HFM001
Location: 39.014014, -78.66576
From the parking area, follow the trail as it curves south and crisscrosses the creek.
HFM002
Location: 39.011681, -78.662517
Bear right at the 3-way junction to start an 8.8-mile, counterclockwise loop.
HFM003
Location: 38.995173, -78.638206
Turn left (east); the trail parallels Halfmoon Run.
HFM004
Location: 38.995156, -78.635609
Potential campsite
HFM005
Location: 38.997741, -78.623185
Crest the ridge, then turn left (north) on Halfmoon Lookout Trail. Next, the trail drops to a saddle below the summit.
HFM006
Location: 39.001743, -78.625588
Turn left at this saddle for a 0.7-mile out-and-back to Halfmoon Mountain's 2,826-foot summit.
HFM007
Location: 39.000885, -78.631586
Tag the summit of Halfmoon Mountain at mile 4.3. Next, backtrack to HFM006 and turn left.
HFM008
Location: 39.011297, -78.623213
Cross Halfmoon Run.
HFM009
Location: 39.018733, -78.624204
Pass another potential campsite.
HFM010
Location: 39.027602, -78.633163
Cross Halfmoon Run and continue straight at the junction. In 0.2 mile, the trail reaches its northernmost point before curving southwest for the 2-mile stretch back to HFM002.
HFM011
Location: 39.011723, -78.662474
Turn right and retrace your steps back to the parking area.
Looping 10 miles over empty ridges makes it hard to believe you’re just two hours from the Beltway. From Trout Run Road, ascend the Bucktail Trail 1,500 feet through rocky ravines to 2,826-foot Halfmoon Mountain at mile 4.3. Camp just below the summit in a grove of pines, where you can linger over evening-glow vistas of Great North Mountain and a sea of 4,000-foot peaks. On day two, return via the Halfmoon and Bucktail connector trails (3.6 miles).
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