Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve

About this route

Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve protects 936 acres in Rockbridge County, about 10 miles north of Lexington, on the slopes above the Maury River where the water has cut a 3.7-mile gorge through Hogback, Little North and Forge mountains. DCR calls it Virginia's oldest state-managed natural area; the Commonwealth acquired the property in 1954 and dedicated it as a preserve in 2002. One trail serves it, the Preserve Loop Trail, which DCR describes as an arduous 3.5-mile hike. Signs and tree blazes along it are blue, and DCR recommends starting by turning right after the swinging bridge to follow the river downstream, then heading up the ridge. DCR states this is the only state-maintained trail in the preserve or the surrounding wildlife management area.

Reaching the trail depends on a facility that DCR does not own. The parking area off State Route 39 and the swinging bridge across the Maury River are maintained by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and DCR's preserve-system guide says a WMA Access Permit is required to use that parking area, the bridge and the trails providing access to the preserve. The permit applies to visitors age 17 and older who do not hold a valid Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing or trapping license or a current Virginia boat registration, and who are not otherwise waived. DWR lists it at $4 per person daily and $23 per person annually, both including a $1 transaction fee, with group rates sold by phone. DCR keeps preserve lots small deliberately, usually four to 20 spaces across the system, and says a full lot means the preserve has reached capacity, in which case you should wait for a space or return another time. DWR separately asks visitors to check its closures and notices page before heading to a WMA to confirm the area is open and the roads are passable.

DCR is explicit that on its preserves recreation is secondary to biodiversity protection, and the trade-offs run in that direction. The route climbs steep, rocky slopes through chestnut oak and mixed oak forest, with Table Mountain pine, pitch pine and heaths including mountain laurel, huckleberry and blueberry holding the dry, thin-soiled ground. DCR lists no restrooms, drinking water or trash receptacles at this preserve, and its preserve-system guide says most preserves have none, so carry plenty of water and pack out everything you bring. That guide also warns that cell coverage is often poor or missing, that trails may be steep, narrow and remote, that most are unreachable by emergency vehicles, and that DCR staff are unlikely to be on site. Camping, fires, bicycles, horses, ATVs, rock climbing and collecting are all prohibited, and pets must stay leashed. What the preserve protects is genuinely uncommon: an exemplary Central Appalachian chestnut oak forest, three state-rare plants along the river, and the state-rare Appalachian jewelwing damselfly. The Goshen and Little North Mountain wildlife management areas surround the preserve and are open to public hunting, so plan autumn and winter visits with DWR's seasons in mind.

Why this difficulty rating: DCR's preserve guide calls the Preserve Loop Trail "an arduous 3.5-mile hike" and recommends a direction of travel that leaves the ridge climb for the second half. DCR elsewhere describes the preserve as steep, rocky slopes above the Maury River gorge. DCR publishes no elevation gain or high and low point for the trail, so this rating reflects the agency's own wording and terrain description rather than a measured climb.

Highlights

• The Preserve Loop Trail, a 3.5-mile blue-blazed loop that DCR states is the only state-maintained trail in the preserve or the WMA
• A DWR-maintained swinging suspension bridge over the Maury River at the trailhead
• The 3.7-mile Maury River gorge, which DCR says extends through Hogback, Little North and Forge mountains
• Virginia's oldest state-managed natural area, per DCR, acquired by the Commonwealth in 1954 and dedicated as a preserve in 2002
• An exemplary Central Appalachian chestnut oak forest community on steep, rocky slopes
• Table Mountain pine, pitch pine and heath woodland with mountain laurel, huckleberry and blueberry on dry, acidic sites
• The state-rare Appalachian jewelwing damselfly along the boulder-strewn shore of the Maury
• Mountain laurel flowering on the hillsides in late spring and cardinal flower along the river in late summer

Map and trailheads

Approximate locations for orientation only. Carry an offline map — cell service is unreliable on much of this network.

Know before you go

Route type

Loop

Surfaces

Rocky

Setting

River, Forest, Mountain, Ridgeline

Amenities

Parking

Parking

Access is from a trailhead parking area off State Route 39, reached by a short gravel driveway and maintained by DWR, with a swinging bridge crossing the Maury River. DCR's driving directions: from I-81 take I-64 (exit 191) near Lexington, go 0.5 mile to Route 11 north (Exit 55), bear right at the end of the ramp onto Route 11 and go 0.1 mile to the first traffic light, turn left onto State Route 39 west, then go 15.4 miles and turn right onto the gravel road leading into the parking area. That gravel road is 1.7 miles north of the VDOT rest area near the middle of Goshen Pass. DCR instructs visitors to park only in designated spaces and says a full lot means the preserve has reached capacity, in which case wait for a space to open or come back another time. DCR notes preserve lots system-wide usually hold four to 20 spaces; it publishes no space count for this lot. A WMA Access Permit is required to park here.

