Hiking

The Appalachian Trail is north and west of Roanoke, crossing the valley at Troutville, 5 mi to the north. Two of the most-photographed formations on the entire 2,000-mi route from Georgia to Maine, McAfee Knob and Dragon's Tooth, are accessible from trailheads on the Virginia 311 highway, west of the valley. Roanoke, VA.

The Star Trail winds through a forest oasis amid the metropolitan area as it works its way up 1½ mi to the Mill Mountain Star. Trailhead on Riverland Rd., 2 mi southeast of downtown Roanoke, Roanoke, VA, 24014.

Other trails can be found along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the east and south and in the George Washington and Jefferson national forests to the north and west. For more information, contact the national forests' Supervisor's Office. 5162 Valleypointe Pkwy., Roanoke, VA, 24019. 540/265–5100 or 888/265–0019.