** NOW OPEN **
When: July 15 - 19
Who: Scouts 12 and older Cost: $70 What's included: camping, food, transportation, t-shirt, patch Hike the Triple Crown of Virginia
One of the most remarkable routes is Virginia’s Triple Crown, a once-in-a-lifetime hiking experience that consists of three climbs along the Appalachian Trail: Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs. This area, which begins in the foothills near Roanoke and Salem, is a must for anyone looking for extraordinary natural beauty in the lush heart of the continental United States’ oldest colony.
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Dragon's Tooth
The first of the three legs in the hallowed Triple Crown hike, Dragon’s Tooth offers an excellent introduction to the region’s terrain. It’s a 4.6-mile round trip to the top and back to the Dragon’s Tooth Parking Lot on Route 311, with the first 1.5 miles of well-marked trail wandering along bubbling streams and thick forest. The remaining 0.8 miles to the summit kicks things up a notch. This ascent includes bouldering and a portion with iron bars to climb, but at the end you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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McAfee Knob
The trailhead for McAfee Knob is just four miles from Dragon’s Tooth on Route 311 and leads hikers to one of the most iconic and well-photographed points along the Appalachian Trail. The 4.4-mile trail winds up Catawba Mountain to an elevation of 3,197 feet, making it a rewarding but challenging 8.8-mile round trip. The knob itself, with its recognizable rock lip jutting out into the air, boasts expansive views of the Catawba Valley and the mountains that surround it. This broad rock slab is a popular spot to break for a picnic.
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Tinker Cliffs
Of the three hikes in the Triple Crown, Tinker Cliffs is often considered an overlooked gem. It’s a 7.7-mile round-trip with a 2000-foot elevation, so be sure to get a good night’s sleep before this taking on this hike. The cliffs themselves stand at 3000 feet and give you an unparalleled view of the sprawling Blue Ridge Mountains, including Catawba Mountain and McAfee Knob. Be sure to take a close look at these natural beauties as you go—they’re composed of limestone that dates back over 250 million years.
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Included in the price of this trip is a Roanoke Appalachian Trial Club shirt.
The shirt is a Gildan Brand 50/50 cotton/polyester blend
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