TRAIL DESCRIPTION

The Sauratown Trail (ST) is a unique 21.70 mile trail that begins at the Tories Den parking area of Hanging Rock State Park and runs in a general WSW direction to the Surry Line parking area of Pilot Mt. State Park. The ST was built, and is maintained, by the volunteer efforts of the Sauratown Trails Association (STA), an equestrian group. They also maintain: three loop trails which branch off of the ST, a trail center, and three parking areas spaced at intervals along the trail. The two parking areas that anchor each end of the ST are maintained by the N.C. Park service.

The total STA trail system exceeds 35 miles, and is connected to dozens of miles of park trails at each end. One can now hike from the Dan River to the Yadkin River, a distance of nearly forty miles. The ST is well designed, with many switchbacks, so that even the steeper sections are not too strenuous, even for casual hikers. Numerous combinations of short hikes are available, so that one can make as much or as little of an outing as desired.

TRAIL NOTES
For safety reasons the ST is sub-divided into 16 sections, and all section boundaries except one are located at accessible roads. Two 4"x4" posts are located at each section line, with the section number and mileage on each. For example at Bradley Road, a post on the east side of the road has an arrow pointed east, with the section number (13) and mileage. A post on the west side has an arrow pointed west, with the section number (14) and mileage.
The trails are marked with round white disks at frequent intervals, with two posted at directional changes. The only exception to white disk marking is on the Sauratown Loop trail, which is marked with blue triangles to differentiate it from the Tories Den Trail that goes on into Hangling Rock State Park.  Although the trail itself is easy to follow, it incorporates some farm roads in the route, and it is easy (especially if you're talking or daydreaming) to walk past a turn. If you don’t see a disk after a while, you may need to backtrack to pick up the trail.
The ST also has every ¼ mile marked by horizontal blue stripes on the nearest tree: one for ¼ mi., two for ½ mi., three for ¾ mi., and four for each even mile, then repeating the process. Cumulative mileage from the east end of the ST is also marked at each quarter mile. The markings are purposely non-conspicuous and may not be obvious. In fact at least one tree and several of the disks are already gone (casualties of the great ice storm of ought three).

DIFFICULTY FACTORS
Trail difficulty ratings are usually fairly subjective, what is strenuous for one person is easy for another and, the travel time posted at public parks is a bit of a joke. Instead, the ST uses trail difficulty factors for each section, (one in each direction). On average, climbing a foot will use as much energy (calories) as walking level ten feet, so level or descending grades will have a factor of 1.00 (never lower), while ascending grades will be greater than one. For example, Section 10 is 2.10 miles long and has a 500' vertical difference. Westbound it has a factor of 1.09, Eastbound, 1.45. Westbound the trail seems like 2.30 miles, while eastbound has a factor of 1.45, or equal to 3.05 miles. This doesn't mean that the eastbound climb would take that much more time, since most people just exert the extra effort, and the fitter a person is, the closer the two times will be. Each individual can use the factors given, and a little mental math (this ain't rocket science) to estimate where, or how long they wish to hike.
Just for the record, the total climb Westbound is 2,790 vertical feet (difficulty factor 1.24), while Eastbound it is 3160 vertical feet (difficulty factor 1.28). A one-way hike along the ST is 0.70 Mi. "longer".

STREAM CROSSING DIFFICULTY FACTORS
Eastbound Stream crossings noted in the following trail description can be roughly rated as follows:
named creeks (Vade Mecum, South Double, West Prong, Mill, and Grassy Creeks, respectively) are usually about 20' wide and can be crossed during normal weather conditions without much difficulty; un-named creeks (maybe a dozen) are about 8' wide, and can usually be crossed by stepping on a rock or two: branches are  2-4' wide and can be jumped or even stepped across.
Numerous feeder branches and bogs are bridged by small wooden bridges. The STA is also looking into at several options to build pedestrian bridges across the named creeks on an as-needed basis.

