Suggested Hikes in the
Mt. Rogers Area
Appalachian Trail Hikes
1 / Fox Creek to Dickey Gap
8 miles | One way | Moderate
*Cars at both ends*
Park a car at Dickey Gap (Jct. Rtes. 16 and 650 (36.72036, 81.46151) and drive about 6.5 miles (on Rte. 16, then turning right on 603) to the AT parking lot on 603 (36.69706, 81.50717) to start. Head north on the AT from the AT parking lot two miles to Chestnut Flats, then another mile to pass the Hurricane Shelter access trail, then down a woods road about ¾ mile to a right turn to continue on the white-blazed AT north, passing a power line corridor along the way (36.71674/81.41993). Rolling terrain will take you past Comers Creek Falls (36.71419/81.47403) in about 3 miles, passing the blue-blazed Dickey Gap Trail on the left (36.71966/81.48157) after about 2 miles and a blue-blazed side trail on the right (Comers Creek Falls Trail) just before the Falls. The stream crossing at Comers Creek Falls has stepstones. Continue 1.3 miles on the AT past the Falls to reach the car at Dickey Gap.
2 / Partnership Shelter to Teas Road
8 miles | One way | Moderate
*Cars at both ends*
Start at Teas Road (36.76317, 81.49311) and carpool up to the Mount Rogers NRA Headquarters on Rte. 16. Take the AT southbound from Partnership Shelter (located behind and to the right of the Headquarters). Hike a couple of miles from the shelter through rhododendron thickets and then about 3 miles along the ridgeline on the ridge of Brushy Mountain for good views of Rye Valley to the east and south and Currin Valley to the west and north. Finally, hike down the ridge for the last 2.5 miles to Teas Road. It’s a nice level walk with some minor ups and downs along the ridge line and then downhill for the last part of the hike.
Appalachian Trail Linked Hikes
1 / Slabtown Trail/Appalachian Trail
5.5 miles | Loop | Moderate
Park at the AT pkg. area on Teas Rd. (Rte. 670): 36.76317, 81.49311, and start the hike heading south on the AT. In about 100 yards, locate the blue-blazed Slabtown Trail on the left and take it about 1.5 miles, crossing Slabtown Rd., Rte. 672), and then continuing about another 1.5 miles through a wooden stile, across a field, and into the woods, following blue blazes. Come to the junction of the Slabtown Trail with the AT and a blue-blazed side trail downhill to the stone Trimpi Shelter, a nice spot for a break. Return from the shelter to the junction, but this time, take the white-blazed AT 1 mile to a field, then cross Slabtown Rd. (Rte. 672) at 36.75661/81.49100 and continue another mile north on the AT to reach your car at Teas Rd. The Slabtown Trail is the former AT before the AT was relocated in that area in the 1990s as part of the effort to get the AT off roads.
2 / Mt Rogers Trail and Elk Garden
6.5 miles | One way | Moderate
*Cars at both ends*
Leave a car at the AT pkg. lot at Elk Garden on Rte. 600 (36.643637/81.58308), near Whitetop Mountain. From there, drive back down 600 and turn right on Laurel Valley Rd. (Rte. 603) to reach Fairwood parking lot (36.64622/81.58316), about a mile past Grindstone Campground, to start the hike. Cross 603 and hike over a boardwalk at the beginning of the Mt. Rogers Trail (36.65956/81.55460). This trail used to be the Appalachian Trail until the 1990s. In about a half-mile, you will see a side trail to the right that leads to Grindstone Campground, but continue on the blue-blazed Mt. Rogers Trail. The trail winds gradually uphill, reaching the junction with the Lewis Fork Spur Trail on the left in two miles. Continue on the Mt. Rogers Trail two more miles to an area known as Deep Gap (36.65885/81.55708), joining the Appalachian Trail. Take the white-blazed AT south two more miles to reach the car at Elk Garden on Rte. 600.
3 / Lewis Fork/Pine Mtn
7 miles | One way | Moderate
*Cars at both ends*
​Leave a car at the Fox Creek AT parking lot on Rte 603 (36.69706, 81.50717) for a hike of about 7 miles. Drive back about 1.5 miles west on 603 to the Lewis Fork Trail (split rail fence on the left, with a wooden stile and a parking pull-off on the right) to start. Hike on the Lewis Fork southbound through a pasture and into the woods for about a mile to the hiker-only Cliffside Trail. Take the Cliffside and cross the Lewis Fork again in about a mile and continue uphill on the Cliffside about another mile to again join the Lewis Fork for a little way in a field in order to reach the blue-blazed Pine Mtn. Trail. Turn left on the Pine Mtn. Trail to reach the white-blazed AT in about one mile, then turn left on the AT to descend about 2 miles on somewhat rocky terrain to Old Orchard Shelter (a log shelter built in 1970), then continue northbound on the AT to finish the hike at Fox Creek parking lot in about 1.3 miles.
Grayson Highlands State Park Hikes
Iron Mountain and Linked Trail Hikes
1 / Fairwood Parking
6.5 miles | One way | Moderate
*Cars at both ends*
Leave a car at the AT parking lot on Rte. 603 (36.69706, 81.50717). Drive west back down Rte. 603 about a mile and a half to the Fairwood parking lot on the right to start the hike (36.64622/81.58316). Take the blue-blazed Flat Top Trail from the Fairwood parking lot about 1.5 miles, crossing Forest Service woods road #828, and continuing on the blue blazed Flat Top Trail (which lies partly on the woods road) another 1.5 miles to reach Cherry Tree Shelter. Built in the late 1930s, this log shelter is the oldest trail shelter in the area. The AT used to lie on the Flat Top Trail before it was moved in the 1970s to its present location. Instead of returning from the shelter on the Flat Top Trail, locate the yellow-blazed Iron Mtn. Trail adjacent to it. Follow the IMT eastbound, recrossing Forest Rd. 828 and continuing on the IMT 2 miles to Chestnut Flats, where the AT crosses the IMT. Turn right on the AT and hike 2 miles more to reach the car at the AT parking lot on 603.
2 / Bear Tree Recreation Area to Straight Branch
8.5 miles | One way | Moderate
*Cars at both ends*
Leave a car at the Iron Mountain Trail trailhead on Orchard Hill Rd. (Holds two cars.) Drive from there down 91 south 6.5 miles to Deer Run Rd. in Laurel Bloomery, TN. Turn right and follow Deer Run until it ends at Water St. Park at Corinth Baptist Church and cross Water St. to the IMT access trail. Climb steadily for about a mile to reach the Iron Mtn. Trail. Turn right. Hike the ridgeline northbound toward Orchard Hill Rd. in Damascus, passing a side trail downhill to Ahistadi Camp along the way. You will cross from the Cherokee National Forest (TN) into the Jefferson National Forest (VA) about 2 miles from Damascus.
Hikes to High Points
Hikes from Damascus, Virginia
Note: The Upper Section of the Virginia Creeper is currently closed (from Whitetop Station to Damascus) due to severe damage from Hurricane Helene. Please respect closure orders so construction crews can restore the damaged trail.