The three ridges loop is a classic Virginia trail running route, consisting of 13.5 miles and over 4,000 ft of elevation gain. The route includes steep ascents and descents, rocky trails, stream crossings, and also some really fast runnable sections; packing a lot of adventure into a relatively short trail run.
This "lollipop" route can completed in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
The counter clockwise route begins by touching the Eastern edge of Route 56, and then running on the Appalachian trail up into the Three Ridges Wilderness. the Counter clockwise loop summits Chimney Rock (3,195tt), then Three Ridges (3,969ft), then Bee Mountain (3,021ft), before turning left at Mau-Har Campground and taking the Mau-Har Trail, for several miles, back to the Appalachian Trail junction, and then back down to Route 56. The Route ends by touching the Eastern edge of Rout 56 again.
The Clockwise route begins by touching the Eastern edge of Route 56, and then running on the Appalachian trail up and turn left at the Mau-Har - Appalachian Trail junction, pass through the Mau-har campground, summit Bee Mountain, Three Ridges, and then Chimney Rock, and return to Route 56. The Route ends by touching the Eastern edge of Rout 56 again.
