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From Roanoake (Exit 141 off 1-81), go west on VA 419 following signs to VA 311. Follow VA 311 northbound. This goes north then west. In approximately 9 miles go left (south) on VA 624. This intersection is 3.4 miles west of the McAfee's Knob Parking Lot and approximately 2 miles west of Catawba. The trail crosses VA 624 in 0.2-0.3 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 Mile 1.6.
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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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This is a blue-blazed SIDE TRAIL which provides access to the AT from the Dragon's Tooth Parking Lot. See mile 1.6
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Take the trail which leaves from the bulletin board at the south end of the parking lot. When a junction is reached, take the left fork of the blue-blazed trail., It is about 0.2 miles to a stream and another 0.2 miles to the AT. The southbound AT (to Dragon's Tooth) goes right, the northbound AT to Va 624 goes left (actually straight ahead). This connector is apparently known as the Boy Scout Trail. Coordinates at the AT intersection: GPS N37.3736 W80.1537 See https://www.backpacker.com/trips/appalachian-trail-va-42-to-va-624 There is a photo of the intersection in the Pictures for this section (29). A description of the trail is given in the following link. This also includes a trail map. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=79952 Updated 07/18/19
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20-25
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David Cullen
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See directions to the trailhead on VA 624 (Mile 0.0). From the intersection with VA 624 continue west on VA 311 for another 0.4 miles. Go left and up a badly paved driveway to the USFS parking lot for Dragon's Tooth. The marker on the attached map indicates the entrance to the parking area. GPS: N37.3796 W80.1557 Rotate the street view from this point to the west to see the entrance. There is a photo of the lot in the Pictures for this section (29).
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The blue-blazed Dragon's Tooth Trail, a SIDE TRAIL leaves from the bulletin board at the south end of the parking lot. When an intersection is reached, take the right fork of the blue-blazed trail which is the still the Dragon's Tooth Trail. It is about 1.5 miles to the AT in Lost Spectacles Gap. There the southbound AT (to Dragon's Tooth) goes right, the northbound AT to Va 624 goes left. There is a photo of Lost Spectacles Gap in the Pictures for this section (29). GPS at the AT intersection: N37.3657 W80.1667 See https://www.backpacker.com/trips/appalachian-trail-va-42-to-va-624 A description of the trail is given in the following link. This also includes a trail map.https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=79954 11/29/2009 Updated 07/18/19
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20-25
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David Cullen
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Directions from US 460. See Mile 15.3 for more information about VA 621. From the intersection of VA 621 and US 460, go east on the former for about 17 miles to the intersection with Millers Cove Road (VA 620). Go right on VA620. Trout Creek is crossed in about half a mile. Formerly one had to choose between fording the stream or using a narrow private wooden bridge. There is now a new state-owned concrete bridge. The trail crossing is about 1.3 miles from VA 621. There is a small dirt parking area on the right just before the trail crossing. The marker on the attached map indicates the crossing. GPS: N37.3904 W80.1961 The trace of the AT shown on the map appears to be slightly off.
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If you are coming from VA 621 the northbound trail to Cove Mountain and Dragons Tooth goes left (north) crossing a footbridge . The southbound trail to the Audie Murphy monument goes right (south) and starts to ascend a hill. There are photos of the area near the trail crossing including a parking area in the Pictures for this section (29). 10/21/09 Updated 07/26/19
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4-5
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David Cullen
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Directions from VA 311 near Catawba: See Mile 0.0 for directions to the intersection of VA 311 and VA 624. Follow the latter south for 2.2 miles then go right on Millers Cove Road (VA 620). In 0.8 miles go right staying on VA 620. The road becomes gravel. Go an additional 3.1 miles to the trail crossing. There is a small dirt parking lot on the left (south) side just past the trail crossing. . See previous listing for more information.
