Big Levels is a seasonal high clearance off-road trail near Stuarts Draft, Virginia located within the George Washington National Forest. The full trail is an 18 mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail that starts with an easy gravel road and scales up to a rocky mountain trail once you reach the ridgeline. There are a few large mud holes towards the middle of the trail that can get rather deep depending on the amount of rain the area has received recently.
This is one of our favorite off-roading trails in Virginia. BONUS: The trail looks GREAT in the fall for leaf peeping season!
The north entrance is on Coal Road which is the light gravel section. There are plenty of dispersed campsites along Coal Road which we have used for several trips now. Some of the campsites will only fit a vehicle or two and many sites have a small creek nearby.
About halfway down Coal Road is where the trail gets interesting. There is a large campsite on the right and a staging area where you can air down your tires, eat lunch, and prep for the trip up the mountain. The next step is to ascend the trail to the left which leads to Bald Mountain Jeep Trail. Bald Mountain Jeep Trail is the technical section of Big Levels. The switchbacks start quickly after turning from Coal Road as the trail goes from 2,000 ft to 3,000 ft. Bald Mountain Jeep Trail has many overlooks and campsites to discover, each with a unique view of the George Washington National Forest. The trail eventually ends at an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway where you are a short drive from Crozet and Charlottesville.
Trail Expectations:
- A high clearance 4×4 vehicle is required
- The trail is rather rocky for Virginia so skid plates and/or rock sliders are recommended for additional security
- There is trail overgrowth through most of the trail which leads to pinstriping on the side of your vehicle
- A small lift and off-road tires make things a lot easier
Whether you drive this trail at the peak of fall foliage or another time of year, we think you’ll enjoy this off-road trail in the George Washington National Forest.
Find more Virginia Itineraries:
4 Day History Lovers Virginia Road Trip
4 Day Hiking & Off-Roading Virginia Itinerary
Charlottesville 3 Day Itinerary
Lynchburg 3 Day Itinerary
Roanoke with Kids
Big Levels Off-Roading
3 Virginia Campgrounds
