Devil’s Marbleyard Belfast, Gunter Ridge, Glenwood Horse Trail Circuit

8.3 miles, strenuous terrain</p>
35 miles from Roanoke, $4.00 carpool fee</p></p>

Directions from I-81:</p>
1. Take exit 180A and follow US11 East.</p>
2. In 3.6 miles bear LEFT VA-130 (Natural Bridge).</p>
3. In 3.1 miles turn RIGHT Arnold Valley Rd (VA-759). sign [Cave Mt Lake].</p>
4. In 2.9 miles turn LEFT Petite Gap Road (VA-781).</p>
5. In 1.5 miles arrive at parking area for the Belfast trailhead and footbridge on the left.</p></p>

From the Belfast trailhead immediately cross a footbridge, 
pass between two columns, follow the blue blazes and cross the orange blazed 
Glenwood Horse Trail.  In a few yards 
come to the junction with an old woods road and a campsite straight ahead. Turn 
left onto the woods road and pass the old foundations of some camp buildings on 
the left. Soon cross Belfast Creek. The Glenwood Horse Trail will come in 
sharply from the left for a few yards before turning left at a sign.  
straight on the Belfast Trail and soon enter the James Face Wilderness. 
AT 1.3 miles from the trailhead you can 
access the Devil's Marbleyard but rejoining the Belfast Trail gets harder 
higher up the boulder field.  In another 
mile turn left onto the Gunter Ridge Trail and descend through 14 switchbacks 
to a horse fence and then a James River Face Wilderness sign. After this sign 
the trail makes a sharp left turn and soon crosses Little Hellgate Creek. In 3 
miles turn left on a wide gravel road, the Glenwood Horse Trail.  
In a mile the road splits. Follow the double 
yellow blazes to the right. In another 0.3 miles continue straight past a road 
from the left. At 0.36 miles from the last blaze make a sharp left onto another 
road. The direction is marked with a diamond blaze containing an arrow.  
At 0.73 miles from the last turn arrive at 
the junction with the Belfast Trail. Turn right. In a few yards take the left 
fork, the Belfast trail back to your car.</p></p>

Located a few miles beyond Natural Bridge Station, this hike 
will ascend the steep Gunter Ridge Trail to it’s intersection with the 
Belfast Trail in the Jefferson National Forest.  The hike will then 
descend on the belfast trail passing the Devil’s Marbleyard.  This 
is an eight-acre field of quartzite boulders which affords endless scrambling 
opportunities (watch out for snakes!) and great views.</p></p>

We will use the Belfast, Gunter Ridge and Glenwood Horse 
trails to form an 8.3 mile loop. The climb up Belfast Trail is extremely steep 
and rocky at times but a visit to the Devil's Marbleyard will make it 
memorable. The trek along Gunter Ridge is mostly flat until you descend along 
14 switchbacks to join the Glenwood Horse Trail, which you'll follow in and out 
of short coves and up and over slight hills back to the starting point. To mix 
things up I am thinking of starting near Hellgate Creek rather than the Belfast 
trail.</p></p>

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