VA Hiking Trails

Milepost

Mileage*

Difficulty

5.9

Mountain Farm Trail (self-guiding, from Humpback Visitor Center to pioneer farmstead)

0.25

Easy 

6

Appalachian Trail (Humpback Gap parking area to Humpback Mtn., elevation - 3650 feet)

2

Strenuous 

8.4

Catoctin Loop Trail (leg stretcher)

0.3

Moderate

8.8

Greenstone Trail (self-guiding; Greenstone geology formation; oak hickory forest)

0.2

Moderate

17.6

the Priest (view)

0.1

Easy

18.5

White Rock Falls Trail Connection

2.9

Moderate

20

White Rock Falls Trail (follows stream to small falls)

0.9

Moderate

26.3

Big Spy Mountain (view into Shenandoah Valley; good for sky watching)

0.1

 Moderate

34.4

Yankee Horse (to logging RR exhibit & small waterfall)

0.2

Moderate

38.8

Boston Knob (leg stretcher)

0.1

Easy

47.5

Indian Gap (to Indian Rocks; good seasonal rhododendron display)

0.3

Moderate

55.2

White Oak Flats (leg stretcher)

0.1

Easy

60.8

Otter Creek Trail (begin at Otter Creek Campground)

3.5

Moderate

63.1

Otter Lake Trail (around Otter Lake)

0.8

Moderate

63.6

James River Trail (Self-guiding to canal locks)

0.2

Easy

63.6

Trail of Trees Trail (self-guiding to James River Overlook)

0.5

Moderate

74.7

Thunder Ridge Trail (leg stretcher loop to view of Arnold Valley)

0.1

Easy

78.4

Apple Orchard Falls Trail (Sunset Field Overlook to view of Apple Orchard Falls; National Recreation Trail)

1.2

 Strenuous

79.7

Onion Mountain Loop Trail (leg stretcher through Appalachian deciduous forest with rhododendron display)

0.1

 Easy

83.1

Fallingwater Cascades Trail National Recreation Trail; loop to view of cascades)

1.6

 Moderate

83.5

Flat Top Trail (leads to highest of three prominent peaks in area)

4.4

Moderate

• Cross Rock Trail (spur off Flat Top Trail; unique geological features)

0.1

Moderate

85.7

Abbott Lake Trail (loop around Abbott Lake)

1

Easy

85.9

Elk Run Trail (self-guiding loop nature trail from Visitor Center)

0.8

Easy

85.9

Johnson Farm Loop Trail (loop to restored mountain farm)

2.1

Moderate

85.9

Harkening Hill Trail (elevation -3300 feet; begin at Peaks Visitor Center)

3.3

 Moderate

• Balance Rock (spur trail off Harkening Hill Trail; unique geological formations)

0.1

 Moderate

86

Sharp Top Trail (from camp store to summit of Sharp Top Mtn.; elevation - 3875 feet; 360 degree panoramic view)

1.5

Strenuous

91

Appalachian Trail (VA 695 to Sharp Top Mtn. Overlook)

1.9

Moderate

92.5

Appalachian Trail (Sharp Top Mtn. Overlook to Harvey's Knob Overlook)

2.9

Moderate

95.4

Appalachian Trail (Harvey's Knob Overlook to Motvale Overlook)

0.6

Moderate

95.9

Appalachian Trail (Montvale Overlook to Taylor's Mountain Overlook)

1

Moderate

96

Spec Mine Trail (USFS Trail begins near Montvale Overlook, to State Rt. 645 in Botetourt County)

2.8

Strenuous 

97

Appalachian Trail (Taylor's Mtn. Overlook to Blackhorse Gap)

0.8

Moderate

110.6

Stewarts Knob Trail (view)

0.05

Easy

114.9

Roanoke River Trail (self-guiding river loop)

0.35

Easy

120.4

Roanoke Mountain Summit Trail (view)

0.11

Moderate

120.5

Chestnut Ridge Trail (adjacent to Roanoke Mtn. campground)

1.75

Moderate

121.4

Roanoke Valley Horse Trail (begins at U.S. Hwy 220 and parallels Parkway to Milepost 110.6)

18.5

 Moderate

123.2

Buck Mountain Trail (to summit view)

0.53

Moderate

154.5

Smart View Loop Trail (around picnic area)

2.6

Moderate

167.1

Rock Castle Gorge Trail (loop from campground along ridge over Rocky Knob and into gorge for 7-mile return to campground)

10.8

Strenuous

167.1

Hardwood Cove Self-Guiding Nature Trail (part of Rock Castle Loop)

0.8

Moderate

169

Black Ridge Trail (Rocky Knob Visitor Center to Black Ridge to Grassy Knoll and back to Visitor Center)

3.1

Moderate

169

Rocky Knob Picnic Loop Trail (leg stretcher around picnic area)

1

Easy

176.2

Mountain Industry Trail (Mabry Mill)

0.5

Easy

179.2

Round Meadow Creek Loop Trail (walk through a stream bottom forest)

0.5

Moderate