Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve

Official notes

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.

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.

Dogs

Dogs allowed on leash

Cell

Not on file

Emergency

Not on file

• 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