TRAIL SECTIONS 1 - 16 DESCRIPTIONS

SECTION  1   (0.45 MI.)   Difficulty Factor: Westbound 1.05, Eastbound 2.06)
Begin Mi 0.00 of the ST (Elev.1436) at Tories Den parking area (Tories Den is a five min. walk, and a must for the first time visitor). Then head W on the combined ST/Tories Den Trail (the latter is part of the Hanging Rock trail system) to Mi 0.15, where it branches off to the left, southward to the main part of the park. The same point is Mile 0.00 of the Sauratown Loop. Continue W on ST to MI 0.35, (Mi 0.00 of the Booth Loop), which branches off to the N. Continue on the ST down several switchbacks to Mickey Road (Elev.1220) at Mi 0.45.

SECTION  4   (0.15  MI.)    Difficulty Factor: Westbound  1.69, Eastbound 1.00
Cross N.C.Hwy.66 and head northward along the shortest section on the ST, up a fairly steep hill and along several switch-backs, to Taylor Road (Elev.1080) at Mi 4.20.

SAURATOWN TRAIL CENTER / SAURATOWN CONNECTOR TRAIL
SECTION  6  (1.76 Mi.)  Difficulty Factor: Westbound 1.19, Eastbound 1.23
From the ST Trail Center (elev.1060) at Mi 0.00, head W, immediately crossing two small bridges, then parallel with Rock House Road for a short distance to a single switch-back to the right, crossing the road at Mi 0.24. Turn left and go parallel with the road SW, crossing a creek at Mi 0.50. About 300' past the creek, turn right and head NNE, near the W side of the creek, past several water slides and cave-like ledges, to S. Double Creek (elev.855) at Mi 0.83. Cross it and follow the north bank upstream, crossing a bridge over a feeder branch, and leaving the creek valley 300' further on at Mi 1.23. Continue in the same general direction along high ground for about 800' to Mi 1.38, near an old log barn. Turn right and N along a long moderate climb, first along the E side of a ravine, and then along the W side of a large hollow to Mi 1.73 where the connector trail intersects the main ST at Mi 6.34 (elev.1020). Turn right (6.34 miles) to the Tories Den Parking area of Hanging Rock State Park. Turn left to the: Brims Grove, Coon Road and Surry Line Parking areas, 7.76 miles, 11.76 miles and 15.36 miles to the west, respectively.

SECTION  8   (1.40 MI.)  Difficulty Factor: Westbound 1.11, Eastbound 1.29
Historic Rock House, which supposedly doubled as a fort to protect settlers against marauding bands of Tories (who apparently got their comeuppance later on and hid in the aforementioned Tories Den) is located a short distance away. Turn left at the end of Section 7, and follow the shoulder of Rock House Rd. S for 0.50 mi.
Cross Rock House Road (Elev.1116) and follow the left shoulder WNW for 200' to the intersection of Rock House Road and Thore Road. Follow the left shoulder of the latter in a general SSW direction, at Mi 7.25 passing an old log house, and an intriguing view of Pilot Knob (over seven miles away), framed by two peaks of a nearby ridge. Pass by an old family graveyard at Mi 7.40, and cross a bridge at Mi 7.70. Continue along road, as it passes through a long bottom, and past a waterfall over a huge boulder, just short of the T intersection of Thore Road and Flat Rock Road at Mi 8.40. Turn left and ESE on the latter, crossing over a culvert at 300' to Mi 8.50

SECTION  14   (0.75 MI.)   Difficulty Factor: Westbound 1.33, Eastbound 1.24
Turn left and follow Bradley Road for 60', and turn right across road, entering pines. Go SSW along a slight downgrade, crossing a bridge across a branch at Mi 17.55. Go up and down a short rise and cross a bridge across a branch (elev.1035) at Mi 17.65. Make a hard right turn, and NW up the left side of a large hollow, on a moderate, then steeper climb. At Mi 17.95, cross Old U.S.52 (elev.1116) through a small patch of woods, and come out on the south shoulder of Coon Road. Turn left on it and immediately cross the tracks of the Yadkin Valley R.R. Follow the road for 100' to the T intersection with Old Winston Road. Turn left along the latter southward 200' to MI 18.10. (The above-mentioned roads border the N and W sides of Coon Road Parking Area, which has a small shelter).

