113-mile hike list
Black Horse Gap (BRP) to Curry Gap (BRP) 113-Hike # 1
6.90 Miles, Moderate
This hike is located in Botetourt County. From Black Horse Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway, elevation 2,400 feet, the trail heads south. There are limited views on this section of trail. In 2.4 miles a blue blaze trail on right leads to the Wilson Creek Shelter. After crossing Wilson Creek, the trail ascends steeply. It then descends steadily and crosses Curry Creek. From there it ascends steeply on switchbacks to the Salt Pond Road road crossing. Go left on Salt Pond Road for .9 miles back to BRP.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,000/(1,000)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) From I-81, exit 150 (Daleville Park and Ride lot), go 4.8 miles south on U. S. Route 220. Turn left on U.S. Route 460. Go 3 miles to Blue Ridge Parkway. Go north on BRP for 10 miles to Black Horse Gap. There is a small parking area on left. Drop off shuttle car at small parking area at Curry Gap on BRP at 4 miles.
Curry Gap ( BRP ) to Daleville ( RT 220 ) 113-Mile Hike # 2
9.40 Miles, Strenuous
The hike is located in Botetourt County From Curry Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the trail ascends on Salt Pond Road for .9 miles to the A.T. crossing. Turn left on the A.T. (south). The trail follows the ridge line, with limited views to the valley below. At 3.7 miles the blue-blazed trail on left leads to Fullhardt Knob Shelter and the wooded summit of Fullhardt Knob. The trail then descends from Fullhardt Knob. There are a series of switchbacks near the bottom. At 6.7 miles the trail crosses Mountain Pass Road (Route 652). It then ascends an open knoll, with good views of McAfee Knob and Tinker Mountain, before descending and crossing Va. Route 11. The trail continues through mainly old orchards to Route 220.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 600/(1,200)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) From I-81, exit 150 (Daleville Park and Ride lot), go 4.8 miles south on U. S. Route 220. Turn left on U.S. Route 460. Go 3 miles to Blue Ridge Parkway. Go north on BRP for 4 miles to Curry Gap. There is a small parking area on left.
Andy Layne Trail ( Rt. 779 ) to Daleville ( Rt. 220 ) 113-Mile Hike # 3
13.00 Miles, Strenuous
The hike is just north of Roanoke, starting in the Catawba Valley and ending in Daleville. The hike starts with a three mile ascent on the Andy Layne Trail, reaching the A.T. at Scorched Earth Gap . Go left (north) on A.T, passing Lamberts Meadow Shelter at 3.5 miles. The trail then goes along the ridge of Tinker Mountain with views to the right of Carvins Cove Resovoir. At 6.9 miles reach Hay Rock, a massive fragment of the tilted limestone that forms the backbone of Tinker Ridge. A climb to the top provides good views. At 8.9 miles the trail starts descending from Tinker Mountain. At 10.5 miles the trail crosses over Tinker Creek on a concrete bridge and reaches Route 220 in another .5 mile.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,300/(1,300)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) From I-81, exit 150, go north on Route 220 for 1.75 miles. Turn left on Catawba Road (Route 779). Go 7.6 miles. Gravel parking lot for trail head is on left.
Catawba Mountain ( Rt. 311 ) to Andy Layne Trail ( Rt. 779 ) 113-Mile Hike # 4
11.50 Miles, Strenuous
This hike offers the opportunity to see two of the prime vistas on the Appalachian Trail, McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs, in one day. The hike starts across from the large gravel A.T. crossing parking lot on Route 311. Be extremely careful crossing route 311, visibility for cars is limited and they are moving very fast. The trail climbs gradually to McAfee’s Knob, passing John’s Spring Shelter at 1.0 mile and Catawba Mountain shelter at 3.0 miles. At 3.7 miles reach short blue-blazed trail on left to McAfee Knob. The cliffs there offer magnificent views of the Catawba Valley and the city of Roanoke. The trail then follows the the ridge line to Tinker Cliffs at 8.6 miles, with views of McAfee Knob and North Mountain. Continue north on the A.T. for another half mile to Scorched Earth Gap. Go left on the Andy Layne Trail for descent to Rt. 779.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,200/(1,600)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 141. Go left on Virginia route 419, Electric Road. Go .4 miles to Virginia route 311. Take right and go 5.6 miles to A.T. access parking lot on left at top of Catawba Mountain. To reach Andy Layne trail head parking lot to drop off shuttle car, continue north on route 311 for 1.4 miles Take right on route 779 and drive 8.3 miles to trail head gravel parking lot on right, just past bridge.
Catawba Mountain ( Rt. 311 ) to Dragon’s Tooth Parking 113-Mile Hike # 5
8.90 Miles, Strenuous
The hike begins at the 311 A.T. parking lot just 15 minutes from Roanoke. The Appalachian Trail is followed south over the many humps of Catawba Mountain before dropping down to the open fields of Beckner’s Gap. Between Routes 785 and 624, the trail crosses Sandstone Ridge. Beyond 624 the trail heads uphill past the Boy Scout Trail. It then reaches Rawie’s Rest, a knife-like rocky outcrop, with good views. Continue on to Lost Spectacles Gap, where a blue-blazed trail on right leads down to the Dragon’s Tooth parking lot.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 800/(800)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 141. Go left on Virginia route 419, Electric Road. Go .4 miles to Virginia route 311. Take right and go 4.6 miles to A.T. access parking lot on left at top of Catawba Mountain. To reach Dragon’s Tooth parking lot to dropoff shuttle car, continue on route 311 for another 3.5 miles to Dragon’s Tooth parking lot on left.
