Washington County Fringes

BridgetBrown · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 3:00 am Post subject: Devil's Racecourse

I have seen pictures of this from applachian trail hikers, so I am assuming it is along the trail close by. Does anybody know the history of this "road of rocks"?

Robin Murphy · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Towson, Md

My mother remembers visiting Devil's Racecourse, when she was young.
This was a popular spot and we have several pictures taken there about 1920 by my grandmother (Lillian Tracey - her father Charles C. Tracey developed Tracey's Corner's). According to family lore Devil's Racecourse was created by a glacier. My mother said the rocks are located off of Charmain Rd. behind the Lions Club Picnic area. I'll be more specific after I talk to my great aunt.

Camevil · Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Ohio

Neato.

Tell me, why do they call it the Devil's Racecourse?

BridgetBrown · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:51 pm Post subject:

I don't know why they call it the devil's racecourse, but it is quite treacherous for Appalachian Trail hikers, when the rocks are wet. I believe it is along the trail down towards Raven Rock Road.

Many hikers have commented on it, and here is a link to some hiker's encounter with pictures.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=147

I've got it now! There were two according to Becky Dietrich. One of them was used to build the Sunshine Trail (Rt. 16). So that could have been the one in Charmian.

Shockey · Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Blue Ridge Summit

Yes there is two of them.The man made one is located in Charmain.The natural one is located on Ritchie road(which runs right beside fort ritchie) heading towards rt. 491. It's about 1 mile on your right there is a pull off you can park at.