The great outdoors

Liberty Mountain trail system offers various options for hiking and biking

With the cooler weather and changing leaves, students are taking advantage of the many trails Liberty Mountain has to offer.

Foliage — Students enjoyed the beauty of the trails during the changing seasons  Photo credit: Leah Seavers

Foliage — Students enjoyed the beauty of the trails during the changing seasons. Photo credit: Leah Seavers

Located beside Liberty University’s campus, Liberty Mountain is home to a group of man-made trail systems that encompass more than 5,000 acres. The trails are open year-round from dawn to dusk but may be closed during periods of extreme weather.

Associate Director of Outdoor Recreation for Student Activities Mike Ellsworth said the idea for the trails originated from Professor of Health Sciences and Kinesiology Dr. David Horton. Horton began creating the trails on the mountain years ago. Since then, the trails have undergone various improvements and adjustments.

According to liberty.edu, there are 11 beginner trails for hikers who are new to the mountain. For those looking for more of a challenge, there are 24 intermediate trails and seven advanced trails.

Ellsworth said he believes the enthusiastic trail-running community in Lynchburg keeps the mountain busy all year. He encouraged students to spend the weekend exploring the many trails.

“I would say every student should at least make the hike to the monogram before they graduate,” Ellsworth said. “I feel that most students do give it a try.”

Buses are available for students to both Camp Hydaway and Snowflex, which give access to different sides of the mountain and trails. Parking is available at both locations.

The trails are also accessible to those who choose to bike. According to Ellsworth, each trail is unique, ranging from basic mountain roads to technical uphill and downhill.

“Biking is very popular on the mountain, but due to the simple fact that not everyone owns a bike, we do see more hikers and trail runners on the mountain trails,” Ellsworth said.

The Liberty Mountain Trail System map is available online, offering a look at both road and rogue trails. On the site, the map key gives the level of difficulty and the mile lengths of the trails.

According to the map, the shortest trail on the mountain is Luge Trail at 0.1 mile. The longest trail is Gonzo at 2.6 miles.

The trails are not only for recreation. During the fall semester, Liberty Mountain will host several trail races.

According to Ellsworth, although the majority of Liberty Mountain is marked with distinct trails, “there are certain trails not listed on our map because they are either in an unsafe area, not maintained by us, or, due to certain construction projects, are dangerous.”

Ellsworth encouraged students who take on the trails to adhere to the proper safety precautions beforehand, including taking along a map.

Upcoming Races

-Deep Hollow Half Marathon & 5K- Oct.. 24 at 8 a.m. at Camp Hydaway
-Costume 5K- Oct. 30 at 8 p.m.
-Valley View 5 Miler- Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. at Snowflex
-Reindeer Run- Dec. 5 (TBD time and location)


COLEMAN is a news reporter.

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