Appalachian Trail

Dragon’s Tooth

Highlights: Great views, Appalachian Trail, rock scrambles, wildflowers, Triple Crown Distance: 5.5 miles loop Elevation change: 1,340 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Dragon’s Tooth Trailhead, route 311 Website: Visit Roanoke and Hiking Upward  Beer Pairings: A Few Old Goats Brewing—Oatmeal Stout & Galactic Retribution IPA  The Hike: Dragon’s Tooth was our 3rd Triple Crown […]

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Tinker Cliffs

Highlights: Great views, Appalachian Trail, wildflowers, Triple Crown Distance: 7.5 miles out and back Elevation change: 1,810 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Andy Layne Trail Parking, Catawba Road route 779 Website: Visit Roanoke and AllTrails Beer Pairings: Parkway Brewing Co.—Triple A Red Ale & Grapefruit Get Bent Mountain IPA  The Hike: Tinker Cliffs is

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McAfee Knob

Highlights: Great views, Appalachian Trail, wildflowers, Triple Crown Distance: 8.1 miles out and back Elevation change: 1,820 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Route 311, Catawba VA Website: Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club and AllTrails Beer Pairings: Golden Cactus Brewery—Moira Brown Ale & Money Tree IPA  The Hike: The summit of McAfee is said to be

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Three Ridges: Reeds Gap to Tye River

Highlights: Great views, Appalachian Trail, wildflowers, stream crossings Distance: 10.8 miles one way Elevation change: 2,231 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Reeds (Reids) Gap, Beech Grove Road, route 664 and Blue Ridge Parkway Website: AllTrails Beer Pairings: Wild Wolf Brewery—Nelsonite Brown Ale & Notorious H.O.P. IPA The Hike: Several of our friends have hiked

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Lewis Falls & Blackrock

Highlights: Waterfalls, views, wildflowers, wildlife Distance: 3.3 mile loop Elevation change: 990 feet Difficulty level: Moderate Trailhead Parking: Big Meadows Lodge parking area, Skyline Drive mile 51, park fee required Website: Shenandoah National Park Beer Pairings: Big Meadows Lodge—Fresh Squeezed IPA by Deschutes Brewery & Amber Lager by Skipping Rock Beer Co. The Hike: This

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AT: Pinnacle to Mary’s Rock

Highlights: Views, wildlife, Byrd’s Nest #3, Pinnacle summit, birdwatching, wildflowers Distance: 7.1 miles out and back Elevation change: 1,370 feet Difficulty level: Moderate/strenuous Trailhead Parking: Pinnacles Picnic area, Skyline Drive mile 36.7, park fee required  Website: AllTrails Beer Pairings: Old Trade Brewing—Mitch is Bitter ESB & Foggy Morning IPA The Hike: There are several ways

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Mary’s Rock

Highlights: Views, wildlife, birdwatching, Appalachian Trail Distance: 2.9 miles out and back Elevation change: 830 feet Difficulty level: Easy/moderate Trailhead Parking: Meadow Spring parking area, Skyline Drive mile 33.5, park fee required Website: Shenandoah National Park Beer Pairings: Hopkins Ordinary Ale Works—End of the Trail Pale Ale & Sperryville VeryChill Kölsch The Hike: There are

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AT: Beagle Gap to Calf Mountain Shelter

Highlights: Meadows, views, wildlife, birdwatching, wildflowers, AT shelter Distance: 4.9 miles out and back Elevation change: 821 feet Difficulty level: Moderate Trailhead Parking: Beagle Gap parking area, Skyline Drive mile 99.5, park fee required Website: Hiking Upward Beer Pairings: Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie—Skipping Rock Kolsch & Blue Mountain Full Nelson The Hike: This hike follows

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Hogback Mountain Loop

Highlights: Nice views, Appalachian Trail, wildflowers, wildlife, fall foliage Distance: 7.1 mile loop Elevation change: 1,123 feet Difficulty level: Moderate/Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Piney River parking area, Skyline Drive mile 22.3, park fee required Website: Shenandoah National Park Beer Pairings: Pen Druid Brewing Co.—Golden Swan Wild Ale & Arkansas Black Sparkling Cider The Hike: We cobbled

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AT: Compton Peak & Fort Windham Rocks

Highlights: Nice views, unique geology, rock scrambles, Appalachian Trail, wildflowers, wildlife Distance: 6.1 miles out and back Elevation change: 1,281 feet Difficulty level: Moderate/Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Jenkins Gap parking area, Skyline Drive mile 12.4, park fee required Website: Shenandoah National Park Compton Peak and Fort Windham Rocks  Beer Pairings: Front Royal Brewing Co.—Park Pass Helles

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