Travel

,

Mountain Biking In Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains | Roanoke, VA

,

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains have it all when it comes to biking. The trails welcome riders of all levels and interests; paved greenways for beginners, expert-level mountain trails, black diamond single tracks, back country trails with hike a bike, kid-friendly trails, accessible trails for hand cycling, and gravel. For tonight’s shoot we chose Mill Mountain, a 1,300ft mountain situated directly over downtown Roanoke, VA.

Roanoke, Virginia has become known for their award-winning mountain biking trails, becoming one of just four states to have three IMBA-designated Ride Centers. Roanoke Ride Center has received a Silver Level Status, the only destination on the East Coast to achieve this ranking, and Richmond and Harrisonburg have both been recognized as Bronze Level mountain biking destinations.

,

McAfee's Knob Full Moon - Sunrise Hike

,

Hiking McAfee Knob on the Appalachian Trail near Roanoke, Virginia at sunrise is a bucket list item for any hiker or adventure seeker. Hiking “the knob” is an easy accomplishment for any solo hiker or a family with little kids as it’s only 3.5 miles each way and 7 miles round trip along a fire road or trail.

a guide to Hiking mcAfee’s knob at sunrise

For a sunrise hike in May, you’ll have to be at the parking lot no later than 3:45am. So, bring a headlight and a thermos of your favorite coffee. The hike although not strenuous for most takes 4+ hours, so prepare to bring a bottle of water, a small snack, and sturdy hiking boots as the trail can be muddy. Alight top to keep you warm upon summiting (even in the summer) is recommended. The knob with its sweeping views is exposed to the elements and always has a breeze.

is mcafee’s knob a hard hike?

The hike to Mcafee Knob is a slow and steady uphill hike up Catawba Mountain. The trail, is a part of the larger Appalachian Trail, which is wide and well groomed with easy to denote markers. The only exception is when you reach the top.

some of roanoke virginia’s best hikes are 1/2 day hikes

When you reach the top of Catawba Mountain you can easily go past the iconic McAfee Knob rock overlook. The overlook’s sweeping panoramic views of the Catawba valley beneath you are not to be missed. Make sure you look for trail signs and breaks in the brush, which will lead you to McAfee’s knob overlook. It’s very easy to continue on the Appalachian Trail and not walk the extra 50 feet to the overlook.

hiking mcafee’s knob 1-2-3 information

Quick information about hiking McAfee’s Knob in any season:

  • Bring a water bottle

  • The hike takes about 3.5-4 hours of moving time round trip.

  • Total distance is about 7.2 miles

  • Go early! - The parking lot at the top of 311 in Catawba fills up quick and parking signs are strictly enforced.

, ,

Escatawba Farms Fly Fishing

, ,

A great day trip fly fishing has to be at Virginia's best fly fishing stream, Escatawba Farms located just outside of Roanoke, Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Escatawba has streams stocked with trout and other fish species, which will test anglers of all skill levels.

Virginia’s Best Fly Fishing is in Roanoke, VA

Whether you’re a beginner going out with a guide or a skilled fishermen with many lores under your belt, Escatawba has something to offer everyone.

,

Hay Rock Trail Hike - Appalachian Trail Roanoke, Virginia

,

Quick Saturday morning hike just outside of Roanoke, Virginia to explore part of the Appalachian Trail. This section is referred to as the Hay Rock Trail. Hiking the Hay Rock Trail is 7.8 miles roundtrip from the parking lot and climbs 1500+ feet. The trail offers views overlooking Carvins Cove Natural Preserve and beyond to Roanoke City (Mill Mountain Star, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, and downtown Roanoke).

Again we brought wonder dog Arya, a 1.5 year old standard sized Wire-haired Dachshund. This was Ary’s second hike of the week and she crushed it. At the end of the week Arya had conquered 18 miles of hiking and climbed over 2900ft.

,

McAfee's Knob Sunrise Morning Hike

,

An early morning sunrise hike on the Appalachian Trail just outside of Roanoke, Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains to capture the sunrise at McAfee's Knob. McAfee's Knob is the most photographed location on the Appalachian Trail. Hiking McAfee's Knob is not hard at all. The hike offers two ways up to the top; a fire road of compact dirt and small rocks, and a more rugged trail with roots, big stone steps, and some mud.

blue ridge mountains photography

Hiking with a camera takes some effort. You want to bring your best camera, all of your lenses, a filter or two, and a tripod, but then you realize your hike is 5,8,12,15 mile round trip hike. Packing light when hiking is key. When camping or hiking my outdoor camera setup consists of 1 camera body and 1 lens.

Hiking with a tripod

Although a tripod would’ve been nice on this early morning sunrise hike, it would’ve been heavy and cumbersome to carry. Instead of carrying a tripod for slow exposure shots I always:

  • Find a rock to balance my camera on

  • Increase my ISO

  • Photograph slightly under exposed and increase exposure or shadows in post production

, ,

Sharp Top Trail - Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking

, ,

The views atop Sharp Top are jaw dropping. If you’re a bit more daring, there are multiple boulders to climb, which allow for even more impressive and even more unobstructed views of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.