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This tour begins at the South Fork Ruritan building
in Oak Flat, which is located on US Rt. 33, 8.2 miles east of Franklin
or 3.6 miles west of Brandywine.
Begin the tour by turning left onto US Rt.
33 and almost immediately turn left again onto Sweedlin Valley Rd.
(Rt. 3). The road is center-lined and winds its way along the edges
of the wide flood plain of the South Fork of the South Branch of
the Potomac River. At 1.4 miles turn right onto Conrad Rd. (Rt.
3/4) and cross said river. At 1.9 miles cross the first of many
cattle guards — 10 all together.
Notice: Use caution when
crossing over a cattle guard. It may be prudent to walk your bike
across rather than risk getting a wheel turned sideways. The mesh
type of cattle guard is less likely to require dismounting. Don't
be surprised if you occasionally encounter cattle or sheep in the
road during your ride.
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The road is level and straight as it passes through
crop land and hayfields heading for the other side of the valley
floor. At 2.6 miles cross a low-water bridge and gradually ascend
the higher ground edging the valley. At 3.2 miles pass a junction
with Westside Rd. (FS 151) and descend to the valley floor turning
left at the stop sigh at 4.0 miles back onto Rt. 3.
Cross the South Fork at 4.5 miles and bearing to
the left continue on Rt. 3. The road curves and winds its way back
to the starting point, passing the Killbuck Riflemen Range entrance
at 4.8 miles, where the burning of Ft. Seybert is reenacted each
year during the Treasure Mountain Festival
(the third weekend in September). At 5.9 miles pass by the entrance
to Ft. Seybert Park. At 7.6 miles turn right at the junction with
US Rt. 33 and return to the starting point, 0.1 miles away.
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