Suggestions for hanging in Virginia

Need a few suggestions for some places to hang in Virginia. I will be in the area of Radford, about 30 miles from Roanoke next week (July 15 - 20) anyone have suggestions?

anywhere along the AT - you'll be right there inthe blue ridge, its pretty much all looks the same after a while and its all nice.

This area (I live in Roanoke) is all wooded so you can hang about anywhere. Lots of national forest around as well as the AT trail.

While there isn't overnight parking, I'd highly recommend a hike to the Cascades Falls in Giles County. it's a little less than an hour from Radford. One link for this is: http://www.hikingupward.com/JNF/TheCascadesBarneysWall/

For an over nighter, perhaps Wind Rock. Don't have a link handy but it's near the Cascades and has a parking lot at the top of a mountain. it's right on the AT. Not super familiar with the area so not sure where any water sources are.

I'm pretty new at this.

http://www.midatlantichikes.com/va.htm

..always a good source to find hikes near where you might be. Enjoy!

Ok understanding that this is a 2 hour drive. This trail was flat out awesome. