Trail Info

TRAIL DISTANCE: 10.8 MILES
TRAIL HEAD/ DIRECTIONS: Rock Castle Road
TRAIL TYPE: Loop
TRAIL GRADE:   Very Strenuous (5) 
TRAIL PARKING: 10 spaces or less
DOG FRIENDLY: Yes
FAMILY FIENDLY; Yes, Age 12+

You will love:  There are few trails that deliver so many features just be ready to add to your top trails list. A trail of amazing features from creeks, abundant forest, pastures, open mountain summit, A.T Shelters and tranquility.
You need to know:  No fee Required. You will see a lot of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Need to pack

• 2 Water Bottle or Camelback
• Light Snacks , Lunch, Protein
• Bug Spray
• ​Sunscreen
• ​Be prepared for exposure at the highest elevation

Extras

Southern VA Trail Finder

The Experience

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Rock Castle Gorge will make you wonder why this hike doesn't get more publicity. What it brings to the table is a 10+ mile forest happy, pasture pleasant with abundant summit bliss that makes the mileage all the more worth it.

From the trailhead, cross the bridge and continue on a fire road for 2.7 miles all the while, passing a camp site, and the Austin House. Your trail will be marked with a green hash or green arrow for the entirety of the trail loop. Back to the the Austin house, it is the last homesite still standing when the Park Service acquired the land, it was built in 1916 and is privately owned today. What you are going to love about these first few miles is that your trail sits alongside the picturesque Rock Castle creek.  The trail will have you cross Rock Castle creek a few times via constructed metal bridges, making the trail experience especially easy to traverse and a great warm up for the fun to come. 
After your fourth bridge, the fire road will intersect asking you to bear right to continue on Rock Castle Gorge Loop. Your trail will ascend and become challenging with roots, small stones, rocks filling in steadily leading to a sizeable boulder scramble, with crevices and narrow passages. As you continue, make note that the change in elevation and terrain for the next two miles until you traverse a few cattle gates reaching the grassy knoll.  Enjoy the next 2.4 miles of open expanse along this meandering summit. From pasture , to fields to small groves this summit breathes life into your tired legs. Important: the trail will at times team with other trails and hashes along the summit, remember to stay with the green hash. At times the trail will be roadside of the Blue Ridge Parkway however that can afford you amenities such as bathrooms, comfort station and beautiful areas to sit and enjoy a bite. At 2.4 miles reach the Rock Castle Gorge Overlook , take pictures and selfies here. Continue on for 0.4 miles and bear right onto Rocky Knob / Rock Gorge Trail and enjoy the swift ascent for 0.4 miles until an Appalachian Trail Shelter . Another great area for photos and basking in the views. Once fulfilled progress for 0.4 miles until entering the pasture area. Beware the cow pies. I digress, this area the trail hashes are more spread out but you will see a warn path through the pasture as you make your way down towards the visitor center and the Blue Ridge Parkway.  As you venture down the pasture towards the visitor center, look for a starkly giant tree on your right and the continuation of the trail straight ahead (visitor center will be on your left). The Rock Castle Gorge Loop trail continues downward to the side of the Parkway slowly returning to the forest. The trail for the next mile is relatively calm and easy to traverse ( you know when I type this, it means things will drastically change). Cross two bridges and begin a steep descent, truly its a mixed bag of tricky trail obstacles like roots, rocks, awkward footing (trust me when I say going in the fall is a super challenge to even see the trail). For the next 1.3 miles and over 1000ft these trail conditions are yours and where trail speed should never overtake trail caution. Finally your trail will flatten out and return you to the Rock Castle Creek and your car.