The Appalachian Trail is pure “God’s Country” between Va. 311 and U.S. 220; and on the other side of town, the jewels along the Blue Ridge Parkway are countless.
Roanokers searching for the perfect place to kick back and have some fun have to look little farther than their own backyards. To the west, 20 of the prettiest miles on the entire 2,175-mile-long Appalachian Trail run along the valley, offering hiking opportunities suitable for all skill levels and gorgeous mountain vistas at spots like McAfee Knob. To the east lies “America’s Favorite Drive” on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with the more than 100-year-old Mabry Mill (a scenic gristmill/sawmill/woodworking and blacksmith shop) and the pristine Peaks of Otter (a spot where Native Americans once hunted long before European settlers even arrived) as two of the must-see attractions. Add to that bountiful recreational sports, health clubs, golf courses, skiing, biking, spectator sports and more and it’s clear endless recreational opportunities await around every bend and turn.
World-class hiking
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McAfee Knob, one of the signature scenic spots on the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail, is a 3.7-mile trek up Catawba Mountain, just outside of Roanoke.
PHOTO BY VALERIE A LONG |
At one end of the Roanoke Valley the McAfee Knob overlook on the Appalachian Trail is one of the most photographed spots on the footpath which stretches from Maine to Georgia, or Georgia to Maine, depending on which direction you hike it. The rock outcropping at McAfee – well marked with a sign on the AT so you cannot miss it – looks out over parts of Roanoke City to one side, to north Roanoke County and Botetourt County in another direction. On the other side of a narrow mountain ridgeline the Catawba Valley beckons below.
You can see Roanoke Regional Airport, part of Carvins Cove, rolling hills and plenty of farmland from the Knob. The 3.7-mile one-way trip from the Va. 311 trailhead is not just a mere walk in the woods and at times can be strenuous. The view is well worth the exertion, however, and people of all ages make the trek. On the way back a more gently sloping fire road makes a good alternative route and covers about the same distance.
Continue past McAfee Knob northward and U.S. 220 in Daleville beckons as a logical terminus, especially for those who want to try an overnight backpacking trip, maybe for the first time. Use two cars and leave one at each end of the trail, or have someone ready for pickup duties. There are several campsites and shelters between 311 and 220 to make the journey easier. The 20-mile trip from the 311 end means a hike down to the bottom of a valley and then to the top of Tinker Mountain, where the Tinker Cliffs offer more stunning views from a rock ledge.
“That’s a good overnight hike,” says Michael Vaughn, hike master for the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, which helps maintain a 113-mile stretch of the famed path. There’s water along the way too, says Vaughn.
If the crowd headed to McAfee Knob seems a bit much – its not unusual in the spring and fall for the parking lot on 311 to be full – head in the other direction from the same lot and walk along a ridgeline that is also part of the Appalachian Trail. The popular Dragon’s Tooth segment that’s a fun rock scramble as well is just down the road and is part of a very popular segment with McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs. Catawba is a favorite place for AT “thru hikers” to come out of the woods for a while, often heading to The Homeplace for a major meal eat and to Salem to clean up.
“America’s Favorite Drive”
While the Appalachian Trail provides literally unending possibilities for hiking to the west of the Roanoke Valley, the Blue Ridge Parkway does much the same to the east. In between the Roanoke River Greenway is growing in length, with other trails at venues like Mill Mountain. Wolf Creek Greenway in Vinton provides several miles of leisurely walking, as does the nearby and somewhat shorter Tinker Creek Greenway. The Chestnut Mountain trail stretches over five miles on a loop and can be accessed at several points on the parkway spur road that leads to the Star, including the Roanoke Mountain Campground – where there is also bluegrass and other live music during the warmer months.
On the Blue Ridge Parkway itself, between Peaks of Otter to the north and Mabry Mill to the south, there are several opportunities to hike or just take a brisk walk. Interpretive Specialist Peter Givens, a ranger for the National Park Service, calls Peaks of Otter “one of the most complete and compact areas on the parkway, as far as what people might want to do.” There’s the somewhat demanding hike to the peak of Sharp Top Mountain, a long-standing tradition. A 1930s farm behind the recently expanded visitors center was once part of the Peaks of Otter community and can be accessed by walkways. An overnight lodge is one of the few year-round facilities on the parkway, notes Givens.