Section  15   (1.90 MI.)   Difficulty Factor: Westbound 1.20, Eastbound 1.31
Turn right across Old Winston Road (elev.1140) and head W along the left side of a rail fence and, after going between a log barn and a shed, start a gradual descent, crossing two small hollows, then a branch at Mi 18.38. Continue along the right side of a flat hollow, re-crossing the branch (elev.1020) at Mi 18.54 and again 300' further on. On the right side of the branch, bear right for a short distance, then left, and head SSW, climbing the right side of a hollow and topping out on a ridge at Mi 18.67. Cross a cleared power right-of-way and enter woods (and into Surry County) on the far side of the R/W at Mi 18.75. Descend along several switchbacks crossing a branch at Mi 18.84, and then a short climb to the top of a ridge along the N edge of a field at Mi 18.96. Enter woods a little further on, and descend to Grassy Creek (elev.995), crossing it about 200' S of an earthen dam at Mi 19.16. Climb a short distance then descend into a hollow, crossing a branch at Mi 19.21. Then up along the right side of the hollow until crossing a private gravel road (New Pilot Knob Lane) along a small ridge at Mi 19.41. Cross the road and descend in a SW direction to the NW corner of a clearing near a branch at Mi 19.30. Veer left and SSE along the left bank of it until coming back on the above-mentioned road, about 50' north of Pilot Knob Park Road. Cross the latter at Mi 19.80, turn right and W along it, crossing under the double overpass of U.S. Hwy. 52 (elev.1060) at Mi 20.00.

SECTION 16  (1.70 MI.)    Difficulty Factor: Westbound 1.33, Eastbound 1.32
Immediately after passing under the west overpass, bear left and into Pilot Mountain State Park. Head WNW up a hollow and make a sweeping counterclockwise half turn around it ending up on a ridge at Mi 20.23, where the ST intersects Grassy Ridge Trail (turn right and head NNW about 0.40 Mi. to the park headquarters). Continuing on the ST, turn left and head SE down the ridge, on the combined ST/Grassy Ridge trail. Pass by an old tobacco barn at Mi 20.52, and down a large hollow, crossing a branch (elev.980) at Mi 20.62. Then head WNW up a steep hill that gradually flattens out and joins an old road that passes through an abandoned farmstead at Mi 21.00. Continue down the road as it crosses a branch (elev. 950) the lowest point in the park trail system. Go up the same road to a gate about 30' short of Pinnacle Hotel Road at Mi 21.36. Turn right and W, at first parallel with the road, then WNW away from it for a while, coming back and crossing it at MI 21.65. Cross the road and turn right, crossing Culler Road about 60' further on, coming into the Surry Line parking area. Head SSW across a gravel lot to the beginning of the Corridor Trail to the Yadkin Islands section of Pilot Mt. State Park at Mi 21.70, which is also the Western terminus of the Sauratown Trail (elev.1065). The parking area has restroom facilities and a bulletin board with maps posted showing the ST and connecting park trails.

TRAIL LOOP DESCRIPTIONS

SAURATOWN LOOP *    (6.00 Mi.)    Difficulty Factor: 1.24
*Round trip from Tories Den Parking Area.
At Mi 0.15 (elev.1265) of the ST (see description for Section 1) begin Mi 0.00 of the Sauratown Loop (SL). Head south across Charlie Young Road, cross a branch at Mi 0.13 and up a short climb to a trail split at Mi 0.20, the beginning of the actual loop. Turn left and begin an easy climb up a single long switchback, turning left at Mi 0.47 to join an old farm road which tapers off near the saddle in a flat ridge at Mi 0.72. Continue on for a short rise until the trail splits at Mi 1.00. At this point, the Tories Den Trail, which has been combined with the SL until now, veers left for a hard climb into the main part of Hanging Rock State Park. (The Sauratown Loop trail markers were changed in the fall of 2006 to differentiate this trail from the Tories Den Trail. Instead of the usual white circle markers, the SL trail markers are now blue triangles.) Turn right and west along the north face of Huckleberry Ridge, reaching the highest point on the STA trail system (elev.1770) at Mi 1.13. Continue along a very slight descent to the saddle of the ridge at Mi 1.63. Turn right and skirt the north side of Reuben Mountain, crossing a branch in a large hollow at Mi 2.15, and on to Mi. 2.36, where the trail goes N down a steep grade which flattens by the time it crosses into private property at Mi 2.44. The SL then heads E on an old farm road for a while, then crosses branches at Mi 2.90 and Mi 3.07, respectively. At Mi 3.15, pass by a small pond and then up a hollow, joining an old farm road at Mi 3.75. Turn right and S on the road up a fairly steep climb to a bluff at Mi 3.44 with a unique view of Sauratown Mountain. Then, left and E just to the outside of the marked boundary trees of Hanging Rock State Park, to a point near a branch at Mi 3.75 at the southern base of a large ridge. Make a hard turn to the left and begin a long but moderate climb on a single switchback, heading W then E, coming out near the top at Mi 4.07. Then, along the ridge on a series of long switchbacks: first W, then NE, then SW, and finally NNE to an overlook with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Mi 5.00. Continue past two large boulders, then down a series of short switchbacks, crossing an old farm road, and back into Hanging Rock State Park just short of the end of the SL at Mi 5.50, which is equal to Mi. 0.20, the beginning of the loop as described above. Continue back to Mi 0.00 in reverse order of the description in the first two sentences.

