more stats
1.6 miles
Distance
230 ft
Climb
-362 ft
Descent
00:13:56
Avg time
-134 ft
Altitude change
2,057 ft
Altitude min
2,409 ft
Altitude max
2,191 ft
Altitude start
2,057 ft
Altitude end
-1.6%
Grade
-22%
Grade max
29.4%
Grade min
3,343 ft
Distance climb
5,230 ft
Distance down
39 ft
Distance flat
00:13:56
Avg time

Skullcap Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Poverty Creek
    Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    30 in Mountain Biking heatmap [+]
    • 40 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #118246 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #154451 in Trail Running
    • #299511 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #848 in Mountain Biking · Virginia [+]
    • #1,369 in Trail Running
    • #2,714 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No

From Queen Anne to Prickly Pear, Skullcap is pretty mellow with a backcountry feel due to the PCTC reroute. From Prickly Pear to the road it is steep, rocky, and rooty: A great time.

Tags
Rooty

Trail Supporters

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 1 rides
  • 9 miles avg distance
All
  • 26 rides
  • Last: Nov 8, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Aug 17, 2025
Variable
Avg: 4.21 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (410)
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      Directions to skullcap trailhead (37.271110, -80.489320)
      View on Discover Map 3D Tour

      Photos

      4 more »
      mtb
      95 |
      Nov 24, 2022 @ 8:07am
      Nov 24, 2022
      mtb
      81 |
      Nov 24, 2022 @ 8:06am
      Nov 24, 2022
      mtb
      219 |
      May 23, 2019 @ 4:54am
      May 23, 2019
      report
      mtb
      117 |
      Jan 25, 2025 @ 4:05pm
      Jan 25, 2025
      Trail Sign 1

      Videos

      1 more »
      Riding Poverty Creek Trail System in...
      mtb
      15:09 | 394 | Nov 6, 2022 , Blacksburg

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      95
      Back Loop from McDonald Hollow
      21 miles • 2,972 ft • 18 • Loop •
      Long Route with technical climbs, fast and fun downhills and grenn cruising.
      103
      Back Loop from McDonald Hollow
      21 miles • 3,031 ft • 19 • Loop •
      Do the Prickly Pear-Skull Cap-Trillium from McDonald Hollow, flowy greens, techy climbs (Snakeroot) fast...
      29
      To Trillium from Getaway and back
      13 miles • 2,164 ft • 10 • Loop •
      Nice Route with a bit of everything, have fun!
      4.7 ★★★★★
      3 Ratings
      5 ★ 67%
      4 ★ 33%
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

      1 Review & Comments

      UzhM8
      Very rocky trail with a steep hill climb after the intersection of prickly pear. Not beginner friendly.

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      Nearby Trails

      Poverty Creek

      • By owensjsTF Pro & contributors
      • #49741 - 1,778 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Skullcap located?
      Skullcap is located in Poverty Creek, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States. It is part of the Poverty Creek trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 37.27111, -80.48932.
      ▼ How hard is Skullcap?
      Skullcap is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 1.6%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Skullcap?
      Skullcap has 230 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 362 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 2,057 ft to 2,409 ft.
      ▼ Is Skullcap a point to point trail?
      Skullcap is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Skullcap?
      Skullcap is 1.6 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Skullcap?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Skullcap. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Skullcap?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Skullcap are:
      • February (1 activities)
      • October (1 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Skullcap? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Skullcap are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Skullcap?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 14 minutes to ride Skullcap. The trail is 1.6 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Skullcap?
      Skullcap is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 435 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 410 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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