Birders can watch hawks migrate every fall from overlooks between Peaks of Otter and Roanoke. “People are [also] seeing bald eagles and occasionally some peregrine falcons,” says Givens. The Harvey’s Knob overlook (milepost 95) is a favorite for people who camp out in lawn chairs, scanning for birds with binoculars, charting what they have found. “Its an exciting time of the year for them,” adds Givens.
On what Givens terms the high plateau just south of Roanoke there is a chance to glimpse agricultural production in Roanoke and Floyd Counties: row crops like corn and cabbage, pumpkins on Bent Mountain.
“All part of the farming heritage of the region,” he says. At the Rocky Knob campground there are shorter leg-stretching paths an 11-mile loop trail to Rock Castle Gorge, which can be backpacked, with overnight stays permitted at an old Civilian Conservation Corps campground. The best access to the Rock Castle Gorge trail is from the Rocky Knob campground, according to Givens.
At Mabry Mill (milepost 176) there’s old-time music on many Sunday afternoons and craft demonstrations on Saturdays – not to mention buckwheat pancakes in season when the restaurant is open, usually from May-October. Paths lead to the old flour mill from the parking lot. Folks that live in this area still ask Givens about what the Blue Ridge Parkway has to offer, other than a Sunday drive.
“People just get accustomed to what’s closest at hand and sometimes don’t take advantage of it. Sometimes it’s the out-of-towners that introduce us to those places. We’re always encouraging people to drive a distance and experience other parts of the parkway.”
GREAT PLACES TO PLAY
College Sports
•Virginia Tech. NCAA Division I programs in men’s and women’s basketball, cross-country, indoor and outdoor track, soccer, tennis, swimming and diving. Men’s golf, baseball, football and wrestling. Women’s volleyball, softball and lacrosse. Virginia Tech is now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. 1-800-VATECH-4 or 540/231-6731. www.hokiesports.com.
•Roanoke College. Sponsors Division III varsity sports, including a nationally ranked lacrosse team. Also field hockey, soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball, cross-country, track, volleyball and golf. Women’s basketball team has won the Old Dominion’s conference championship 13 times; men’s team 10 times. 540/375-2344. www.maroons.roanoke.edu/Sports/
Athletic Programs
•Valley Parks and Recreation. Sports for children and teens include Dixie League and Little League baseball, T-ball, girl’s softball, peewee softball, soccer, football, basketball, volleyball and cheerleading and many others. For more information, call Roanoke City 540/853-2236; Roanoke County 540/387-6078, Salem 540/375-3057.
www.roanokegov.com
www.co.roanoke.va.us
www.ci.salem.va.us.
• Botetourt County Parks and Recreation 540-473-8326. co.botetourt.va.us.
• Franklin County Parks and Recreation 540-483-9293. franklincountyva.org
• Craig County 540-864-5010 craigev.net.
Outdoor/Indoor Tennis Courts
Botetourt County 4 (public) courts, 2 lighted
Franklin County 6 courts, all lighted.
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| The Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountain ranges help create the streams that provide great fly fishing in the Roanoke area.
PHOTO BY ANDY ALONSO |
Roanoke City. 61 courts, 44 lighted.
Roanoke County. 42 courts, 36 lighted.
Salem. 12 courts, all lighted.
Sun Tennis. Starkey Road, Roanoke County. 2 courts, indoors. Private lessons, group clinics. 540/725-4200. www.suntenniscenter.com.
Virginia Western. Six courts, all lighted.
N-DOR Tennis Club. Three indoor hard courts on membership basis. Ladies’ leagues; professional certified instructor on staff. 540/981-1281.
Ridgewood Tennis Club. Two private indoor hard courts for two-hour basis, monthly. 540/389-4000.
Lancerlot Sports Complex. One indoor court, lighted. 540/981-0205.
Camps
•Roanoke City Camps. Outdoor Adventure Camp; Adventure in the Park; Stars Come Out at Night Program; Youth Nature Camp; Discovery Camp. 540/853-2236. www.roanokegov.com.