Trout Creek (RT 620) to Dragon Tooth Parking 113 Mile Hike # 6
7.00 Miles, Moderate
The hike is in Craig and Roanoke County west of Salem. After crossing Trout Creek, it ascends steeply through a fire recovery area, passing by the Pickle Branch Shelter at 1.0 mile. It then continues ascent to the ridge, and then goes around the crescent-shaped top of Cove Mountain to the blue blazed trail to Dragon’s Tooth on right. There are great views and rock-scrambling opportunities on Dragon’s Tooth. The trail descends on the A.T. to Lost Spectacles Gap, where a blue-blazed trail on left leads down to the Dragon’s Tooth parking lot.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,500/(1,500)
Directions to trailhead: ((From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 141. Go left on Virginia route 419, Electric Road. Go .4 miles to Virginia route 311. Take right and go 12.0 miles to Route 621. Go left and drive 2.8 miles to Route 620. Go left on Route 620 and drive 1.1 miles to Trout Creek parking area. You will pass the Dragon’s Tooth parking lot on route 311 at 7.9 miles. Shuttle car should be dropped off there. The parking lot will be on the left.
Lee Hollow (RT 621) to Trout Creek (RT 620), 113-Mile Hike #7
7.60 Miles, Moderate
Located in Craig and a little bit of Roanoke County, the hike on Brush Mt. includes the Audie Murphy Monument, a tribute to the most decorated soldier of WWII, who died in a plane crash on the mountain in 1971. The hike starts with a 1,000 foot ascent of Brush Mountain via a series of switchbacks. At 3.0 miles the top of the mountain is reached and the trail continues along the crest of the mountain. At 3.8 miles, a short blue-blazed trail on left leads to the monument. There are good views of the Craig Creek Valley from here. At 5.9 miles the trail starts a steep descent to Trout Creek and Route 620.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,000/(1,000)
Directions to trailhead: ((From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 141. Go left on Virginia route 419, Electric Road. Go .4 miles to Virginia route 311. Take right and go 12.0 miles to Route 621. Go 5.5 miles on Route 621. A.T. crossing parking lot is on right. Trout Creek parking area can be reached by making left onto Route 620 from Route 621 at 2.8 miles. Drive 1.1 miles to Trout Creek parking area. Drop off shuttle car there.
Sinking Creek (RT 630) to Lee Hollow (RT 621) 113-Mile Hike # 8
10.40 Miles, Strenuous
Located in Craig County, the hike climbs up Sinking Creek Mountain, then follows the ridge where rock piles and old apple trees remain from the days when even the top of the mountain was farmed. Several slanted rocks offer views of Craig Creek Valley and the mountains beyond.
The hike starts with a 1,200 ascent of Sinking Creek Mountain. At .5 miles the trail passes the giant Keffer Oak, a very large, historic tree. At 1.9 miles the ridge line of the mountain is reached. Most of the rest of the hike is along the crest of the mountain, with views of Craig Creek Valley to the right. At 3.2 miles the blue blazed trail to Sarver Cabin Shelter is reached. At 9.5 miles pass the Niday Shelter and continue descent on trail to Route 621.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,200/(1,500)
Directions to trailhead: ((From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 141. Go left on Virginia route 419, Electric Road. Go .4 miles to Virginia route 311. Take right and go 12.0 miles to Route 621. Go 5.5 miles on Route 621. A.T. crossing parking lot is on right. Drop off car here. Continue on Route 621 for an additional 11 miles to Route 460. Go right and drive 2 miles to Route 42. Go right and drive 6 miles to Route 629. Turn right and drive .6 miles to Route 630. Turn right and drive .3 mile to parking area on left.
Johns Creek (Rt. 632) to Sinking Creek (Rt. 630) 113-Mile Hike # 9
8.30 Miles, Strenuous
The hike is located in Craig and Giles counties. From Johns Creek Valley, the trail climbs steeply. At 2.0 miles it crosses route 601 at Rocky Gap. At 3.8 miles a blue blazed trail on right leads to White Rock, with great views of the New River Valley. The trail then descends, passing Laurel Creek Shelter at 5.1 miles. At 7.5 miles the trail crosses Route 42 in Sinking Creek Valley.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,600/(1600)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 118B (Blacksburg). Stay on state route 460 for 17.9 miles to Route 42. Go right and drive 8 miles to Route 658. Go left and drive 4.0 miles to Route 632. Go left for 5.5 miles to A.T. crossing parking area on left. For car drop off, see directions to Route 630, hike number 8 above.
