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McAfee Knob Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 1,162 Google reviews · Running trail in Catawba, Virginia · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from McAfee Knob Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Mountain trek via Appalachian Trail to a cliffside summit with expansive views of the valley.
What runners say about McAfee Knob Trailhead
“The parking lot was very well maintained and the new over the road walking bridge is an excellent upgrade.”
“At the peak, which stands at 3,171 feet, I was rewarded with panoramic views of the stunning Blue Ridge mountains.”
Absolutely wonderful hike. I took this trail at 4:30 in the morning, in order to make the sunrise at the summit! It’s surpassed all expectations. Highly recommend this hike! Not overly technical as long as you have the endurance to make it the full round-trip.
I recently hiked the McAfee Knob trail, and it was an unforgettable experience! The slow and steady climb up Catawba Mountain led me to the most **photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail**. At the peak, which stands at 3,171 feet, I was rewarded with panoramic views of the stunning Blue Ridge mountains.
We're from the UK, and are fairly experienced walkers. We've long coveted the Appalachian trail, and while we were in the area driving the blue ridge parkway, we couldn't resist the opportunity to visit this iconic spot.
Excellent trail with breathtaking views of the blue ridge mountains. I'm sure this is also beautiful in the fall. In summer you're mainly in a tree tunnel aside from 2 overlooks along the way. Then at the top you'll find the great clifftop views.
Trail conditions & character
“This is not my favorite hike as far as the trail itself, but the views in multiple directions from the rocks at the end are unbeatable.”
“The parking lot was very well maintained and the new over the road walking bridge is an excellent upgrade.”
“The slow and steady climb up Catawba Mountain led me to the most **photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail**.”
“The trail itself is dog friendly, but I highly recommend watching them when at the peak of McAfee Knob.”
“We met a helpful ranger at the start who said the fire road will bypass the really rocky first 2.”
Plan your run at McAfee Knob Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitemcafeeshuttle.com
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
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