Hiking McAffe Knob and Tinker Creek Greenway

• Dates we visited: February 7, 2020
• Posted length: 7.8
• Total miles Hiked: 9.92
• Type of Trail: Hiking
• Conveniences: Parking lot
• Best Features: Stunning views
• Worst Features: Not a gripe, but know this is fairly strenuous
• Wildlife spotted: None (too cold!)
• Vegetation: Galax, Mountain Laurel, Spotted Wintergreen
• Associated Website: Nothing official, but it's part of the Appalachian Trail. 
• Primary Author: James

We hiked to McAfee Knob on a day with highs forecast in the 40s. But, most of the hike runs very close to the mountain ridge, and winds were fierce at 25 miles per hour, making this one of the coldest hikes we've ever tackled. There's more photos from the beginning of the hike, because by the end our gloved fingers were too cold and still to operate our cameras!

White blaze of the AT

Despite the cold, we've no regrets about making this hike. The views are spectacular, and while it's a strenuous hike, it's not unbearably so. The nearest parking lot is large with plenty of signage. Be warned that you have to cross a road with blind curves in each direction. After that, you head more or less straight up several hundred feet until you reach the ridge of the mountain. Most of the remaining hike will keep you running along this ridge or in sight of it, so the elevation changes really aren't bad for most of the middle section of the hike.

A brief moment of sunshine during the hike

There are two primary trails leading to the final section that heads up to McAfee Knob. One is the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the other is an old fire road. We hiked on the AT, expecting this to have the best scenery, but it's so rocky and rooty that we spent most of the hike looking at our feet. There were lots of small creeks to hop across, and if you're looking for an actual hiking experience across challenging terrain it's definitely the route to take.

Snow flurries on Galax

Once the AT and the fire road converge again after about three miles, you start heading up toward McAfee Knob. This is a fairly gradual climb and will take you past several large boulders until you reach the small side trail that takes you out onto the Knob itself.

Remember those twenty five mile per hour winds? Being on the Knob itself was like being in a wind tunnel. It was blowing snow and pushing us so hard we could barely stand up. Hopefully you won't make the trip under the same challenges, because the view is amazing. You're only a few miles from Roanoke, but looking west toward scenic valleys and further along the AT. Given that the snowy wind felt like needles, it was literally breathtaking.

Not trying to pose dramatically - bracing against the wind gusts!

Coming back down, we decided to take the fire road, not expecting much of it. It turned out to have great views down both sides of the ridge and numerous large rock formations. And, since it's a smooth, fairly level surface, you can actually look at your surroundings instead of where you're placing your feet.

But wait! There's more!

While we were in the area, the weather greatly improved on Sunday morning, and our hotel was less than a mile from the Tinker Creek Greenway. We popped over to it and found it to be delightful. After a short walk through a field you enter a an evergreen forest and walk along gentle hills by the creek. The mossy ground gives the whole walk a fairy tale feel. So, if you're in Roanoke to hike McAfee Knob, throw this walk in as well!

#hiking
#mcafeeknob
#appalachiantrail
#tinkercreekgreenway
#roanoke