828s and Heartbreak

• Please be aware the a small section of this route is only ridable from from Labor Day (early Sept.) to Memorial Day (late May). The route uses a seasonal trail, Camp Grier’s Rostan Trail, that is only open to public Labor Day to Memorial Day. To find a reroute using backroads, see the Trail Notes tab.
• You will find yourself on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a short stint, and it’s recommended to have a red blinky light for this section.
• At the start of Heartbreak Ridge, you’ll see a bear hunting sign indicating trail closure in the fall. That is for the trail up hill (Old Toll Rd.) and does not apply to the Heartbreak Ridge Trail.
• Overnight parking is available at Berhard Trailhead.

• Primitive, backcountry camping (no reservations needed) and established campgrounds for fee with reservations.
• The camping at Curtis Creek Campground is a great spot if you started the route late after work. However, the climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway should not be underestimated if you’re looking to camp further on.
• To get to the Black Mountain Campground, it’s recommended to get an earlier start so you have plenty of time to make the Curtis Creek climb (about nine miles and 2,500 feet total).

• Bring water filter and plenty of food, as there are no good resupply options.
• Curtis Creek and Black Mountain campground have water and restrooms when in-season.

Seasonal Reroute

If you’re riding this route in the summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you’ll need to skip the singletrack connector beginning at mile 5.5. You can find the reroute here, which requires a bit of pavement on backroads around Old Fort.

Trail Description

From the Bernard parking area, ride past the gate, up the grassy gravel climb to the start of the Bernard trailhead. Enjoy the views of the surrounding ridges before descending down the new switchbacky singletrack. Turn left on the paved Lookout Greenway and follow it out to Mill Creek Road. Stay straight on Mill Creek Road/Old US 70 W, past the Old Fort picnic area. Very soon, you’ll cross over a concrete bridge. Just a little past the Wolf Creek sign, the Copper Ridge trail will be on the left. It is VERY easy to miss! If you make it to the Copper Ridge Fonta Flora trailhead parking area, you have gone too far. This trailhead is a branch off of Copper Ridge, so if you do find yourself at the parking area, you can take this trail up to where the trail splits, and go left. You’ll soon see the Rostan Trail on the right and be back on course.

Follow Rostan Trail as it weaves around the Camp Grier property. Be respectful and always stay on the yellow-blazed trail. Also, watch out for the electric fence as you pass through the horse pasture. Rostan ends where Salt Gap and Oak Hollow meet at Jarrett Creek Rd. Salt Gap is the more direct, steeper route to Curtis Creek Rd. However, we recommend taking the hard right onto Oak Hollow to enjoy some Gateway Trail goodness! Oak Hollow connects to Forager and these are buttery smooth, swoopy descents to the bottom of the Gateway Trail system. There are pit toilets, but not much else in the Gateway trailhead parking area. Climb up Curtis Creek Road to the first camping options.

Once at the top of Curtis Creek, cross over the Blue Ridge Parkway to Neals Creek Rd where you have dispersed camping options along this descent. Keep left to get onto Toe River Rd. Pass Black Mountain Campground (showers, water, and toilets) and begin climbing back up to the parkway. Add a blinky red light to your back and take a right turn onto the parkway. Take in a view at the overlook and pedal a little further to the left turn onto the Heartbreak Trail. This is easy to miss; look for the skinny brown trail sign. This section of trail is a mandatory hike-a-bike, as bike riding is not allowed on trails within the boundaries of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Please push your bike up the steep slope until you arrive at the meadow/bear hunting signs.

At the “meadow,” go left to start the descent on Heartbreak, and be ready for the trail to turn right and into the chunk. Enjoy the fast descent, but don’t forget to slow up and catch the vistas. Once at Star Gap, stay right. The hardest and steepest drop of the ride is at the bottom of this trail. Use caution and know your limits! After the last drop, the trail continues to the left and down to a river crossing. This is a good place to grab some water for the climb up Mill Creek Rd. You’ll cross over train tracks and follow the wide trail out to the road. Take a left onto the pavement. Ride the short distance to Mill Creek road then turn right and climb up to the Bernard Mountain trailhead parking area.