•Camp Roanoke. Summer trail and adventure residential camp for kids. 540/387-6078. www.co.roanoke.va.us.
•Roanoke County Parks and Recreation. Day camps and overnight adventures at Camp Roanoke. 540/387-6078.
•Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing. Summer camp and year-round conference/retreat center in New Castle. Corporate teambuilding programs. 1-800-782-0779. www.eagle-landing.com.
Water Sports
•Smith Mountain Lake. More than 500 miles of shoreline; private and state access to boating, camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking and swimming. Also sailing, vacation rentals, golf. 540/721-1203, 1-800-676-8203. www.visitsmithmountainlake.com.
•Carvins Cove. Public boating, fishing, picnicking, rowboat rental and seasonal concessions. Surrounded by a 13,000-acre forest preserve with hiking, horse and biking trails. No swimming. 540/563-9170. www.ci.roanoke.va.us/water/boating.html.
•Claytor Lake. Boating, swimming, camping, hiking and picnicking, fishing. Marina. Twelve cabins overlook the lake. 1-800-933-PARK. www.dcr.state.va.us.
•James and Maury Rivers. Fishing and river-running. Canoe and kayak trips via James River Basin Canoe Livery, Lexington. 540/261-7334. canoevirginia.com.
•Loch Haven Lake. Canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, diving, beach, hiking trails, picnic areas and tennis courts. Membership. 540/366-1174.
•Mountain Lake. May-November. Canoes, paddleboats, beach, swimming pool, bike rentals, hiking trails, lawn games. 1-800-346-3334.www.mtnlakehotel.com.
•New River. Fishing, canoeing, tubing, river running. Livery and shuttle service, canoe and kiwi rentals on New River and Walkers Creek through New River Canoe Livery, Pembroke, 540/626-7189. Tangent Outfitters offers guided fishing and canoe trips, mountain bikes, tubing and rentals. 540/626-4567. www.newrivertrail.com.
• Franklin County: Smith Mountain
Lake State Park offers 37 acres that includes a beach area, as well as picnic facilities, ADA-accessible fishing pier
and hiking trails.
• Craig County: the Craig Creek Recreational area is one of the few rangelands inside the Jefferson National Forest. It offers swimming, canoeing and fishing for the water sports enthusiast. Go to craigev.net for more information.
• Sailing clubs: There are two major sailing clubs at Smith Mountain Lake, the Virginia Inland Sailing Association, with facilities on the lower Roanoke River, and Blackwater Yacht Racing Association, which operates out of the Pelican Point Yacht Club.
Trout Streams
Many streams are periodically stocked by the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries. For daily updates: www.dgif.state.va.us/fishing/stock/troutstock.cfm.
Sporting Groups
•Roanoke Ski Club. North American and overseas trips. Year-round calendar of events, including summer activities such as biking and tubing. More than 400 members. 540/989-7797. www.roanokeskiclub.org.
•Blue Ridge Bicycle Club. Year-round events including weekend rides, rails-to-trails trips. www.blueridgebicycleclub.com.
•Roanoke Valley Volleyball Association. Year-round league for men and women, all levels of play. 540/342-1014. www.rvva.net.
•Roanoke Rugby Football Club. Year-round adult men’s league including tournaments and special events. 540/344-3221 or 540/556-2791. www.roanokerugby.com.
• Roanoke Valley Triathlon Club: a group of individuals interested in assisting others in training for triathlons and promoting triathlon training activities as well as events in the Roanoke area. Contact: james@roanoketri.org.
• Roanoke Cycling Organization: a group that sponsors a number of weekly bicycle outings, including the Tuesday night “Chicky Ride” for women and rides at Carvin’s Cove, among other venues. Contact roanokecycling.org or 540-580-7284.
• Roanoke Valley Chapter of Float Fishermen of Virginia: for people interested in canoeing and conservation. It organizes several floats each year and has rafts that are frequently used for white-water adventures on the New River Gorge. (540) 384-7345.
Running Club
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•Star City Striders. Sponsor annual Women’s Distance and Star City Half Marathon 5K races. Also participate in other runs throughout the year. 540/772-2782. www.starcitystriders.com.
