Devil’s Marbleyard is one of the most unique hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The hike is named for the huge boulders strewn across a mountain slope in the James Face Wilderness near Natural Bridge, Virginia. This is much more than just at hike, it is an adventure.
Devil’s Marbleyard is the name given to the famous feature but the trail that leads to boulder field is called the Belfast Trail.
This is a hike that, if you love adventure, you will love. Below we cover what to expect because this is rock scrambling at its best.
Not familiar with rock scrambling? That’s okay, you may want to check out our post on rock scrambling, especially before you attempt this hike.
So, What is so special about Devil’s Marbleyard?
There aren’t many places to rock scramble in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Those that do exist are no where near the scale of Devil’s Marbleyard. The boulder area is close to 9 acres.
The rocks range between the size of a soccer ball and a bulldozer.
Aside from the huge boulders and immense size of the boulder field there is also no established route.
The rocks and boulders are stacked in such a way that, for most of the part, no vegetation grows on them. You can enjoy the boulders and practice Leave No Trace principles.
How did Devil’s Marbleyard form?
The very short answer is wind, ice, and time. The long answer is best answered by geologists. Here is a short research article providing a little more information if you want a longer answer.
The take away is nature is cool and does things, at least coming from a non-geologist.
Hiking the Belfast Trail
Getting to the Belfast Trail is easy enough to navigate to with Google Maps (link to parking area). There is only space for 6 to 7 vehicles but there is some roadside parking.
If you have a high clearance vehicle bring it. You may have to park on the roadside and much of the roadside has a steep drop off.
Hiking to Devil’s Marbleyard
Length: 3.3 miles (Out and Back)
Elevation Gain: 1400 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous **
How Long Does it Take: 3 – 4 hours to reach the top and come back.
Great For: Rock Scrambling, Adventure
When to Visit: Spring, early summer, fall, winter
How We Rate It: 5/5, there is an amazing experience
** The hike is only strenuous if you climb to the top of the boulders, otherwise it is moderate.
In November 2023 there was a forest fire that tore through the James Face Wilderness. There is a posted notice to watch for damaged trees and limbs.
Most of the damage appeared to have been contained to the forest floor with little damage to the crown of the larger trees. There was some significant damage to understory trees, especially the mountain laurels.
The area is safe to hike through just pay attention. If you are camping in the area you need to take extra care to avoid widowmakers.
At the beginning of the Belfast Trail you’ll pass a stone sign for Camp Powhatan. There used to be a Boy Scout camp along the Belfast Trail.
You can find the foundation for one of the buildings soon after you begin the trail.
The hike along the Belfast Trail is relatively easy for most of the hike. There are two sections with elevation gain and three stream crossings.
The last climb just before you reach the boulder area is by far the toughest.
For most of the hike you will be following the Belfast Creek. The hike is pleasant, if rocky, walk. You will reach Devil’s Marbleyard after about 1.5 miles.
Besides the incredible boulder field there is a small waterfall that spills over a large boulder along the edge of the trail.
The Belfast Trail continues further into the James Face Wilderness but this is the end of your hike on the trail. From here on it’s all about the rocks!
Climbing up Devil’s Marbleyard
Once you arrive at the base of Devil’s Marbleyard and look out over the imposing climb it is okay to feel intimidated.
On my last visit I took my 11 year old son and we had agreed we would go to the top. I had been many times but it was his first attempt.
Once we reached the top he told me he didn’t think he could do it when we reached the base because there is so much.
In fact, you can only see the first rise from the base. Once you crest the rise you see how big it actually is.
Before we get into the best route there are a few things to know.
Is scrambling at Devil’s Marbleyard safe?
There is absolutely a chance you could get hurt rock scrambling here. There are some things that you can do to reduce your risk of injury.
- Wear shoes with grippy soles. Worn tread or slick soled shoes are a really bad idea. There are an endless number of gaps for your legs to fall into. More on that in a minute.
- Keep three points of contact when you are moving. The footing on the boulders is sketchy for almost all of the rock scramble. Plan on using your hands the entire time and stow your hiking poles.
- Avoid visiting Devil’s Marbleyard after a recent rain and especially if there is a chance of ice or snow. If there is any chance of precipitation delay your visit. Watch the sky when visiting in summer, strong afternoon storms are really common in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Avoid visiting when it is hot. It is significantly hotter on the boulders than on the Belfast Trail. In mid to late summer try to be off the rocks by noon.
- Watch out for snakes. I have never seen one on the rocks but many, many other people have.
- Bring a first aid kit. You need a real first aid kit. If you aren’t sure what to bring, here is a checklist from REI.
- Know your limits and be willing to bail on reaching the top. If you try to get to the top and find that you are out of your depth, quit. These rocks aren’t going anywhere, come back later and try again. I didn’t reach the top my first attempt.
- Bring a hiking buddy, but not your dog. No matter how well you plan or how experienced you are, stuff happens. There is no cell coverage in the wilderness. If you really can’t get anyone to go with you try to go on a weekend in late spring or in October when other people will be there.
You can still get hurt if you do everything listed above. Rock Scrambling is not a risk free activity.
If you aren’t sure if you want to climb the rocks you may want to climb up a small section and take it slow.
You can try a little and if it isn’t for you, there is a trail that has developed on the far right side of the rocks.
