountain biking plan today.
Today's best: mountain biking
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Mountain biking
Skip the mountain biking plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
Score breakdown
- · 83°F air — Within comfort range, outside ideal
- − 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.
- − 86 min of daylight — You need at least 95 min with margin. Bring a headlamp or start tomorrow.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 4.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1053 ft
- Surface
- dirt
- Difficulty
- moderate
Trailhead
Coordinates
38.9393, -78.6667 — 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 Big Schloss Trail?
Big Schloss Trail is a 4.5-mile route with 1053 feet of elevation gain — moderate — some sustained climbing or technical sections; expect to work for it but no specialized skills required. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
What's the trail surface like at Big Schloss Trail?
Big Schloss Trail is natural dirt singletrack — soft underfoot, holds water, slow to dry after rain. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Big Schloss Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Big Schloss Trail 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.