Little and Big House Mountains
9.8 miles, strenuous terrain
42 miles from Daleville, $4 Carpool Fee
Meet at Daleville Park and Ride, The House Mountains are just west of Lexington
in Rockbridge County.
Purchased for preservation by the Rockbridge Area Conservation
Council (RACC) in 1989, the 800+ acres includes the tops of Big House and
Little House Mountain, and the saddle between them.
We will follow the 2-mile woods road to the
saddle, hike another mile to the cliffs of Big House Mountain, and then return
to the saddle to explore for the harder-to-find trail to the top of Little
House Mountain.
Both peaks are short but steep climbs up to spectacular views. With
Little House, the climb brings us up to a ridge where we hike about 3/4 mile to
the view point.
Big House and Little House Mountain, 6.2 or 9.8 miles, strenuous. The House Mountain hike near
Lexington Virginia is really two out-and-back hikes in one. Big House Mountain, with great views
to the west from Goat Point Overlook, and Little House Mountain, with its spectacular views of
the Shenandoah Valley to the northeast. Little House and Big House Mountains appear to tower out
of the plains as they stand by themselves, separate from any other mountain range. The 950 acre
House Mountain Preserve was purchased in 1989 through the efforts of the Rockbridge Area Conservation
Council, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and many local residents. The area is now owned by the
Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and managed locally by the House Mountain Management Committee
representing RACC, W&L University, VMI, and VOF. We will all go together up to Little House Mtn.
first. There is some rock scrambling (nothing like Old Rag) at the top and some really beautiful views.
Directions:
I-81 N to US-60 W, Lexington, 188B
US-60 W 9.1 miles
Left VA-641, Jacktown Road 2.5 miles
Right VA-643, Saddle Ridge Road to parking signs
Park in the designated parking
area ONLY. The parking area on Saddle Ridge Rd/VA643 is located between the parking signs before
the information kiosk. 37.8116, -79.53266
Note: The 0.5 miles to the trail head is located on private property, and no vehicle traffic of
any kind is allowed on the that portion of the road. Please respect private property.