Roanoke County – Greenways

Blue Ridge Parkway Trails

The Blue Ridge Parkway has paralleling trails in the Roanoke region for hiking and horseback riding. These trails are managed by the National Park Service and are not open to bicycles. There are four distinct sections: Horse Trail, a 11-mile trail for equestrians and hikers, from Stewarts Knob Overlook MP 110.6 to MP 121.4 at […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

17 mile

Amount of Use:

light

Trail Difficulty:

easy

Surface Type:

Natural

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Catawba Greenway

As of September 2021, the two legs of the Catawba Greenway are a 2.9 mile trail, connecting the Appalachian Trail to the Catawba community. when combined with the Appalachian Trail, the Catawba greenway makes for about a five mile loop, or about a 10 mile option to hike out to McAfee Knob. The Catawba Greenway […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

2.9 mile

Amount of Use:

light

Trail Difficulty:

medium

Surface Type:

Mostly natural, with some gravel road sections

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Garst Mill Greenway

Garst Mill Greenway, a half mile, paved section of Mudlick Creek Greenway, is located in Roanoke County’s Garst Mill Park. This neighborhood park has many facilities for families, such as playgrounds, picnic shelter, tennis courts, and ball fields. The greenway begins with a bridge and parallels the creek through the park. Frequent users include children […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

0.5 mile

Amount of Use:

heavy

Trail Difficulty:

easy

Surface Type:

Paved

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Green Hill Park Trails

Green Hill Park is 224 acres on the Roanoke River with ballfields, a paved section of Roanoke River Greenway, a river access spot, a handicapped fishing pier, picnic shelters, a playground, and an equestrian center. Hidden away on the hillside are the Green Hill Park trails. These natural surface trails provide the opportunity to hike […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

1.9 mile

Amount of Use:

medium

Trail Difficulty:

medium

Surface Type:

Natural

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Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail

Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail is a 1.8 mile cinder surface path, the only rail-trail in the Roanoke Valley’s system. Donated by Norfolk and Southern, the trail follows Kessler Mill Road and Mason Creek. The trail has numerous historical markers commemorating the Civil War skirmish at Hanging Rock. It passes an old loading platform, where coal […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

1.8 mile

Amount of Use:

medium

Trail Difficulty:

easy

Surface Type:

Cinder, crushed aggregate

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Hinchee Trail

Hinchee Trail is a 2.1 mile trail, connecting Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail to Brushy Mountain Trail at Carvins Cove. The trail starts at the parking lot on Dutch Oven Road, ascends a short section of paved, private driveway (no parking allowed), and then connects to a natural surface woods road. The trail and 235-acre park […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

2.1 mile

Amount of Use:

medium

Trail Difficulty:

medium

Surface Type:

Natural surface

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Poor Mountain Preserve Trails

Poor Mountain Preserve is a 933-acre site managed by the Virginia Natural Heritage Division to protect the globally rare piratebush. This shrub has brilliant yellow leaves in fall and a green fruit that is a drupe. The Preserve has 3.4 miles of natural surface trails, with overlooks and benches, but the parking lot is quite […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

3.4 mile

Amount of Use:

light

Trail Difficulty:

hard

Surface Type:

Natural

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Read Mountain Trails

Read Mountain Preserve is a 243-acre park with 4.5 miles of natural surface trails. This “mountain island” is visible from most parts of the Roanoke Valley as a long undeveloped ridge. The trails ascend challenging terrain in dry woodlands. Parking, a picnic shelter and an overlook are provided from Crumpacker Drive. The park lands, protected […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

5 mile

Amount of Use:

medium

Trail Difficulty:

hard

Surface Type:

Natural surface

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Roanoke River Greenway

Roanoke River Greenway is the region’s signature project, the backbone of the greenway network following the river from west to east through the valley. Currently, the focus is on finishing the 25 miles from Green Hill Park in west Roanoke County, through the Cities of Salem and Roanoke, connecting to the Town of Vinton, and […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

14.2 mile

Amount of Use:

heavy

Trail Difficulty:

easy

Surface Type:

Paved

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Tinker Creek Greenway

Tinker Creek is a major tributary of Roanoke River, over twelve miles long, and a greenway along this corridor has always been included in greenway plans. The headwaters begin in Botetourt County, and the corridor is rich in natural and cultural resources, including many historic structures such as old mills and houses like Monterey, Bellmont, […]

Trail Details

Trail Distance:

1.38 mile

Amount of Use:

light

Trail Difficulty:

easy

Surface Type:

Paved

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Wolf Creek Greenway

Wolf Creek Greenway is a 2.2 mile, cinder surface trail running from Hardy Road to Mountain View Road in eastern Roanoke County and the Town of Vinton. Parking for the greenway is located behind 1390 Hardy Road and at the parks. The first section in Vinton is on lands that also provide well water for […]