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Trail crossing of US 220 is about 0.5 miles northwest of Exit 150 of I-81, about 10 miles north of Roanoke. Parking at the crossing is limited to non-existent (areas that appear to be pull-offs near trailhead are clearly marked as no parking). Nearest parking area is a Park-and-Ride lot located on US 220 about 0.2 miles south of the crossing at junction with VA 816.
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The AT crossing of US 220 is located at 37.393694, -79.906306. NOBO to Section 27 enters a strip of woods just north of GB gas station. SOBO trail to Section 28 leaves from the parking lot of Liberty Cleaners. (revalidated by Nancy H / Nov 2023)
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Probably 0
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David Cullen
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37.393694, -79.906306
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The Valley Cleaners on US220-S (the business adjacent to where NB exits the woods and prepares to cross the road) are extremely friendly and had zero problem with me parking my car (in the shade!!) for a couple of nights. You never know until you ask! There is ample room for quite a few vehicles - I only had the one, so it's hard to say how willing they would be for a caravan to stay, but they were extremely easy-going. 05/07/18
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1
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ardreymw @ dukes.jmu.edu
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Use Exit 150B off I-81. Follow signs for US 220 N. Shortly after clearing the maze of the interchange (worse if coming northbound) look for the parking area on the left. At the north edge of the lot VA 816 goes left and winds around the back side of the lot. The marker indicates the position of the lot. GPS N37.3908 W79.9063 While there is ample parking, it is a very popular place for commuters to park. The actual trail crossing is about 0.2 miles further north on US 220. See above.
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Rotate the street view from the point of the marker to see the parking area. To reach the northbound trail to Section 27 follow the highway north. The same can be done for the southbound trail to Section 28. Alternatively an unmarked trail leaves from the northwest corner of the lot. It is 0.2 miles long and meets the AT at Mile 0.3. (revalidated by Nancy H / Nov 2023)
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Ample
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David Cullen
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See Mile 0.0 for information about parking lot. The map attached thre shows the trace of both the AT and this SIDE TRAIL.
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Unmarked trail (old trail route) leads 0.2 miles from the Park and Ride lot. I have not hiked it, but I believe it starts from the northwest corner of the parking area. Clicking on the map button here will give a street view of what I believe is the trailhead. For southbound hikers, this junction with this spur occurs when the AT turns right 0.3 miles from US 220.. The spur goes left. There is a photo of the intersection in the Pictures for this section. GPS at intersection: N37.3911 W79.9100 07/15/19
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Ample Parking at lot
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David Cullen
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Here are detailed directions to the trailhead for the Andy Layne Trail on VA 779.. These have been supplied by the Roanoake Appalachian Trail Club.
ANDY LAYNE TRAIL/NORTH MOUNTAIN, ROUTE 779 (for loop hike)
(From Roanoke and points north)
Take I 81 to Exit 150B in Daleville
Stay right and turn right at the light on US 220 North
Go 1.5 miles and turn left on Virginia 779/ Catawba Road
Go 8.4 miles to the trailhead, on the left. If you cross a bridge here, you have gone too far.
The trailhead is almost exactly halfway between Catawba and Daleville on Virginia 779.
(From Salem)
Take Virginia 311 from I-81 at Salem (Exit 140)
Go west 8 miles, taking a left at the first light to stay on Virginia 311 and passing the AT parking lot at the crest of the mountain before descending into Catawba
Turn right on Virginia 779 at Catawba
Go 8.3 miles to the trailhead, which is located on the right just past a bridge and a turn in the road.
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The blue blaze Andy Layne Trail leads to the AT in Scorched Earth Gap from VA 779. There is a large gravel parking lot at the VA 779 trailhead. GPS: N37.4576 W80.0173 The street views to the east and south from this point show the parking area. The length of this trail is open to some debate. The sign at the parking area says 3.1 miles miles as does AT Guide to Central Virginia. However pjwetzel @ gmail.com has measured the distance with a GPS and found it to be 2.7 miles. GPS at AT intersection:N37.4402 W79.9953 See the following link: https://www.backpacker.com/trips/appalachian-trail-va-311-to-us-220 At the intersection the southbound AT goes right(south) while the northbound goes left (more or less straight ahead). The parking area on VA 779 also provides access (across the highway on the north side) to an extensive set of continuous trails along North Mountain. updated: May 2024 by Nancy H.
