You know about America’s Hiking Triple Crown. The Triple Crown of hiking is the completion of three of America’s long distance trails. The trails included in the Triple Crown are the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. Completing this Triple Crown requires a backpacker to hike approximately 7,900 miles.
Do you know about Virginia’s Triple Crown? Virginia’s Triple Crown is a 17.5-mile section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in central Virginia, near Roanoke. This trail section provides three spectacular views and fascinating rock features. The Triple Crown offers some of the best views in the mid-Atlantic states.
There are many ways to hike this section. A hiker could start in the north and hike south, start in the south and hike north, start in the middle and hike both directions, or make it a loop by adding connecting trails.
When hiking south from the northern end, you might start in Daleville, VA. Tinker Cliffs is 10.5 miles from Daleville. Along the way, a hiker will enjoy views of Carvin Cove Reservoir and pass Lamberts Meadow Campsite and Lamberts Meadow Shelter. Tinker Cliffs features a half mile of huge, 450M year old boulders. The cliffs offer views of the Catawba Valley.
McAfee Knob is a 6 mile hike south of Tinker Cliffs. McAfee Knob is supposed to be one of the most photographed spots on the AT. The knob jets out of Catawba Mountain and offers a hiker a 200-degree view of the Catawba Valley and nearby peaks.
Continue south along the Appalachian Trail for 12 miles and you will reach Dragon’s Tooth. Dragon’s Tooth consists of huge sandstone boulders rising from a summit. Reaching the summit requires a steep climb, and use of a built-in ladder. The boulders are white and really do look like teeth. There is an area to camp at the base of the teeth, er boulders. Like Tinker Cliffs and McAfee Knob, Dragon’s Tooth offers spectacular views of the valley below and surrounding ridges.
Do you have 3 seasons to hike America’s Triple Crown? Give Virginia’s Triple Crown a try one weekend. You’ll visit some of the greatest hiking spots in Virginia.
Have you hiked this section? Have you seen the rock formations during sunrise or sunset?