Restrooms

DCR lists no restroom at Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve. Its preserve-system guide states that most preserves have no restrooms or trash receptacles, and instructs visitors to plan accordingly, pack out trash and bagged pet waste, and not dispose of human or pet waste in bodies of water. No facilities of any kind are documented at this trailhead by either DCR or DWR.

Water

No drinking water is listed at this preserve. DCR's preserve-system guide tells visitors to carry maps, a compass or GPS unit, and plenty of drinking water.

Fees

The parking area, swinging bridge and access trails are maintained by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and require a WMA Access Permit. DWR lists the Daily Access Permit at $4 per person and the Annual Access Permit at $23 per person, both including a $1 per transaction license agent fee. Group daily pricing, also including the $1 fee, runs $26 for 1-12 people, $51 for 13-24, $76 for 25-36, $101 for 37-48 and $126 for 49-60; groups of 12 or more also require a Special Use Authorization. Permits are sold online, at any license agent, or by phone at 1-866-721-6911 during business hours.

Permits

A DWR WMA Access Permit is required for visitors age 17 and older who do not hold a valid Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing or trapping license, or a current Virginia boat registration, unless they are otherwise waived. DWR points to its Access Permit Waiver Guidance for the waiver route. DCR's preserve-system guide states the permit is required to use the parking area, the suspension/swinging bridge and the trails providing access to Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve. For permit information DCR directs visitors to the DWR field office in Verona at (540) 248-9360 or dwr.virginia.gov/access-permit. A current DWR "Restore the Wild" membership includes an Annual Access Permit and also satisfies the requirement.

Hours

DCR states that natural area preserves are open from sunrise to sunset unless otherwise posted, and that some preserves have limited hours and may be closed for management purposes such as prescribed burning and invasive species control. DCR tells visitors to check the preserve's web page before visiting. DWR separately directs visitors to check its Lands and Facilities Closures and Notices page before visiting a WMA to confirm the area is open and roads are passable, which matters here because the parking area and bridge are DWR's. No Goshen Pass-specific hours or closure schedule is posted by either agency.

Dogs

Dogs allowed on leash

Accessibility

Not yet verified

Stroller friendly

Not yet verified

Good with kids

Not yet verified

Seasonal notes

DCR points to two seasonal displays here: mountain laurel flowering on the hillsides toward the end of spring, and the red blooms of cardinal flower showing along the Maury River in the later part of summer. DCR also notes that spring floods often inundate the river-scour woodland habitat along the Maury. The Goshen and Little North Mountain wildlife management areas surround the preserve, and DWR publishes deer, bear, turkey, grouse and squirrel hunting on both, with limited rabbit hunting on open lands, so autumn and winter visits overlap with active hunting seasons on the adjoining land. DCR adds that preserves may close at times for management activities such as prescribed burning and invasive species control.

Weather exposure

Largely forested. DCR describes chestnut oak forest as the prevalent community across much of the preserve, along with mixed oak forest of white, black and scarlet oak and various hickories, while dry, acidic, thin-soiled sites carry Table Mountain pine, pitch pine and a variety of heaths. DCR advises researching and keeping an eye on weather conditions before a visit and knowing your own limitations and those of your group.

Cell service

Not yet verified

Emergency

Not yet verified

Hazards and wildlife

• DCR describes the 3.5-mile Preserve Loop Trail as arduous; it climbs the steep, rocky slopes above the Maury River gorge
• Reaching the trail requires crossing a suspension/swinging bridge over the Maury River
• DCR warns that cell phone coverage at preserves is often poor or absent; tell someone where you are going and have an emergency action plan
• DCR warns that preserve trails may be steep, narrow and remote, that most are inaccessible to emergency vehicles, and that DCR staff are unlikely to be on site
• DCR lists no drinking water, restrooms or trash receptacles at this preserve; its preserve-system guide says most preserves have none, so carry plenty of water and pack out your trash
• The Goshen and Little North Mountain wildlife management areas surround the preserve and are open to public hunting in season
• DCR notes that spring floods often inundate the river-scour woodland habitat along the Maury River
• Parking is limited; DCR says a full lot means the preserve is at capacity and asks visitors to return another time
• DWR asks visitors to check its Lands and Facilities Closures and Notices page before visiting a WMA to confirm the area is open and roads are passable
• Rock climbing, camping and fires are prohibited on the preserve

The preserve protects habitat for the state-rare Appalachian jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx angustipennis), which DCR reports along the boulder-strewn shore of the Maury River, and for three state-rare plants: freshwater cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) and sand grape (Vitis rupestris), both more common in the Midwest, and marsh pea. DCR asks visitors to observe wild animals from a distance, never to feed them, to avoid wildlife during mating, nesting or rearing, and to back away with caution from any animal acting strangely or not running away, since it may have rabies. Collecting plants, animals, minerals or artifacts is prohibited.

Read the Virginia wildlife and safety guide