Hiking
For a list of all of Virginia’s parks and their amenities, go to www.dcr.state.va.us or call 1-800-933 PARK for brochures. Visit www.roanoke.com/outdoors.
• Waterfall walks. Fallingwater Cascades is at milepost 83 of the Blue Ridge Parkway and includes a 1.6-mile hike. Near milepost 27, you have to make a modestly difficult 1.5-mile hike to see Crabtree Falls, Virginia’s highest waterfall. Roaring Run has a 1.4-mile trail just off Va. 621, near the remains of a pre-Civil War iron-ore furnace. The Cascades, on Va. 623 near Pembroke, offers hikes to the falls – a crescent of shale cliffs over 60 feet high, spilling Little Stony Creek into a large lagoon-like pool.
• For Appalachian Trail hikes and loop-hikes, see the beginning of this section or go to ratc.org
Indoor Racquetball
•Lancerlot Sports Complex. Six courts, free with membership. 540/981-0205.
•Roanoke Athletic Club. Five courts. 540/989-5758.
•Kirk Family YMCA. Three courts; free with membership. 540/342-9622.
• Carter Athletic Center. Two courts. Free with membership. 540-989-6641.
Horseback Riding
•Glenwood Horse Trail. 65 miles. Jefferson National Forest.
•Virginia Creeper Trail. Abingdon to the North Carolina line. Abingdon Chamber of Commerce. 276/628-8141.
•Virginia Highlands Horse Trail. Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. 540/783-5196 or 1-800-628-7202.
•Grayson Highlands State Park. Virginia State Parks. 1-800-933-PARK or 276-579-7092. www.dcr.state.va.us.
•Centura Equine Center, Inc. Riding lessons – hunter/jumpers. 540/989-6567.
•Hurley Ward Riding Lessons. Hunters and fox hunting. 540/989-7232.
•Sundance Manor Riding Lessons. Saddleseat. 540/380-4001.
•Slocum’s Appaloosa Ranch. Rides, pony rides, birthday parties. By appointment, year-round. 4860 Glade Creek Road, Bonsack. 540/977-4432.
Mountain Biking
•Carvin’s Cove. Roanoke City watershed has miles of trails. 540/853-2236.
•Explore Park. 12 miles of trails, open dawn to dusk. 540/427-1800.
•Franklin County Recreation Park. 540/483-9293.
•Pandapas Pond. Jefferson National Forest (Roanoke office), 540/265-5100, 540/552-4641 or 1-888-265-0019.
Public Pools
• Gator Aquatic Center. 1130 Overland Rd., Roanoke. 540-982-7665.
• Fallon Park Pool. Fallon Park, Roanoke. 540-853-2206.
• Washington Park. 1919 Burrell Ave., Roanoke. 540-853-2369.
• Vinton Pool. 814 Washington Ave., Vinton. 540-983-0644.
Private Swim Clubs
•Aqua Net Swim Club. (May-Sept.) 899 Finney Dr., Vinton. 540/344-3791.
• Castle Rock Swim Club 5950 Brahma Rd. 772-1977.
•Elks Lodge. 1147 Persinger Rd., Roanoke. 540/345-8126.
•Forest Hill Swim Club. 2715 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke. 540/776-8501.
•Hidden Valley Country Club. 2500 Romar Rd, Salem. 540/389-8146.
•Hollow Creek Swim Club. 217 Hershberger Rd., Roanoke. 540/366-7665, 540/344-4599.
•Hunting Hills Country Club. 5220 Hunting Hills Dr., Roanoke. 540/774-4427.
• Kirk Family YMCA. 520 Church Ave., Roanoke. 540-342-9622.
•Lake Drive Swim Club. 891 Niagra Rd., Vinton. 540/982-9759.
• Lancerlot. 1110 Vinyard Rd., Vinton. 540-890-3694.
• Loch Haven Lake Club (not a pool). 2755 Loch Haven Lake Dr., Roanoke. 366-1174.
•North Lakes Swim Club. North Lake Dr. NW, Roanoke. 540/562-2003.
•Olympic Park Pool. 3136 Harris Street, Roanoke. 774-9990
• Our Lady of Nazareth Swim Club. 2505 Electric Rd., Roanoke. 540-345-2847.
