Life Outside Fall 2017 - 18

Continue for 11.1 miles, then turn right onto the
Blue Ridge Parkway. The trailhead is located nearby,
between mileposts 83 and 84.
Devil's Marbleyard, Natural Bridge
Station
What to Expect: A little south of Glasgow,
this roughly 3-mile out-and-back hike will
carry you through the 8,907-acre James River Face
Wilderness to a spectacular mountainside of gigantic
boulders. Passing the ruins of an old Boy Scout camp,
and following the Belfast Creek up a ravine, the
trail is, for the most part, relatively undemanding.
However, toward the top, you can choose to either
scramble up the rocks directly, or follow the steep
trail around to the summit. While the views of the
valley below are great, the real treat is playing in
the 'marble yard.'
The Hike: From the parking area (it is small and
fills fast; have an alternative in mind on weekend
days), cross the footbridge and follow the Belfast
Trail to the rocks.
Get There: From I-81, take exit 180-A, and turn
onto U.S. 11 south. Follow for 2.3 miles and turn left
onto state Route 689. Continue for 1.1 miles before
turning left onto state Route 130 east. Go another
1.9 miles and turn right onto state Route 759 heading
south. Follow for 3.1 miles, turning left onto state
Route 781. In 3.1 miles, the parking lot and trailhead
will be on your left.
Tinker Cliffs, Daleville
What to Expect: Climbing from 1,700 feet
at the trailhead to nearly 3,000 feet at the
cliffs, this 7.4-mile trek is a bit demanding.
Passing through forests, the route traverses blufftops,
creek drainages, and rock formations, and offers
sweet views of the Catawba Valley, McAfee Knob
and Broad Run Mountain.
The Hike: From the Andy Layne Trail trailhead,
follow the yellow-blazes for 3.1 miles to the A.T.,
where you'll turn right and head south. Follow the
white blazes for .7 miles to Tinker Cliffs.
Get There: From I-81, take exit 150-B, turning onto
US-220 north toward Daleville/Fincastle. Follow
for 1.4 miles and turn left onto Catawba Road (Va.
779). In about 8 miles, you'll see the parking lot
on your left.
Kelly Knob, Huffman
What to Expect: This out-and-back 6.6-mile
hike along the Appalachian Trail climbs
through rhododendrons and creek-crossings
to pass along a ridge bridging John's Creek Mountain
and Clover Hollow Mountain. Sandstone bedrock
forms a broken escarpment along the east and south
of the ridge, while deep rocky fissures in nearby
50-foot cliffs make the area around Kelly Knob
particularly striking. A fantastic view of the New
River Valley from 3,742 feet awaits.
The Hike: From the crossing at state Route 42,

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Fall 2017 \\ LifeOutside Magazine

follow the A.T. past the Laurel Creek Shelter and
continue to the summit (3.3 miles).
Get There: From I-81 south, take exit 118-B toward
Blacksburg, following U.S. 460 west for 8 miles. Then,
turn right onto state Route 42 east and proceed for
7 miles, passing through the town of Newport. Park
on the shoulder where the A.T. crosses Route 42.
Chestnut Knob, Burkes Garden
What to Expect: One of the more isolated
communities in the state, Burkes Garden
was discovered by James Burke while
hunting in the 1740s and earned the nickname "God's
Thumbprint" after it was viewed from the air. Ringed
in by mountains, the 300-person community is nestled
into a fertile valley that's about 8.5 miles long and 4
miles wide. At 3,000 feet, it's the highest valley in the
state. With the A.T. passing nearby along Chestnut
Ridge, the 6.2-mile hike to the 4,409-foot overlook at
the Chestnut Knob Shelter offers rare views worthy
of bragging rights.
The Hike: Begin at the parking area on state Route
623 (Burkes Garden Road), where the gravel road
crosses Garden Mountain and intersects the A.T..
From there, head south on the A.T. for 6.2 miles to
the Chestnut Knob Shelter and overlook.
Get There: From I-77, take exit 58 toward U.S. 52/
Bastian. In .2 miles, turn onto state Route 614 heading
west. Follow for 13.5 miles, then turn left onto state
Route 61. Follow for 4.3 miles, turning left onto state

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Life Outside Fall 2017

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