The Andy Layne Trail
A memorial made in partnership with Roanoke CementA temporary detour is in effect for the lower portion of the Andy Layne Trail. To access this detour, hikers should park in a new location 0.5 miles south of the current parking area on Catawba Road (SR 779) and follow blue blazes. Check the map below for details.
For backpackers doing the Triple Crown loop: you’ll need to walk along Catawba Road (SR 779) for 0.5 miles from the new detour parking area and the Catawba Valley Trail, which connects with the North Mountain Trail. Be extremely careful walking along the road, do not walk along the road at night, and make sure cars can see you. There is little to no shoulder along Catawba Road.
A permanent reroute of this portion of the Andy Layne Trail is underway, along with a new parking lot to open later this year. Most of the Andy Layne Trail is on land belonging to Roanoke Cement, who granted an easement for public access to the trail across their property.
On February 6th, 2026, we began receiving reports that trees had been cut and heavy equipment was operating on a portion of the trail which should have been protected by the easement. Subcontractors working in the area had gone out of bounds, creating unsafe conditions on the trail. As soon as Roanoke Cement learned of this error, they called the project to a halt while RATC and ATC volunteers marked the trail closed. At no point was it Roanoke Cement’s intent to close the trail prior to the opening of the new route, nor was there any plan to remove existing trees along the Andy Layne Trail. Roanoke Cement is currently investigating how this oversight occurred.
Partners from the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Roanoke Cement met on-site February 9th, 2026, to assess the damage and make a plan to maintain safe public access.
For more information, check out the Appalachian Trail Conservancy landing page: https://appalachiantrail.org/trail-updates/virginia-andy-layne-detour/
A temporary detour is in effect for the lower portion of the Andy Layne Trail. To access this detour, hikers should park in a new location 0.5 miles south of the current parking area on Catawba Road (SR 779) and follow blue blazes. Check the map below for details.
For backpackers doing the Triple Crown loop: you’ll need to walk along Catawba Road (SR 779) for 0.5 miles from the new detour parking area and the Catawba Valley Trail, which connects with the North Mountain Trail. Be extremely careful walking along the road, do not walk along the road at night, and make sure cars can see you. There is little to no shoulder along Catawba Road.
A permanent reroute of this portion of the Andy Layne Trail is underway, along with a new parking lot to open later this year. Most of the Andy Layne Trail is on land belonging to Roanoke Cement, who granted an easement for public access to the trail across their property.
On February 6th, 2026, we began receiving reports that trees had been cut and heavy equipment was operating on a portion of the trail which should have been protected by the easement. Subcontractors working in the area had gone out of bounds, creating unsafe conditions on the trail. As soon as Roanoke Cement learned of this error, they called the project to a halt while RATC and ATC volunteers marked the trail closed. At no point was it Roanoke Cement’s intent to close the trail prior to the opening of the new route, nor was there any plan to remove existing trees along the Andy Layne Trail. Roanoke Cement is currently investigating how this oversight occurred.
Partners from the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Roanoke Cement met on-site February 9th, 2026, to assess the damage and make a plan to maintain safe public access.
For more information, check out the Appalachian Trail Conservancy landing page: https://appalachiantrail.org/trail-updates/virginia-andy-layne-detour/