Be forewarned, the trail up is incredibly steep, narrow, and littered with loose rocks. You’ll get tired hiking up but if you don’t want to rock scramble you can reach the top of Devil’s Marbleyard without climbing over the boulders.
There are a few spots where you can get a great picture of Devil’s Marbleyard from the access trail.
Story Time: A couple of years ago I was scrambling down the boulders at Devil’s Marbleyard after reaching the top, living my best life with a few friends. My trail shoes were well past the point where they should have been replaced, but I wanted to get a few more months out of them.
As I was taking in the view I took a step and my left foot slipped on a rock. I remember thinking “uh oh”, as my leg fell into a gap between two smaller rocks.
My shin slammed into one the rocks that happened to be super sharp – queue bleeding. My awesome adventure became not awesome.
After getting to one of the larger boulders and on a flat surface, I inspected the huge gash across my leg. It wasn’t great.
I always hike with a well stocked first aid kit and was able to stop the bleeding with gauze pads and an ace bandage.
We finished scrambling down the boulders, finished the hike, and I promptly drove myself to urgent care to get a brand new set of stitches. I also got new shoes.
Don’t rock scramble with worn out shoes.
Can Kids Rock Scramble at Devil’s Marbleyard?
The short answer is yes – at least for some of it. If your plan is to climb to the top with your kids I would say lower your expectations, especially if you haven’t been here before.
The lowest section of Devil’s Marbleyard is fine for kids to climb on. The rocks are packed tight together and most of them are small enough that kids as young as five or six can climb around.
Once you get above the first rise, which is covered more below, the rocks are less packed together and scrambling will be more difficult. If you decide to go further stick to the right side of the boulders so you can get off the rocks if you need to.
Should you bring your dog to Devil’s Marbleyard?
Dogs are allowed on the trail, provided they are on a leash. If you aren’t going to climb on the rocks it is perfectly fine to bring your dogs.
They will probably like sloshing around at the water crossings.
If the question is – should you bring your dog if you plan on rock scrambling? Then the answer is no. The rock scrambling is way too tough for dogs.
Which season is best to visit Devil’s Marbleyard?
You can visit in all four season but some are more fun than others.
We have enjoyed visiting in late fall into early winter the most.
There aren’t many people on the trail then and while the temperature may be in the 40s, it feels warmer on the boulders.
This is not when Virginia is at its most beautiful, but we don’t come here to ogle mountains and trees. We come for the rocks.
Fall is also a great time to visit if you don’t mind crowds. The nearby mountains are covered with deciduous trees so they will be in peak fall colors towards the end of October.
Any time of year is fine as long as it hasn’t rained for a few days and it isn’t going to be hot. I’ve visited in the heat of summer and the rocks are hot to the touch which makes for some miserable rock scrambling.
Choosing a route up Devil’s Marbleyard
There are no blazes or route markings on the boulders so you’ll have to decide how you want to climb up. You won’t be able to chart out reaching the very top because you can’t see it from the base.
I’m breaking down the rock scramble into three sections. Remember, you can bail at any point on the scramble by getting to the trail on far right side of the rocks. Moving side to side on the rocks is easier than climbing up them.
Scrambling up the first rise
The rocks on this section are the most likely to have moss growing on them. Any rock with moss on it should be avoided so you don’t kill the moss and don’t slip.
The middle section is the easiest way to climb up the boulders on the first section. Because this section is so steep and the rocks are so tightly packed it is the easiest technically.
Go up the middle, go slow, and take breaks when you get tired. You may have to zig zag a little if you are on the shorter side or have kids with you but nothing is too technically difficult.
Despite being easier to navigate this section is the most exhausting because of how steep it is.
Scrambling up the second rise
When you crest the first section you can finally get a sense of the scale at Devil’s Marbleyard.
There are several enormous boulders in this section. Many of them look like they could be amazing for bouldering if they were somewhere else.
I wouldn’t boulder here. Setting up enough crash pads seems incredibly difficult and trying to boulder without crash pads here is, to be blunt, crazy.
The right side is much easier to navigate than the left side of the boulders. Unless you are looking for the most technically challenging route stay to the right.
This also keeps you close to the narrow trail so you can get off the rocks if you need to.
If you take a bad route you will usually know quickly and may have to climb back a few steps and try another route. Just take your time and enjoy figuring out the puzzle.
I’ve noticed many people stop climbing in this section. The view from the top is better at the top but not substantially. You can get a great view from the top of the first rise.
The final rise
Devil’s Marbleyard narrows the closer you get to the top. If you took a route on the right side of the rocks you can just keep heading up and stay to the right.
There are a couple trees growing among the rocks in the final section and you will see a large wall. Past the wall, boulders become much smaller and Devil’s Marbleyard fades back into the forest.
Getting back down
You can absolutely scramble back down the rocks to the Belfast Trail and I have many times. You may not want to though. It is much faster to take the access trail back down.
Neither way is easy but the trail is easier. If you know you are going to take the trail back down a hiking pole or sturdy stick can really help.
If you follow the access trail back down you will want to watch out for loose rocks and for a short section where you cross over a stream.
Devil’s Marbleyard is amazing. It is a little intimidating, but most adventures are.
After you finish the hike and rock scramble you can find some great food at Natty B’s Cafe. It is a very small general store with a cafe inside but the food is tasty especially after a hard rock scramble.
If rock scrambling is something you want to get into Black Rock Summit and Bearfence Rock Scramble are two places in Shenandoah National Park you definitely want to visit.
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