The Wild Oak Trail (TWOT)

The Wild Oak Trail (TWOT) is a 27 mile loop featuring big climbs and runnable trail. Elevations vary significantly, from a low of 1,600 feet at the trailhead at North River Gap to a high point of 4,351 feet on Little Bald Knob, and each loop boasts nearly 8000 feet of ascent.

Distance
  • 27 miles
Running time
  • 5–12 hours
Total ascent/descent
  • 7,850 feet
    295 feet/mile
Start/finish
GPX file
Print or download
What to wear

The Wild Oak Trail (TWOT) is a 27 mile loop featuring big climbs and runnable trail. Elevations vary significantly, from a low of 1,600 feet at the trailhead at North River Gap to a high point of 4,351 feet on Little Bald Knob, and each loop boasts nearly 8000 feet of ascent. Portions of the existing trail were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s to provide access for forest fire control. These trails were combined as the Wild Oak Trail, which was designated a National Recreation Trail by the Secretary of Agriculture in 1979. In addition to the trailhead at North River Gap, there are two other road crossings on the loop: at FDR 96 and Camp Todd, each about 10 miles from North River Gap (in opposite directions).

Each year, Dennis Herr puts on TWOT in February or Hot TWOT in October, 100 milers comprised of for loops of TWOT. See the TWOT Web site for more information on these runs and The Wild Oak Trail in general.

Last updated May 17, 2020

What you do is up to you, but you shouldn't rely on these directions alone; they are often not specific enough to navigate by, and may be incorrect or out of date. Review a map beforehand and carry it with you. Tell a friend where you are going and when you plan to return. Do not count on having cell phone service while on the run. The VHTRC is not responsible for your welfare on any of these runs. If you go on one of these runs and get lost, run out of water, get injured, mauled by a bear, or die, or if anything else goes wrong, it's your fault; not ours. You assume all risks here and the VHTRC assumes none at all. Legal issues aside, some of these runs are more remote than others and the VHTRC is not suggesting that you do any of these runs, unless you are prepared to accept full responsibility for yourself.