more stats
1.1 miles
Distance
4 ft
Climb
-287 ft
Descent
00:08:59
Avg time
-285 ft
Altitude change
3,974 ft
Altitude min
4,262 ft
Altitude max
4,262 ft
Altitude start
3,976 ft
Altitude end
-5.1%
Grade
-12.7%
Grade max
4%
Grade min
276 ft
Distance climb
5,010 ft
Distance down
276 ft
Distance flat
00:08:59
Avg time

Pole Axe Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Snowshoe Backcountry
    Snowshoe Village, West Virginia
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    75 in Mountain Biking heatmap [+]
    • 80 in Trail Running
    • 60 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #32514 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #92139 in Trail Running
    • #371519 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #154 in Mountain Biking · West Virginia [+]
    • #287 in Trail Running
    • #1,913 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Rock Garden
  • Land Owner
    Snowshoe Mountain

Pole Axe is a fun flowy decent or climb trail with a few technical bits
that bridges the gap between the Town of Old Spruce and the Snowshoe Backcountry.

Access Info

Access this trail at the end of Enchanted Forest before dropping into A Headset Adjustment. To head back toward Snowshoe Backcountry turn right at the bottom and take the road back towards the Fire Tower Trail and Lower Spruce Road or climb back up.

Tags
BridgesFlowyRock gardens

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 21 rides
  • 17 miles avg distance
All
  • 49 rides
  • Last: Nov 7, 2026
Status:
on Aug 13, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.99 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to pole-axe trailhead (38.454150, -79.978910)
      View on Discover Map 3D Tour

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      1 Review & Comments


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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Pole Axe located?
      Pole Axe is located in Snowshoe Backcountry, Snowshoe Village, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Snowshoe Backcountry trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 38.45415, -79.97891.
      ▼ How hard is Pole Axe?
      Pole Axe is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 5.1%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Pole Axe?
      Pole Axe has 4 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 287 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 3,974 ft to 4,262 ft.
      ▼ Is Pole Axe a point to point trail?
      Pole Axe is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Pole Axe?
      Pole Axe is 1.1 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Pole Axe?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Pole Axe. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Pole Axe? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Pole Axe are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Pole Axe?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 9 minutes to ride Pole Axe. The trail is 1.1 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Pole Axe?
      Pole Axe is a very popular trail. There have been 253 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 253 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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