hecull
01-02-2006, 03:06 AM
Overview: Big Levels is a GWNF area south of Charlottesville, North of Shoe Creek. If you ran this, and Shoe Creek, you could call it a decent day. Either one alone is not worth the trip IMO. A+ to camping areas and the views though. A stock Taco could run very fast through the main trail, but some of the off-shoots would be a big challange. There are a couple sections where the more built trucks can have some fun, but for the most part, this would be for the stock to mild-mod group.
The trailhead is located at N37°59.023' W79°04.406'. To get there from Hampton Roads, I took 64W past Charlottesville. Exiting SW on US340, a mile later, Left on Ladd Rd. A mile on Ladd to make a right on Lyndhurst. 1.5 miles later, Lyndhurst merges into Mt Torrey Rd. About five miles later turn right on Coal Rd. Coal Rd is the last improved road before the trail(it's dirt, but smooth.) There are parking areas along the road to air down, disconnect, and whatever you need to do.
You will be on Coal Rd around 5 miles until the main trailhead will come on your left. It is gated, but no one has ever seen the gate closed.
There are a lot of small trails off of Coal road that have been marked by ribbons by the FM2CD(Follow Me To Certain Death) club. Most of these off-shoots are short, and dead end, requiring multi-point U-turns to get back. These are also very tight, and you WILL scratch up your paint, especially when the trees are full of leaves. However, a few of these off-shoots are fun. Try at your own risk, and I recommend no more than three trucks at a time as turning around at the end is always painful.
Once you are on the main trail, you realize it's nothing more than an unimproved fire road. Watch for the ribbon markers for the off-shoots.
The one at N37°58.800' W79°04.264' is by far the best, with some very fun obsticles. This route is NOT long wheelbase friendly. There are man-made washouts on the trail that have gotten pretty tall over the years. Even with 3" lift and 32's, my truck couldn't make it over some of these berms without a lot of dragging(and damage.) There are some fun rock sections that will probably high-center a stock Taco or Runner. A stock **** Rubicon(locked F&R for those that don't follow ****s) had to be pulled or winched about four times on this off-shoot. In this half mile, we spent about 2 hours getting trucks over obsticles.
The off-shoot I mentioned goes back to the main trail. From there on, again, it's much a fire road that a IFS Tacoma could take at 30MPH. There are some small rocks on the trail, but nothing major. There's one big rock obsticle, but it's optional.
PM me if you want additional details, or GPS tracks/waypoints.
Kyle
That's pretty much it. The trail dumps out to the BRP and you go home.
The trailhead is located at N37°59.023' W79°04.406'. To get there from Hampton Roads, I took 64W past Charlottesville. Exiting SW on US340, a mile later, Left on Ladd Rd. A mile on Ladd to make a right on Lyndhurst. 1.5 miles later, Lyndhurst merges into Mt Torrey Rd. About five miles later turn right on Coal Rd. Coal Rd is the last improved road before the trail(it's dirt, but smooth.) There are parking areas along the road to air down, disconnect, and whatever you need to do.
You will be on Coal Rd around 5 miles until the main trailhead will come on your left. It is gated, but no one has ever seen the gate closed.
There are a lot of small trails off of Coal road that have been marked by ribbons by the FM2CD(Follow Me To Certain Death) club. Most of these off-shoots are short, and dead end, requiring multi-point U-turns to get back. These are also very tight, and you WILL scratch up your paint, especially when the trees are full of leaves. However, a few of these off-shoots are fun. Try at your own risk, and I recommend no more than three trucks at a time as turning around at the end is always painful.
Once you are on the main trail, you realize it's nothing more than an unimproved fire road. Watch for the ribbon markers for the off-shoots.
The one at N37°58.800' W79°04.264' is by far the best, with some very fun obsticles. This route is NOT long wheelbase friendly. There are man-made washouts on the trail that have gotten pretty tall over the years. Even with 3" lift and 32's, my truck couldn't make it over some of these berms without a lot of dragging(and damage.) There are some fun rock sections that will probably high-center a stock Taco or Runner. A stock **** Rubicon(locked F&R for those that don't follow ****s) had to be pulled or winched about four times on this off-shoot. In this half mile, we spent about 2 hours getting trucks over obsticles.
The off-shoot I mentioned goes back to the main trail. From there on, again, it's much a fire road that a IFS Tacoma could take at 30MPH. There are some small rocks on the trail, but nothing major. There's one big rock obsticle, but it's optional.
PM me if you want additional details, or GPS tracks/waypoints.
Kyle
That's pretty much it. The trail dumps out to the BRP and you go home.