rocky summit

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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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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Devil’s Marbleyard

Highlights: Amazing rock scramble and great views Distance: 3.8 miles out and back Elevation change: 1,150 feet Difficulty level: Moderate/Strenuous Trailhead Parking: VA 781 (Petites Gap Road) small parking area at Belfast Trailhead, 4.5 miles south of Blue Ridge Parkway Website: US Forest Service Beer Pairings: Great Valley Farm Brewery—IPA & Coffee Stout The Hike:

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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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Mount Pleasant Loop

Highlights: Great views, rocky summit, stream crossings, wildflowers, wildlife Distance: 6.0 mile loop Elevation change: 1,270 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Wiggins Springs Road, route 755, becomes Hog Camp Gap Road (Fire Road 48). Continue past the first parking area at Hog Camp Gap for .25 miles. Bear right park near the trailhead kiosk,

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Sintra Palace and Castle Loop

Highlights: views, Pena Palace, Villa Sassetti, and Moorish castle Distance: 2.6 mile loop Elevation change: 1,025’ Difficulty level: Moderate Trailhead Parking: Sintra Portugal, Estrada de Pena near the Moorish Fountain Website: Sintra Parks Beer Pairings: Lord Byron Pub—Super Bock & Sagres The Hike: For our European friends (and others lucky enough to visit Portugal) this

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John Rock Loop

Highlights: Sweeping vistas from granite summit, wildflowers Distance: 5.6 mile out-and-back Elevation change: 1,100 feet Difficulty level: Moderate/Strenuous Trailhead Parking: From US 276 turn onto FS Road 475, turn left at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education; trail head at end of parking lot on the left. Website: US Forest Service Beer Pairings: Ecusta Brewing

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Looking Glass Rock

Highlights: Great views, granite summit, wildflowers Distance: 6.2 mile out-and-back Elevation change: 1,700 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: From US 276 turn onto FS Road 475, signed for the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education; trailhead parking is 1/2 mile on the right. Website: US Forest Service Beer Pairings: Oskar Blues Brewery—Can-O-Bliss Resinous IPA &

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Furnace Mountain & Blackrock Summit

Highlights: Great views, rocky summit, Shenandoah National Park Distance: 6.8 miles out and back Elevation change: 1,369 feet Difficulty level: Moderate/Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Blackrock Summit parking area, Skyline Drive mile 84.4 Website: Shenandoah National Park Beer Pairings: Trapezium Brewery—Lucky 46 IPA & Lucky 25 American Brown The Hike: This hike packs in some great scenery

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