Pine Swamp (Rt.635) to Johns Creek (Rt. 632) 113-Mile Hike # 10
13.20 Miles, Strenuous
The hike is located in Giles County. From Stony Creek Valley the trail climbs 1,100 feet in one mile to the heavily wooded northern slope of Big Mountain. It passes the Bailey Gap Shelter at 3.6 miles. The trail then winds through the 11,172-acre Mountain Lake Wilderness. At 7.6 miles it passes Wind Rock on Potts Mountain, which provides the best view point of the hike. The trail passes War Spur Shelter at 12.4 miles.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,900/(1,900)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 118B (Blacksburg). Stay on Route 460 for 28.9 miles to Route 635. Go right and drive 7 miles to A.T. access parking area on left. To reach car drop point on Route 632, see directions for hike number 9 above.
Big Horse Gap to New River (RT 460) 113-Mile Hike #11
12.5 Miles, Strenuous
This hike follows the A.T. north from Big Horse Gap near Dismal Falls in Giles County. It goes along the ridge line of Pearis Mountain. At 3.0 miles there is a rock cliff which provides good views of Sugar Run Mountain. The trail passes Doc’s Knob Shelter at 3.8 miles. At 9.0 miles there is another cliff, which provides good views of Wilburn Valley. Angel’s Rest is reached at 9.6 miles. This provides great views of the New River Valley and Peters Mountain. From there the trail begins a steady descent to Route 460.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): (2,000)
Directions to trailhead: ((From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 118B (Blacksburg). Stay on Route 460 for 33.0 miles to Route 100 (Note: drop off shuttle car on parking lot on left on route 460, just prior to bridge over New River, and make left turn back to Route 100 exit). Go south on Route 100 and drive 5 miles to Sugar Run Road (Route 663). Make right and drive 8.8 miles to A.T. crossing. Route 663 becomes a steep, gravel road when it enter the National Forest. There is a small parking area on the left just prior to the A.T. crossing.
Ribble Trail/A.T. Loop, Hike #12
9.9 Miles, Strenuous
Located in Giles County, this hike follows Dismal Creek before a starting a steep climb up Sugar Run Mountain. The hike then follows the ridge line for several miles, offering views of the Wilburn and New River Valleys. The hike starts on the Ribble Trail for .4 miles to the A.T. At the A.T. intersection, turn left (north). The trail crosses dismal Creek on footbridges several times in the next mile. At 1.9 miles the trail passes the Wapiti Shelter and then begins ascending Sugar Run Mountain. At 4.3 miles a rock outcrop provides excellent views of the valley below. At 6.5 miles, reach northern end of blue �blazed Ribble Trail. Make left onto the Ribble Trail and begin steep descent of the Ribble Trail, passing the old Honey Springs Cabin. The trail will cross FS 201 several times before reaching the parking area at 9.9 miles, where car is located.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,200/(1,200)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 98. Go right onto Route 100 and go 11.7 miles to Route 42. Go left and drive 10.3 miles to Route 606. Make right on to Route 606 and go 1.3 miles. Make right on Route 201. This will become a Forest Service road. Continue for 5 miles on FS 201 to Ribble Trail parking area on right. (Note: parking area is located where road makes sharp left turn and begins to climb Sugar Run Mountain
Ribble Trail to Kimberling Creek (Rt. 606) Hike #13
5.50 Miles, Moderate
Located in Giles County, this hike follows Dismal Creek for several miles. Much of the trail is lined with rhododendron. At 3.9 miles, blue-blazed trail on right goes .3 miles to Dismal Falls. This part of the creek is very scenic. The hike ends at Route 606 and Kimberling Creek. The A.T. goes over the creek on a footbridge.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): (400)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 98. Go right onto Route 100 and go 11.7 miles to Route 42. Go left and drive 10.3 miles to Route 606. Make right turn. You will reach A.T. crossing in .3 miles. Leave shuttle car there. Continue on Route 606 for an additional 1 mile. Make right on Route 201. This will become a Forest Service Road. Continue for 5 miles on FS 201 to Ribble Trail parking area on right. (Note: parking area is located where road makes sharp left turn and begins to climb Sugar Run Mountain)
Kimberling Creek (Rt. 606) to Jenny Knob (Rt.611) 113-Mile Hike # 14
9.30 Miles, Strenuous
The trail starts by crossing Kimberling Creek on a suspension footbridge. This is one of the longest footbridges on the A.T. The trail then ascends steeply to the wooded summit of Brushy Mountain, before descending to Lickskillet Hollow. It then crosses Route 608 and again ascends Brushy Mountain. It passes Jenny Knob Shelter before reaching Route 611, the southern terminus of the section of the A.T. maintained by the RATC.
Elevation Gain/(Loss): 1,600/(1,000)
Directions to trailhead: (From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 98. Go right onto Route 100 and go 11.7 miles to Route 42. Go left and drive 18 miles to Route 611. This is a steep, gravel road. Make right turn. You will reach A.T. crossing in 1.7 miles. Leave shuttle car there. Drive back to Route 42 and go north for 8 miles to Route 606. Make left. A.T. crossing is in .3 miles.