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15-20
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David Cullen
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The parking lot is very big and actually continues on past the end of the gravel portion into a long grassy area. This grassy area should only be used if conditions are optimal and you have an appropriate vehicle (you will have to retrace back into the gravel lot to exit). This is a very popular parking area. Many overnight cars. My husbands tracker clocked the Andy Layne Trail at 2.8 miles to the AT. 06/06/24
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lots
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cabincellars @ yahoo.com
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The following directions were supplied by the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club (RATC) that maintains. this section. Thanks to dianak16 @ earthlink.net .
(From Roanoke) Take I-81 south to exit 141. Go left on Virginia route 419, Electric Road. Go .4 miles to Virginia route 311. Take right and go 5.6 miles to A.T. access parking lot on left at top of Catawba Mountain.
(From Salem or Christiansburg) Take I-81 north to exit 140. Go left on Virginia route 311. Turn left at the first stop light to stay on Virginia 311. Go 5.6 miles to A.T. access parking lot on left at top of Catawba Mountain.
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The parking lot will be on the left if coming from the east (Roanoke). Catawba is 1.0 mile to the west on VA 311. The marker on the attached map indicates the entrance to the lot. It also is the point where the northbound trail leaves the highway towards McAfee Knob. GPS: N37.3803 W80.08925 The lot is clearly visible on the satellite view. The street view to the north fro the point of the marker shows the northbound trail. The views to the south and west show the lot. The southbound trail leaves the lot near the far (west) end of the parking area. Note An alternate way of generating the map is to search for "McAfee's Knob Parking Lot" in Google Maps. revalidated: April 2023
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20
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David Cullen
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RATC here again. The 311 parking lot has become very overcrowded on any nice weekend day from April through November. Advise hiking on a weekday or early in the day if possible. Also, it is illegal to park on VA 311 roadside. If a group is going to use the lot for multiple nights, consider leaving as many cars as possible at the Exit 140 Park and Ride on I 81 near Salem and using leaving as few vehicles as possible at 311, especially April through November. This location is one of a small number of serious "Hot Spots" identified by NPS and ATC. revalidated April 2023
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dianak16 @ earthlink.net
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Rohland AT Parking received an email request, from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, to share the following closure information at the Route 311 (McAfee knob) parking area. Parking lot will be closed starting on November 30 through late 2024 for construction. When the lot reopens, there will be a footbridge over 311 to allow hikers to more safely access the A.T. from the lot. You can read more details here: https://appalachiantrail.org/trail-updates/central-va-parking-lot-closure-route-311-mcafee-knob/ 11/16/23
May 2024 update by Nancy H: As stated above, the parking lot was closed. However, I noticed there was a shuttle (info on shuttle can be found at above link). The shuttle was picking up and dropping off at this location. The AT conservancy also reports "Limited parking is available along the shoulder of VA 864/Old Catawba Road. Visitors should respect the posted “No Parking” areas and use caution when walking from their vehicle to the Trail along the sharp curves of this road'. As for construction progress, they have installed the two sides of the overpass, but the bridge still needs to be completed. The parking lot is fenced off, so the trail goes behind it and across the street. The sign said it would be closed for 2024.
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WardandDA @ gmail.com
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See directions to the AT Parking Lot on VA 311 (Mile 19.6). This highway runs east-west in this area. Go 1.6 mile further west on VA 311 North to Catawba. Go left (south) on VA 785 (Blacksburg Road). Look for stiles on either side of the road 2.2 miles from VA 311. The AT crosses here. VA 785 is a paved but narrow road with very little shoulder. I saw no places whee one could safely park. It is best treated as a drop-off point only.
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The marker on the attached map indicates the trail crossing. GPS:N37.35755 W80.14295 Rotate the street view to the north and west to see the stile that the southbound trail crosses. Rotate to the east to see the stile that the northbound trail crosses. If driving from Catawba, these would be on the right and left respectively. . 11/28/2009
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Very limited if any
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David Cullen
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See directions to the AT parking lot on VA 311 (mile 19.6). Continue north (compass west) on VA 311 for 3.4 miles (approximately 2 miles beyond Catawba). Go left (south) on VA 624. The trail crosses in 0.3 miles. There is limited roadside parking on the east side of the road for 2 or perhaps 3 cars. More extensive parking is available at the Dragon's Tooth Trail Parking Lot on VA 311. See Section 29.
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The marker on the attached map indicates the trail crossing. GPS N37.37128 W80.1499 The trace of the AT currently shown on the map (July 2019) appears to be slightly off. Coming from VA 311 northbound to section 28 is left, southbound to Section 29 is right. Rotate the street view from the point of the marker to the east to see the parking area and the northbound trail which initially follows a dirt road. The west view shows the southbound trail as it climbs a set of log steps. (revalidated by Nancy H. / May 2024)
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2-3
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David Cullen
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