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See previous listing for information about directions on the AT. 10/21/09 Updated 07/19/19
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4-5
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David Cullen
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Parked off VA 620 for a weekend section hike of the AT. Our car was the only one using the parking area. No problems. There are 2 areas across from the Trout Creek AT footbridge, each big enough for at least 2 cars, 3 in a pinch if you arrived together & squeezed in. Go slow on gravel VA 620- very narrow & lots of blind corners. Make sure you have lots of water- Trout Crk & the Pickle Branch Shelter creek (1 mi NB) are all there is until reaching VA 624 7 mi. North. 09/18/11
Updated in August 2024 by Nancy H.
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See Comments
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navillus1047 @ gmail.com
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From the intersection of US 311 and VA 624 (See Mile 0.0) follow the latter west for 6.8 miles. There is a brown sign for Brush Mountain Road and, under that, a sign for the Audie Murphy Monument. Go right here. The road is a reasonably good quality gravel road, but there are some rough sections. This climbs to the top of the mountain in 1.7 miles. At a T intersection go right on a poorer quality, but still passable road for 1.5 miles to a dirt parking lot at the end of the driveable section of the road. Beyond this point, the road is gated. The marker on the attached map indicates the location of the parking lot. There are photos in the Pictures for this section (29).
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There is sign for the Audie Murphy Monument at the northeast end of the lot. Continue up the old road past the gate for about 0.1 miles to a wooden bench on the right. This is the intersection with the AT. GPS coordinates at the intersection: N37.3587 W80.2353 To reach the monument follow the northbound AT straight ahead on the old road for 0.6 miles. The southbound AT goes left and starts the long descent to Craig Creek. 06/10/10 Updated 07/19/19
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8-10
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David Cullen
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Craig's Creek, Craig County, VA take US 460 West from Christiansburg, VA, East from Bluefield VA/WVAturn right if westbound, left if eastbound, just outside Blacksburg, Va, onto Craigs Creek Road (VA 621) and go about 14 miles. VA 621 is now all paved roughly following Craig's Creek thru woodlands and low, farming country. Look for the AT crossing with a substantial bridge over the creek to the right, and a large parking area on the left, right on the trail. Both North- and Southbound from here is steep and pretty dry after Craig's Creek. The Creek is a trout stream, fishing licenses are required.
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Updated 07/15/20
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Cecil.Sink @ vdh.virginia.gov
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Start at the intersection of VA 621 (Craig Creek Road) and US 460. This is about 2 miles south of Newport via US 460. Follow Craig Creek Road east for about 14 miles (14.1 according to Google map).. The road is now all paved. The parking area is on the left. There is no sign. The marker on the attached map indicates the location of the trail crossing and the parking lot. GPS:N37.3792 W80.2499
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The northbound trail goes right (if coming from US 460) to Section 29. The street view from the point of the marker to the south shows the northbound trail. The southbound trail crosses the parking lot toward Sinking Creek Mt. and Section 30. Rotate the street view of the map to the west to see the lot. Updated 07/15/20
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David Cullen
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VA621 trail crossing is 13.8 miles from intersection with VA42 and 6.4 miles from intersection with VA311. There is an AT sign but the trail crossing is easy to miss. There is a large parking lot, southbound trail is in parking lot, northbound is across the street. VA621 is now fully paved for it's entire length, there is no longer a gravel section. 07/15/20
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carolanse @ outlook.com
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Directions to Va 620/Lee Hollow parking from Salem/Roanoke/I81. From McAfee Knob parking on Va 311: Head west on VA-311 N for 6.5 mi., passing Dragon's Tooth parking. Turn LEFT on Va 621/Upper Craig Creek Road and proceed 6.5 mi. to AT parking on the RIGHT.
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LARGE parking lot 03/27/23
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15-20
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dchristop @ earthlink.net
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Alert: NOBO AT hikers! In March of 2023, Craig Creek Bridge along the AT, was removed due to safety concerns. As of August 2024 the bridge has still not been replaced. Copy/Paste this link for most up to date information and alternative hiking routes: https://appalachiantrail.org/trail-updates/central-virginia-bridge-closure-craig-creek-bridge/ . Both NOBO and SOBO WHITE blazed trailheads can be accessed from here. However, there was a 'blue blaze' marker towards the back of the parking lot; I am unsure if this was related to the re-route or not. 09/02/24
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cabincellars @ yahoo.com
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