Trip/Event Location: Catawba, VAUS
Trip Leader(s):
Max # People: 15
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Strenuous
On this hike, we'll head up to McAfee Knob, one of the most photographed spots on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Virginia. At the summit, the Knob has an almost 270 degree panorama of
Take I-81 to exit 141 to VA 419/311. Turn left at the stoplight and drive 0.3 mile to the light at the VA 311 junction. Turn right and continue 5.5 miles to the parking area on the left at the top of the pass.
Hike is about 20 mins from downtown Roanoke.
We'll meet up at the trailhead, which is the Appalacian Trail on the East/North side of Va. Hwy 311 at 10am. We should be back by 3pm.
We got a late start off from the trailhead, leaving about 10.25am. Temperatures were cool, in the mid/high 30s, but there was very little wind. And although there were a number of other cars in the parking area by then, we didn't pass anyone else on the hike up. The route up follows the Appalacian Trail all the way to just before McAfee Knob itself, so I was a little surprised that we had the trail to ourselves. Once on the summit, there were a few other groups of hikers, though.
Although the day was overcast and a little hazy, we still had a great view of the Catawba Valley and ridges further West from the Knob. On a clearer day, it would be even more spectacular.
For the return trip, we followed the AT for a ways until it meets up with a fire road. We took the fire road back as it has better views than the AT and, by this point, the trail was getting busy with hikers headed up. Lots of college students and family groups, in fact.
We were back at the car by 1.50pm. All in all, a successful hike!
- The Trip Has No Photos -
