Roanoke & the New River Valley
McAfee Knob
- Distance
- 8mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,415ft
- Time (agency)
- ~5h
Hard
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
Why goThe AT's signature overlook.
Valley & Ridge · region
Roanoke & the New River Valley
Virginia's Triple Crown, long rail-trails, and the state's strongest concentration of AT day hikes.
Roanoke bills itself as a mountain-biking and hiking hub, and the Triple Crown — McAfee Knob, Dragon's Tooth, and Tinker Cliffs — backs that up. All three sit on or beside the Appalachian Trail, so day hikers and thru-hikers share the same rock. The New River Trail adds a long, gentle, family-friendly counterweight.
- Trails
- 3
- Climb range
- 1,336–2,000 ft
- Distance range
- 4.5–8 mi
- Shaded · firm
- 100% · 0%
3 trails in Roanoke & the New River Valley
Roanoke & the New River Valley
Dragon's Tooth
- Distance
- 4.5mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,336ft
- Time (agency)
- ~4h
Hard
- Scramble
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
Why goQuartzite spire summit.
Roanoke & the New River Valley
Tinker Cliffs
- Distance
- 7.6mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,000ft
- Time (agency)
- ~5h
HardNo line on file
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
Why goHalf a mile of open cliff.
Seasons here
Ridge hikes are exposed to wind and lightning. Summer weekends fill Triple Crown parking before sunrise; winter offers the clearest long views.
General seasonal character, not a live report.
Terrain band
Valley & Ridge
Long parallel ridges and the Shenandoah and New river valleys. Ridge walks to knobs and cliffs, greenways on the valley floor.
Compare bandsTowns and access
- Roanoke
- Salem
- Blacksburg
- Christiansburg
- Catawba
- Pearisburg