3 Best Hiking Trails in Roanoke, VA

I love read mountain!!! The hike is easy to moderate and there’s many trails to choose from to get to the summit. This helps if you want a harder hike or if you want some solitude. The hike can range from 2-3 miles to the summit depending on which trail you take. There’s also a bench at the summit which wasn’t always there. I honestly don’t see the need for a bench up there as there are plenty of rocks to sit on. Overall a beautiful mountain and a beautiful view that overlooks Roanoke, mainly the hollins area. You can also watch airplanes take off and land from the summit!.

Short but can be intense climb if you take the red and yellow trails. I'd recommend having hiking boots with ankle support. The blue trail is a nice gentle incline. It is about 2.1 miles to the rock cliffs and you can go further but not as good of a view. Decent parking and seems pretty safe.

Good wooded hike! Well marked to stay on the right trail. We saw a creek along the way. It’s pretty rocky and you even climb some rock steps. If you take the blue trail, it takes you 2 miles up the mountain to Buzzards Rock. It’s all uphill to the overlook, but not too steep. I’d say this hike is moderately challenging.

Beautiful painted picture oak and pine fall trail. 2 loops. 4 miles if you do the two extension which are well worth it. The red is easy to moderate and the blue is moderate plus with fairly steep switchbacks to cover the 800 feet of elevation. Not great for young kids b/c of single path and rough switchback turns. The waterfall is more of a cascading stream but beautiful. A TOP HIKE IN THE ROANOAKE REGION.

Hike an hour here. Nice path. We took pirate bush trail. And then down park way to overlook trail. Some steep areas there.

The trails were in very good shape as of May 2024. Secluded, peaceful, and botanically unique.