Water on Whitetop Mountain, VA

[tridavis]

Is there water there or nearby or do I have to carry it for a few miles. Going to camp up there one night on our 11 day trip.

Thanks in Advance,

Davis

[Deer Hunter]

There is a white pipe on top near the road if I remember right. Trail goes right by it.

[Tuckahoe]

If you are coming up from Elk Garden, you'll pass a large established camp in the trees, then a parking area and forest service road as you come out onto the bald.

The water will be just a few yards off the AT, coming out of the ground from a pipe. There are a couple fire rings near by it too.

This is what that part of the trail looks like
BackpackingGraysonHighlands8-2829-2011049.jpeg

[Seatbelt]

Here is the spring, the way it looked 8-23-2013, just 100 yds south of the gravel road/parking lot just below the summit of Whitetop Mtn. It is right on the trail--to your left going south.
AT 8-2013 036.jpg

[GoldenBear]

Thru Hikers’ Companion (2013 Edition) states that, at Whitetop* Mountain Road (USFS 89), there is a road (no surprise), campsites, and water. The Guthook{R} Guide shows a water source 0.2 miles north of this road, with the words “A piped spring is located beside the trail. A few tents can fit near the spring.”
As I walked north to this area this month, I intended to stay at that spring. The problem was, despite twenty minutes of searching, I never did find a piped spring north of the road. Eventually I did find a rather modest spring – without a trace of any piping – and ended up tenting next to it. To help ensure that nobody else gets as confused as I did about the location of this “piped” spring north of the road, I’ll give details – with photos & a schematic map
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=62352
– about what a hiker (ie, “you”) would find going north in this area.
After a beautiful overlook at Buzzard Rock, you’ll soon go through a wooded area. After coming out of these woods, you’ll find a sign indicating a spring 50 feet to the right (ie, A.T. east) of the trail.
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=62353
There is no sign for SoBo’s, but the side trail to the spring is pretty obvious. This spring was running sufficiently well to have been making gurgling sounds that could be heard from The Trail. The stronger flow in this spring suggests this would be a place to stop for water.
A few minutes past this spring is Whitetop Road, aka Forest Service Road 89, a dirt road that goes from State Road 600 to the top of Whitetop Mountain. East of where the A.T. crosses this dirt road, you can see a parking area that has room for about a dozen cars.
A couple minutes past the road, you’ll re-enter a wooded area. Immediately as you do so, you’ll see a series of sites where people have set up tents.
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=62349
Thankfully, there are no fire rings – look carefully and you’ll see these have been removed – or other “improvements” at these areas. If you stay here, you can set up a tent and not much else.
You might see a small rock cairn between the first two tent sites.
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=62350
The first tent site as you go north has a large log next to it; the second, one pine tree; the third, two pine trees. It is at this last site – I called it “Twin Pine Tent Site”
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=62351
– that the (barely visible) spring is located.
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=62346
The pool of spring water is partially hidden by growth, closer to the trail than the tent site I stayed at.
If you continue north beyond the spring – which can happen simply because, like me, you didn’t see it – you’ll soon come across two wooden stakes
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=62347
(presumably there was a sign attached) and a sign giving distances to landmarks north of this area.
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=62348
Be aware that these markers are north of the spring so, unlike I did, don’t go any further if you’re looking for this water source.

* Yes, “Whitetop” is one word.

[TTT]

Now that's what I call an answer!

[carouselambra]

Here is a picture I took about 20 yards from the spring on Whitetop Mtn:
whitetopjune2005.jpg