Top 15 Roanoke Outside Adventures of 2016
One thing is for certain: You guys sure to love to play outside. (And you are big fans of hiking!) Since we launched the new website design heading into 2016, you’ve spent plenty of time checking out hiking, biking, and paddling adventures all over the region as well as shopping for new gear or looking for groups to join.
So we decided to put it all together and share what outside adventures have been most popular this year.
This list could make a fun New Year’s resolution as well: Try as many of these adventures as you can. Find a trail (or blueway) you haven’t explored and get outside!
These rewarding hikes end with some spectacular views (and a place to get your toes wet.) Some of these waterfall hikes include Bottoms Creek Gorge, Roaring Run, the Cascades and Apple Orchard Falls. Not sure which hike is for you? Our list of waterfall hikes includes 11 options for every experience level.
You don’t have to wander far from home to experience some of the best hiking on the East Coast, with dozens of trails right here in Roanoke. Chances are there’s a trail head within a few minutes of your location from anywhere in the city. So leave the asphalt, cars, and noise behind and lose yourself on one of these trails. Three hikes we know you’ll love include Carvins Cove Nature Reserve, Explore Park, and Read Mountain. The full list includes 15 options from quick walks to overnight hiking adventures.
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,175-mile trail following the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine, with 120 miles of trail winding through the Roanoke Region. The A.T. offers dozens of short and long hikes, easy to strenuous. Find trail loops that peak at waterfalls and cliffs, always promising spectacular views. One of the highlights of the trail in the Roanoke Region is McAfee Knob, the most photographed point along the trail. It is also prominently featured in the 2015 movie, “A Walk in the Woods,” starring Robert Redford.
Come see why Roanoke and Virginia’s Blue Ridge is the Mountain Bike Capital of the East. Whether you are into single speed, downhill, or cross country you will be spent after a day on these trails. The region is home to multiple trail systems — Mill Mountain Park, Explore Park, Douthat State Park, and Carvins Cove to name a few — that include multiple ride options that can give you a short half-hour ride or occupy you all day long. Add each of these areas to your bucket list, check them off one at a time, and be prepared to come back again and again.
Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is the second largest municipal park in the nation. It holds a major water source within its 12,700 acres and overflowing recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, fishing, and boat rentals. The cove includes 11,363 acres that are protected by the largest conservation easement in Virginia’s history.
The Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is managed for watershed protection and public recreation, including hiking, fishing, boating, and equestrian use by Roanoke Parks & Recreation. The property is located near Interstate 81 and borders 14 miles of the Appalachian Trail. With more than 60 miles of trails and a 600+ acre reservoir, Carvins Cove is a mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and boating paradise.
Whether you are looking to visit Roanoke for the first time or you just need a weekend getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds and camping areas to choose from. From the Alleghany Highlands to Franklin County and Smith Mountain Lake, explore your options.
Many of camping options, especially those in state parks, have limited availability and require reservations. Others may have primitive amenities. Always make sure to plan ahead to make the most of your adventure.
With the Roanoke River flowing through the city limits, Smith Mountain Lake just to the south, the James River to the east, the New River to the west, and Lake Moomaw to the north, the Roanoke Region has some of the finest lake and river fishing on the East Coast. With 35 lakes, rivers, and creeks in the region, you will be hard-pressed to find a richer or more diverse fishing resource in such close proximity to any other urban area in America.
In addition to being an incredible river for fishing and boating, the James River watershed is also home to incredible hiking. Whether you are looking for a short hike or a full day workout, these James River hikes are sure to please. Devil’s Marbleyard and Roaring Run are popular choices in this collection of six hikes.
The Roanoke Region is home to more than more than 30 miles of urban trails connecting the area’s natural beauty to its charming neighborhoods and vibrant downtown. And these greenways, which are defined as open-space corridors reserved for recreational use or environmental preservation that connect urban centers, are growing all the time.
Looking for some moving water? The topography of the Blue Ridge Mountains has helped form the best fishing, kayaking, and canoeing rivers in Virginia. Some of the more well-known bodies of water include the Roanoke River, Pigg River, and James River. Popular creeks for whitewater include Bottom Creek, Bullpasture River, and Potts Creek, depending on water levels.
Tubing is a relaxing way to spend the day on the river, particularly in the dog days of summer. Pack a cooler, put on some sunscreen, grab a water bottle, and hit the river. The Roanoke Region has distinctly different options to choose from for your next tubing adventure on the Roanoke River, James River, New River or one of the bigger creeks, such as Craig Creek.
Hundreds of hiking trails are tucked away within the 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. These trails provide dazzling images of wildflowers on rolling pastures, cascading waterfalls (some with natural rock water slides), blue tinged mountains, and majestic gorges. Trails found on the Parkway are suited for all skill levels, and provide an intimate view of the most beautiful wilderness in the country. There are a dozen Parkway hikes right here in the region.
Looking for a relaxing float with your family, or are you looking to hone your paddling skills on some classic whitewater runs? Whatever floats your boat (or SUP), you’ll find it. And if you don’t have the right gear to get out on the water, there’s an outfitter ready to assist (some will even help you pick a spot and provide transportation).
Whether you are looking to send a V-12, redpoint a 5.10a, or just hang out with your climbing buddies, you’re sure to find the perfect climbing or bouldering spot somewhere in these mountains. The Roanoke Region is home to some great bouldering at locations such as McAfee Knob and Bozoo, and rock climbing in plenty of other spots. And you can get an introduction to the rocks at one of the many climbing gyms scattered throughout the region.
There’s nothing like the taste of a tomato or apple grown right in your backyard. The region is home to more than a dozen farm-to-table options to help you find the freshest food available.
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