McAfee Knob Trail is one leg of Virginia’s “Triple Crown” along with Dragons Tooth and Tinker Cliffs. The entire loop is 35 miles (56 km) and features the best overlooks in the entire state of Virginia. McAfee Knob ascends 1,740’ (530 m) to a height of 3,197’ (974 m) above sea level and has several outlooks looking down into the southern Shenandoah Valley and the Catawba Valley, Roanoke Valley to the East, North Mountain to the West and Tinker Cliffs to the North. Let’s get started . . .
The Appalachian Trail McAfee Knob trailhead is located off of the VA311 in Salem, VA. The earlier you arrive the better as the parking area isn’t large (35-40 car capacity) and seemingly always full. This is a very popular hike and can take anywhere from 4-6 hours to walk. As a result, the parking lot doesn’t turn over much during the day. We parked down on Old Catawba Road and we were lucky to get that spot. When we finished the local police were there towing all the cars parked on the VA311. Luckily we had heard about the VA311 parking ban, which was instituted in 2017 so we were prepared. One more thing . . . no bathroom facilities are available anywhere on the hike.
On the Way Up
From the parking lot you go across the street (be on the lookout for oncoming traffic) and due west a few hundred feet and you’ll see the trailhead. Depending on the weather you may have to trudge through some mud at first but wood steps are quickly available. The trails, for the most part, are wide and relatively flat. It’s an easy, but steadily inclined, walk with plenty of visual delights along the way.
We had Rocky, our then 14-year old miniature poodle (dogs are allowed but only on a leash), with us and he had no troubles whatsoever. He actually had a blast, leaving very few areas unexplored. In the first few miles, you’ll encounter a number of Eagle Scout built wooden walkways and bridges but then the trail becomes wide with a steady upward slope.
Just past the 3-mile mark, there’s a sign which says “OVERLOOK 1.3 miles”. Keep an eye out for it because, if missed, you could be walking aimlessly for a while till you did the math and realize you’re lost. We heard from some fellow travelers that the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club and the local Boy Scouts are primarily responsible for how well-maintained the trail is. We did our part by staying on the trail and keeping all of our trash in a separate backpack pouch so as not to spoil this wonderful stretch of nature.
On the Reel
A Walk in the Woods (2015)
Starring Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson. Directed by Ken Kwapis.
This “finding yourself”, based on real-life events, comedy adventure has two old friends vow to walk the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Beautiful nature photography throughout this light, somewhat slowly paced, gem with McAfee Knob featured on the promotional materials including posters.
There are also tons of overlooks along the way. We went in March, which meant no leaves on the trees. While not as beautiful, this did allow us the see more down into the valleys than might be the case in late spring or summer. The air temperature was also nice and cool. Many of the overlooks go right up to the edge with steep drop-offs. This allows for great perspective but be aware of possible soft shoulders as you move closer to the edges.
One of the highlights is the intricate rock formations. There are some semi-scramble areas (really more like walking around rocks) though nothing like Dragons Tooth. The best crop is toward the top and is appropriately named the Devil’s Kitchen. The boulders rise 15-20’ (4-6 m) and have a layered look as though they were laid on top of each other. Soon after you’ve ventured through Devil’s Kitchen you’ll encounter a short spur trail that gets a bit steep. Conveniently, there is a great flat rock that makes for a perfect resting area just before the big payoff.
McAfee’s Knob
The actual overlook is as spectacular as advertised. The only negative was the number of people at the top and along the cliff’s edge but it’s wide enough where you can find a spot to soak in the valley below. There are also a lot of natural places to sit and have lunch or a snack. Like with the overlook at Bryce Canyon you’ll want to walk the entire precipice. This will allow you several different vantage points, views and perspectives.
The view itself is a 270° vista of the Catawba Valley, Tinker Cliffs and Roanoke Valley. Fellow hikers are pretty good about allowing you to get some good pictures though some are too busy hanging off the edge for a dramatic shot. The reality is there are areas where the fall isn’t that far, it’s more scrambling back up to the top. Bottom line, not worth the excitement.
The Descent
You descend the same way you came up. I’ve always found it interesting how different the opposite perspectives can appear on most hikes. Nature is so intricate and filled with millions of tiny details that you could look forever and constantly see things you missed before. Because this hike was so long the sun was in a much different position on the way down so the shadows reflected everything differently.
The Old Fire Road
About 1.4 miles (2.25 km) from the top you have the option to take the old fire road the rest of the way. It’s a more casual descent that is definitely easier on the knees and, if nothing else, gives you different views than on the way up. We love the beauty of raw nature so it was a win-win for the three of us. From here you’ll have about 2.6 miles (4.18 km) back down to the parking lot.
Conclusion
McAfee Knob is the most well-known of Virginia’s so-called Triple Crown hikes. The trail is more wide open and accessible than Dragons Tooth or Tinker Cliffs but it is also longer. As I mentioned earlier it is more of a marathon and pretty much takes up your entire day. If like us, you love untouched nature then you’ll really appreciate all of the views around you.
Please let us know some of your most memorable hikes, especially if they feature great overlooks.
