June 8

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Written by Brian Bailey

June 8, 2021

Hikes Around Roanoke, List

Blue Ridge Parkway Roanoke Day Trip Yoanoke

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va: The Ultimate List

 Walking     Jogging     Fishing      Picnic    Dog Walking    Bird Watching 

Whether you live here or just visiting, the hikes near Roanoke in some way or another get into your weekend plans. Whether you want to see McAfee Knob "The Most Photographed Lookout on the Appalachian Trail" or crawl up some epic rocks at Devils Marbleyard, this list has the 20 Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va you'll want to know.


Editor's Note: We try hard to be accurate in our reporting but please always use multiple references before driving to a trailhead as trail amenities and conditions can always change. All hike times are approximated using Naismith's Rule.

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

1. Apple Orchard Falls

 Medium Difficulty   Waterfalls    Blue Ridge Parkway       

2.4

Distance

990

Elevation

2:00

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Apple Orchard Falls makes the list of best hikes near Roanoke Va because it's a combination of a waterfall hike, a Blue Ridge Parkway getaway, and a stream-side nature trail, all of which Roanoke is well known for. 

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

2. Bottom Creek Gorge

 Medium Difficulty    Waterfalls    River       

4.8

Distance

900

Elevation

2:00

Hike Time

2

Iconic Picture Spots

Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve is located on Bent Mountain on your way to Floyd, Va. This preserve has a waterfall, a gorge, and 4.8 miles of scenic nature trail on the way to your destination...

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

3. Cascade Falls

 Easy    Waterfalls    Picnic      

4.0

Distance

700

Elevation

2:00

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Cascade Falls is one of the larger falls located near Roanoke. The trail also continues past the falls to get to Barney's Wall overlook.

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

4. Chestnut Ridge Trail

 Easy    Nature Trail    Picnic       

5.4

Distance

720

Elevation

2:00

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Chestnut Ridge Trail is centrally located to Downtown Roanoke and is a great nature hike near Roanoke Mountain Picnic Area...

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

5. Devils Marbleyard

 Difficult    Panoramic Views    James River Face Wilderness       

4.5

Distance

1,460

Elevation

3:00+

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Devils Marbleyard is a one-of-a-kind rock crawl hike that's as dangerous as it is scenic located in the James River Face Wilderness.

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

6. Dragon's Tooth

 Medium Difficulty    Panoramic Views    Appalachian Trail       

4.5

Distance

1,256

Elevation

2:50+

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Dragon's Tooth is the first of three sections on the Virginia's Triple Crown Loop and is an iconic overlook on the Appalachian Trail.

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

7. Fallingwater Cascades Trail

 Easy    Waterfalls    Blue Ridge Parkway       

1.4

Distance

420

Elevation

0:55

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Fallingwater Cascades Trail is one of the lesser known waterfalls near Roanoke Va, in part I believe, because it is overshadowed by the incredible hikes near Peaks of Otter. This loop trail is well worth the drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

8. Flat Top Mountain Virginia

 Medium-to-Difficult   Panoramic Views    Blue Ridge Parkway       

4.7

Distance

1,690

Elevation

3:00

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Flat Top Mountain Virginiais the second of three hikes at Peaks of Otter. The trail is a little more on the difficult side but has a great view of Sharp Top Mountain at the summit.

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

9. Fulhardt Knob Trail

 Medium-to-Difficult   Panoramic Views    Appalachian Trail      

7.6

Distance

1,700

Elevation

4:00

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Fulhardt Knob Trail has a great knob overlook right at the beginning of the trail and winds through mountains and forests to get to Fulhardt Knob. 

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

10. Hay Rock Hike

 Medium-to-Difficult   Panoramic Views    Carvin's Cove       

7.4

Distance

1,410

Elevation

3:50

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Hay Rock Hike is the best view of Carvins Cove Natural Reserve you can see without getting into a helicopter...

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

11. Harkening Hill

 Medium Difficulty    Panoramic Views    Blue Ridge Parkway       

4.3

Distance

900

Elevation

2:25

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Harkening Hill at the Peaks of Otter is a great nature hike loop with an overlook at the top as well as interesting balancing rocks on the way up...

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

12. McAfee Knob Hike 

 Medium-to-Difficult   Panoramic Views    Appalachian Trail       

7.8

Distance

1,800

Elevation

4:15

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

McAfee Knob Hike is a must-see if you're in the Roanoke region for any amount of time and easily one of the best hikes near Roanoke Va. 

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

13. Mill Mountain Star Trail

 Medium    Panoramic Views    Overlooking Roanoke       

3.4

Distance

800

Elevation

2:10

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Mill Mountain Star Trail is centrally located to downtown Roanoke and is a great option for an outdoor excursion when time is a factor. 

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

14. Poor Mountain Trail

 Medium Difficulty    Panoramic Views    Small Waterfalls      

3.9

Distance

940

Elevation

2:00

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Poor Mountain Trail is a great loop hike situated close to Bent Mountain. It has an incredible overlook and even a small waterfall at the base of the loop. 

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

15. Read Mountain Hike

 Medium Difficulty   Panoramic Views    Overlooking Roanoke       

3.8

Distance

880

Elevation

1:50

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Read Mountain Hike is often an overlooked when it comes to hikes around Roanoke. The trail to the peak has several spur trails and even talks of an expansion...

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

16. Roaring Run Falls

 Easy    Waterfalls    Picnic       

1.5

Distance

300

Elevation

1:00

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Roaring Run Falls and Hoop Hole Trail has a great day with a picnic area, nature walks and multiple waterfalls leading up to the primary fall.

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

17. Sharp Top Trail

 Medium-to-Difficult    Panoramic Views    Blue Ridge Parkway      

2.6

Distance

1,220

Elevation

2:15

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Sharp Top Trail is one of the more popular hikes around Roanoke Va.  The trail has an overlook and several balancing rocks on the way up making for an interesting trek up...

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

18. Tinker Cliffs

 Medium-to-Difficult   Panoramic Views    Appalachian Trail       

7.3

Distance

1,945

Elevation

4:15

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Tinker cliffs is the third of three sections on Virginia's Triple Crown Loop and has one of the better views of McAfee Knob.

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

19. Wind Rock Va

 Easy    Panoramic Views    Mountain Lake Wilderness       

1.0

Distance

400

Elevation

0:15

Hike Time

1

Iconic Picture Spots

Wind Rock Va is a package deal of a short hike and a great view located in the Mountain Lake Wilderness of Pembroke Virginia.

Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

20. Virginia Triple Crown

 Difficult    Panoramic Views    Appalachian Trail       

27.7

Distance

n/a

Elevation

2-3

Hike Time in Days

3-6

Iconic Picture Spots

Virginia Triple Crown is the collection of Dragons Tooth, McAfee Knob & Tinker Cliffs hiked in sequence. It can be finished by either exiting out at US 220, the Tinker Cliffs parking lot, or looping back along down North Mountain back to Dragon's Tooth...

Map to the 20 Best Hikes Near Roanoke Va

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