If you’ve been following me for very long, you know that I enjoy hiking. I’m fortunate to live near some very good hiking spots, so I have enjoyed sharing my experiences and photos from the hikes with you here on my blog.
On Saturday, we headed for a very popular stretch of the Appalachian Trail to hike to a place called McAfee’s Knob. The Appalachian Trail is a 2,200 mile (3,500 km) long hiking trail that stretches from Georgia to Maine. It is a very popular hiking destination on the East Coast of the United States, as there are many spectacular views and fun shorter hikes along the trail. Each year, there are always people who hike from one end of the trail to the other, which is something that I don’t know if I’m ambitious enough to do, but maybe someday.
McAfee’s Knob is one of the most photographed places along the Appalachian Trail. It features a small section of rock that juts out over the side of the mountain which provides access to a 270 degree view of the valley below (don’t worry, there are many more pictures to come).
Our hike Saturday began at a trailhead near Catawba, Virginia. My wife and I have done this hike before last year in October, so we knew what to expect. The hike is around 4 miles one way, so it takes around 3 to 4 hours to complete the round trip based on how long you stay at the top. We went with a larger group of people our age, so we had a great time conversing with them on the way up the trail.
There are various small shelters placed along the Appalachian Trail, and one of these shelters is along the way up to McAfee’s Knob. Occasionally, you’ll see people camping there, so it’s interesting to consider that they might be hiking the entire trail. Along the way, there are a few signs that let you know your progress. The hike itself ranges from moderate to strenuous, but I would classify most of the trail as moderate. From the trailhead to McAfee’s Knob, you experience around a 1200 foot (366 m) elevation gain. Since the hike to the top is around 4 miles long, this gain is spread out, so it’s not until almost the very top that you begin to gain elevation quickly. This makes the last leg of the hike the most challenging in my opinion.
Last year when my wife and I hiked to McAfee’s Knob, many of the leaves on the trees had changed already, so we got to experience many beautiful fall colors on the hike. This year, only a few of the leaves had begun to change, but the hike still had plenty of beautiful scenery to take in. Many types of wildlife live in the area such as deer, squirrels, rabbits, and black bears. Thankfully, the only wildlife we encountered was a caterpillar and a millipede. Oh, and plenty of gnats.
I must say, though. This hike is well worth anyone’s time. The views at the top are nothing short of spectacular. When you first emerge onto the overlook section of the trail, you can see the “knob,” which is pictured in the first image of this post. Once you step up to the area right on the knob, you’re immediately greeted by one of the most incredible views the Appalachian Trail or the Blue Ridge Mountains has to offer.
Click on image to view full resolution. I highly recommend it.
I could stay there for hours just taking in the view, and I still don’t think that would be long enough. As you continue around the overlook, you can see more and more of the valley below. Here’s the view from about the middle of the accessible overlook:
When you walk over to the furthest point of the overlook, you can see some interesting features of the landscape including power lines and the airport at the local city of Roanoke. On a clear day, you can also see downtown Roanoke. Here’s the view from that point:
I highly recommend this hike to anyone who enjoys the Appalachian Trail or the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s a fun hike to do with friends, there are some amazing views, and you get to experience the great outdoors. My wife and I have enjoyed it both times we’ve hiked it. Here are a couple of shots of us at the top:
And just as a bonus picture, here’s the picture of us in the same place last year when the fall colors had started to speckle the landscape:
There is one more thing I must mention about going on this hike, and that is what you must do afterward. About a mile down the road from the trailhead, there is a lovely restaurant called The Homeplace.
They serve all-you-can-eat family style Southern food, which includes fried chicken, country ham, roast beef, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, cole slaw, pintos, corn, mac and cheese, and homemade biscuits. Also who can forget the all-you-can-drink lemonade and sweet tea. The food is delicious, and most of the time you can motivate yourself to get through the hike by envisioning how great your meal will be when you reach the end.
I highly recommend eating at The Homeplace any time you’re in the Catawba area. On Saturday, they even had live bluegrass music out on the porch of the house for you to listen to while waiting (it’s always crowded because of its popularity and deliciousness).
We have thoroughly enjoyed hiking to McAfee’s Knob both times we’ve been, and I would encourage anyone who visits the Roanoke area of Virginia to venture down to Catawba and head up the mountain.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the views, and I’d love to hear about your experiences hiking anywhere along the Appalachian Trail, especially in Virginia.
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my last post about hiking up Stone Mountain in North Carolina!
All images are my own. Captured with either my Google Pixel or my Nikon D60. Panorama stitching via the Google photos app.
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!steemitworldmap 37.392401 lat -80.036411 long Weekend Hike on the Appalachian Trail to McAfee's Knob D3SCR