ROANOKE, Va. – The Blue Ridge Games features 22 hikes across Southwest Virginia, offering plenty to satisfy outdoor cravings — from iconic views to steep, rugged climbs.
The list includes the region’s “main course” hikes along the Appalachian Trail’s Triple Crown: Dragon’s Tooth, which has technical sections; McAfee Knob, often called the most photographed spot on the trail; and the physically demanding Tinker Cliffs.
Other options range from the sprawling rock slopes at Devil’s Marbleyard to more laid-back waterfall favorites like Cascade Falls.
Hiking isn’t a standalone competition in this year’s Blue Ridge Games, but—like cycling and water sports—trail stops are now part of the overall scavenger hunt list.
“I think the most important thing is to pick the ones you’re gonna have the most fun doing,” said Dan Herting, the Blue Ridge Games II hiking winner. “Because, I mean, that’s really what the competition is about—getting to enjoy more of the Roanoke area.”
A lesser-known pick: Kelly Knob
My son Aidan and I picked a hike on the list that’s a bit more off the beaten path: Kelly Knob, a 3,743-foot summit in northern Craig County on the Appalachian Trail in Jefferson National Forest.
On the drive to the trailhead along Route 601, hikers pass the Sinking Creek Covered Bridge, built in 1916—an iconic landmark made even more memorable locally after 10 News Meteorologist Delaney Willis got engaged there.
The hike starts with a tough opening stretch.
“The first half mile of this hike is straight up,” I said as we began the climb.
The majority of the nearly 1,000 feet of elevation gain comes early—within the first half to three-quarters of a mile—making for a steep start before the trail settles into a more routine ridge walk.
One feature stands out: after dropping down along the ridge, hikers have to climb back up to reach the “knob.”
In total, it’s about two miles one way, with views of the New River Valley at the top. In the summer months, those views can be partially obscured by trees, but the payoff is still worth it.
Aidan summed it up this way:
“Overall, the hike felt intermediate—especially compared to some of the tougher ones we’ve done,” he said. “Honestly, it didn’t take long, and it wasn’t that difficult.”
Kelly Knob also tends to be quieter than some of the region’s headline hikes.
It’s not heavily traveled by day hikers—most of the traffic comes from Appalachian Trail thru-hikers.
But that could change: Blue Ridge Games contestants could soon be “taste testing” Kelly Knob themselves—trying to earn 100 points and move one step closer to victory.
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