Pearisburg (US 460) → Catawba (VA 311)
Pearisburg to Catawba
90 mi · 6-8 days · Difficult
This section includes some of the most scenic ridge walking in the state: Angels Rest above Pearisburg, the long Sinking Creek Valley, and the Keffer Oak, one of the largest oaks on the entire trail.
It ends at Catawba, the gateway to Virginia's Triple Crown and home to a legendary family-style restaurant that many hikers plan their day around.
Waypoints
| Name | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angels Rest | View | Rock outcrop above Pearisburg with a long view down the New River valley. |
| Keffer Oak | View | One of the largest oak trees on the Appalachian Trail, standing beside a pasture crossing. |
Highlights
- Angels Rest
- Keffer Oak
- Sinking Creek Mountain
- Dragon's Tooth approach
Road crossings
- VA 635
- VA 42
- VA 624
- VA 311 at Catawba
Resupply
- Pearisburg — full
- Catawba — very limited, restaurant only
Nearby towns
- Pearisburg
- Newport
- Catawba
- Blacksburg
Planning details
- Elevation gain
- Not yet verified
- Parking and access
- VA 624 Newport Road and VA 311 Dragon's Tooth trailhead lots.
- Shuttles
- Roanoke and Blacksburg shuttle operators cover VA 311 and US 460.
- Terrain
- Long climbs, rocky ridge crest, and the Dragon's Tooth scramble near the northern end.
- Wildlife
- Black bears; rattlesnakes on rocky ridgetops in summer.
- Seasons
- Exposed rock is dangerous in ice. Summer thunderstorms build fast on ridges.
- Regulations
- Jefferson National Forest rules apply.
- Emergency
- Nearest hospitals in Blacksburg and Roanoke.