Broad Hollow - Pine Hill Gap Loop

This roughly six-mile circuit starts at Broad Hollow, follows a short Sam’s Ridge connection to Hazel Mountain, then Pine Hill Gap and Rolling Road back to the same access. Route reports put it between 5.9 and 6.2 miles; plan on about six miles, around 1,600 feet of climbing, and four to five hours on mostly dirt-and-rock paths. Choose it for the stream and cabin remains, not for a summit or a dependable overlook.

The trail begins at the end of gravelly Rolling Road. Roadside space is limited to two cars; keep the private driveway clear. Broad Hollow climbs gently beside the run and crosses it near the start, then again around 0.4 mile, where a small cascade sits beside the rocks. The grade gets steeper and rockier near old wooden cabin remains just off the trail around mile 1.1.

At roughly mile 2.5, continue briefly on Sam’s Ridge before turning onto Hazel Mountain. Watch for the junction. Hazel is shaded forest walking, with little to see except possible glimpses through bare winter trees; the Catlett Mountain branch comes in on the right around mile 3. An older report mentions an unofficial viewpoint near the Hazel/Pine Hill transition, but it is not part of the marked loop, and later route notes describe no open views. Don’t count on an overlook.

The trail name changes to Pine Hill Gap around mile 3.5, but the route stays leafy and offers no reliable opening. Its final stretch follows an old forestry road that may be boggy and less maintained. Around mile 5.9, the trail reaches Rolling Road; the return to the car is flat and mostly sunny.