BOOTH LOOP *    (4.90 Mi.)     Difficulty Factor: 1.30
*Round trip from Tories Den Parking Area
At Mi 0.35 (elev.1280) of the ST (see description for Section 1) begin Mi 0.00 of the Booth Loop (BL). Head N down a moderate descent making a gradual clockwise turn to the SSE, and cross to the E side of a branch in a hollow at Mi 0.68, then NNW down the hollow, re-crossing to the W side of the branch a little further on. Continue down the hollow and circle a field counterclockwise to Mickey Road (elev.1040) at Mi 0.96. Cross it and turn left up the shoulder for 150', then right along the east side of two fields on the crest of a ridge to Mi 1.35. Then, E down several switchbacks to Mi 1.50, the beginning (and end) of the actual loop (elev.880). Head S up a hollow for a short distance, then reverse direction and soon begin a series of switchbacks to the E, coming to within 50' of Mickey Road at Mi 1.75. Go N for a short distance and then W down a series of switchbacks, crossing a branch and back to the end of the loop at Mi 2.70, which is equal to Mi 1.50, the beginning of the loop as described above. Continue back to Mi 0.00 in reverse order of the above-described route.

TUCKER LOOP *   (7.05 Mi.)     Difficulty Factor: 1.24
*Round trip from Tories Den Parking Area
At Mi 1.83 (elev.860) of the ST (see description for Sections 1 through 3) begin Mi 0.00 of the Tucker Loop (TL). Head north across a hollow to Mi 0.10, the beginning of the actual loop. Turn right and head in a general northward direction along a long series of switchbacks coming down to a cave at Vade Mecum Creek, the lowest point on the STA trail system (elev.805). Then begin a long series of switchbacks in a general southward direction (at one point sharing the same hollow as the inbound section of the trail) to the end of the loop at Mi 3.25, which is equal to Mi 0.10, the beginning of the loop. Turn right and head S back across the same hollow described above to Mi 0.00.

Trail descriptions submitted by:
Wayne Horton- Sauratown Trails Association - Hiking representative
 336-765-7872    email: whorton@ triad.rr.com

TRAIL RULES

Use of these trails is a recreational privilege offered courtesy of the landowners who live on or near the trails. We request the following trail manners be observed out of respect for the landowner's generosity in allowing us to use these trails, as well as for everyone's safety.

 Riders and hikers MUST stay on the designated trails. This is because of the contract agreement we have with the landowners and for your safety.

To prevent erosion, do not ride the trails if they are really muddy. Wait for a better day.

Alcoholic beverages, firearms, and drugs are not allowed.

No pets other than horses are allowed on the trails.

No bikes allowed on the trails.

Fires allowed at designated areas only.

Camp at designated campgrounds only.

All parking areas close at dark.

Horses may not be ridden on the trails at night.

Please extinguish all smoking materials completely.

Take only pictures. Do not litter!

Sauratown Trails Association, Inc. is not responsible for accidents, thefts, or any other incidents that may occur to people, livestock or property at the parking lot or on the trails.

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