• Read Mountain Swim Club. 59 Downing St., Cloverdale. 540-966-4115.
•Roanoke Country Club. 3360 Country Club Dr., Roanoke. 540/345-1508.
• Salem Racquet & Swim Club. 1431 Red Ln. Ext., Salem. 389-3155.
• Spring Run Swim Club. 6328 Ran Lynn Dr., Roanoke. 774-9952.
• Stonegate Swim Club. 856 Stonegate Dr., Salem. 444-0025.
• Waldron Family YMCA. 267 Alleghany Springs Rd., Shawsville. 540-268-1623.
Health and Fitness Clubs
• Botetourt Athletic Club. 105 Summerfield Crt., Roanoke. 540-992-2993.
• Universal Kempo Karate. 120 Kingston Dr., Daleville. 540-966-3381.
•Carter Athletic Center. 4254 Colonial Ave. SW, Roanoke. 540-989-7284.
• Curves For Women – Daleville. 1436 Roanoke Rd., Daleville. 540-966-3122.
• Curves For Women – Hollins. 7216 Williamson Rd., Roanoke. 540-563-5318.
• Curves For Women – Roanoke. 3505-B Franklin Rd., Roanoke. 540-344-1040.
• Curves for Women – Salem. 1457 W. Main St., Salem. 540-444-0367.
• Curves for Women – Vinton. 1316 Washington Ave., Vinton. 540-345-3776.
• Downtown Sports Club. 16 W. Church Ave., Roanoke. 540-345-7001.
• Gold’s Gym. 3270 Electric Rd., Roanoke. 540-527-GOLD.
• LancerLot Sports Complex. 1110 Vinyard Rd., Vinton. 540-981-0205.
• LifeWise Fitness. 4633 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke. 400-7733 or visit LifeWiseFitness.com.
• Roanoke Athletic Club. 4508 Starkey Rd., Roanoke. 540-989-5758.
• Salem Wellness and Fitness Center. 840 W. Main St., Salem. 540-389-1622.
• Fitsique. 5401 Fallowater Suite F. Roanoke. 540-774-0040 .
• YMCA of Roanoke Valley. ymcaroanoke.org
Kirk Family YMCA (downtown Roanoke). 520 Church Ave., Roanoke. 540-342-9622.
Family Branch. 108 Orange Ave., Roanoke. 540-344-9622.
Salem YMCA. 1126 Kime Ln., Salem. 540-387-9622.
• YWCA of Roanoke Valley. 605 First St. SW, Roanoke. 540-345-9922.
• Zoom Fitness on the Go. 215 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke. 540-224-5678.
Area Golf Courses:
The Quick Guide
• Ashley Plantation Golf Course
919 Greenfield St., 4 mi. off I-81 on 220N Daleville. 540-992-4653.
• Blue Hills Golf Club. 2002 Blue Hills Circle, off U.S. 460 east of Roanoke. 540-344-7848.
• Botetourt Country Club. 2414 Country Club Rd., Va. 665 off U.S. 220, Troutville. 540-992-1451.
• Brookside Par 3 Golf Course. 6303 Williamson Rd., Roanoke. 540-366-6059.
• Countryside Golf Club. One Countryside Rd., Roanoke. 540-563-0391.
• Hanging Rock Golf Club. 1500 Red Lane, Salem. 540-389-7275 or 1-877-77-DIVOT
• Hidden Valley Country Club. 2500 Romar Rd., Salem. 540-389-8146.
• Hunting Hills Country Club. 5220 Hunting Hills Dr., Roanoke. 540-774-4429.
• Mariners Landing. 2052 Lake Retreat Rd., Huddleston. 540-297-7888 or 888/297-PUTT.
• Ole Monterey Golf Club. 1112 Tinker Creek Ln., Roanoke. 540-563-0400.
• Roanoke Country Club. 3360 Country Club Dr. NW, Roanoke. 540-345-1508.
• Salem Golf Course. 601 Academy St., Salem. 540-387-9802.
• Sycamore Ridge Golf Club. 1270 Trails End Rd., Goodview. 540-297-6490.
• The Westlake Golf & Country Club. 360 Chestnut Creek Dr., Hardy. 540-721-4214 or 1-800-296-7277.
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