Dictum Ridge Trail
Virginia
Free — you'll pick up right here.
5.6 mi
Distance
2,507 ft
Gain
2h 53m
Time
No verdict for this trail
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
Dictum Ridge Trail
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 5.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,507 ft
- Elevation loss
- 2,507 ft
- Highest point
- 3,685 ft
- Lowest point
- 1,727 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
About this trail
Dictum Ridge Trail is an 11.14-mile out-and-back hike in Virginia with 2,507 feet of elevation gain and loss. The trail reaches a maximum elevation of 3,685 feet.
Facts about this trail
The climb
- Starts at
- 1,727 ft
- High point
- 3,685 ft
- Total climbing
- 2,507 ft
- Total descent
- 2,507 ft
- Steepest stretch
- 37% grade around mile 0.3 on the way out
- Length (round trip)
- 11 mi
- Shape
- Out and back
It rolls up and down the whole way rather than holding one long climb.
Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)
Where it is
- North River Ranger District · Ranger district
- George Washington and Jefferson National Forest · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Conditions
Active alerts for George Washington and Jefferson National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:
Forest Service Road 125 (Skyline Drive) Closure through December -James River and Warm Springs RD
critical · posted Oct 5, 2026
Bolar Mountain Recreation Area - Twin Ridge Road Closure
critical · posted Sep 16, 2026
Alcohol prohibition at the Appalachian Trail Partnership Shelter
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Controlled Substances Prohibited
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Food Storage and Disposal Requirements - Bear Safety
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Hunting prohibited around Lake Moomaw
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Motor vehicle operators must follow State Laws
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Prohibitions in designated recreation sites
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Shooting Ranges rules and prohibitions
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Second Mountain TrailHiking0.8 mi
- Second MountainRock climbing1 mi
- Mud Pond GapHiking3.3 mi
- Maple SpringsHiking3.4 mi
- Hidden Cracks - RIGHT SectorRock climbing5.7 mi
- Lower HiddenRock climbing6 mi
- Hone Quarry CampgroundCamping6.1 mi
- Brandywine CampgroundCamping9.3 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors