Trails / Virginia / George Washington National Forest

Three Ridges and Mau-Har Trail Loop

Three Ridges Wilderness, George Washington National Forest (Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District; Reeds Gap, Blue Ridge Parkway and VA 664)

Three Ridges rises south of Reeds Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway, in the 4,608-acre Three Ridges Wilderness. The Appalachian Trail crosses its summit knobs and drops to Harpers Creek, and the blue-blazed Mau-Har Trail returns along Campbell Creek past pools and a waterfall to close the loop.

Go Hike Virginia calls it “one tough hike” and adds, “I understand why this hike is among the best backpacking loops in Virginia.”

The hike

Start at Reeds Gap, where Go Hike Virginia says the lot holds about 15 to 20 cars and fills quickly. Head south on the AT. At 0.8 mile, a short spur leads to a small rocky overlook with a campsite and fire ring on the left. At 1.7 miles, the Mau-Har Trail splits to the right; that’s the return route. Maupin Field Shelter sits about 100 yards downhill from the junction, per MyHikes.

The AT continues over viewless Bee Mountain at 2.3 miles, then switchbacks and stairs lead to the main rocky outcrop at about 3.7 miles, which Go Hike Virginia calls the best view and a common day-hike turnaround. A Three Ridges campsite comes at 4.8 miles. The trail then descends steeply past Chimney Rock, where a short opening on the left leads to an overlook at about 6.2 miles, and continues down to the Harpers Creek Shelter area at about 8.5 miles.

Cross Harpers Creek and climb to the Mau-Har junction at 9.4 miles. The AT continues 1.7 miles to the VA 56 parking area at the Tye River. Turn left on the Mau-Har Trail, which follows Campbell Creek past small cascades and pools. MyHikes notes a 200-yard yellow spur to a pool and waterfall near the Campbell Creek camping area; Go Hike Virginia saw no falls in low water. From there, the Mau-Har climbs steeply, with a nearly mile-long switchback section per Go Hike Virginia, to Maupin Field Shelter at about 13 miles. Rejoin the AT and retrace Meadow Mountain to Reeds Gap.

Go Hike Virginia split the loop into about 8.5 miles on day one and 6.5 on day two. MyHikes reviewers Brian and Sylvia (2019) hiked it counterclockwise and found that direction works too. Go Hike Virginia recommends spring or fall for the best water flow and says hiking poles help on the rock scrambles and steep descents.

For another wilderness on the same ranger district, see the St. Mary’s Wilderness loop.

Tips

• Arrive early for parking at Reeds Gap.
• Fill up at Campbell Creek or Harpers Creek. Reviewers found the AT side and Maupin Field spring dry in some years.
• Go midweek. Reviewers report crowded campsites on weekends.
• Stay on the same bank at Campbell Creek camp. Reviewers say the blue blazes continue upstream on the same side.
• Watch for poison ivy near Harpers Creek, per a 2019 reviewer.

Camping

The ATC says dispersed camping is allowed on U.S. Forest Service land along the AT in Virginia, and asks campers to use existing sites at least 200 feet from water. The Forest Service limits groups to 10 people in all of its wildernesses, including Three Ridges. Forest-wide order 08-08-00-23-3 limits camping to 14 days in any 30-day period and bans camping within 300 feet of a developed parking area. Go Hike Virginia describes Harpers Creek Shelter with a privy and several campsites on both sides of the creek, and Maupin Field Shelter with a picnic table and many sites. The ATC asks campers to use shelter bear boxes, cables, or poles where they exist.

Inside Intel: MyHikes reviewers say the main Campbell Creek camping area is rocky and crowded, and recommend a small spot near the pools below it or a larger site about a mile upstream. Go Hike Virginia’s two-day split ends the first day at about 8.5 miles, at the Harpers Creek Shelter area, about halfway around.

Trail facts

• Distance: 13.2 miles (MyHikes); 15.0 miles (Go Hike Virginia)
• Route type: Loop (AT south, Mau-Har Trail north)
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Campsites: Maupin Field Shelter, Harpers Creek Shelter, Campbell Creek area, ridge sites on Meadow Mountain and Three Ridges
• Water: Campbell Creek; Harpers Creek (seasonal); Maupin Field spring (unreliable); treat it
• Permits: None found
• Group size: 10 (wilderness)
• Dogs: No restriction found
• Trailheads: Reeds Gap (Blue Ridge Parkway and VA 664); VA 56 at the Tye River (alternate)
• Last verified: October 17, 2026

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

• Go Hike Virginia: Three Ridges
• MyHikes (Hiking Upward): Three Ridges
• U.S. Forest Service: GW and Jefferson NFs wilderness
• U.S. Forest Service: General prohibitions order
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Where to Sleep on the A.T.
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy: GA - VA Hurricane Isaias

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.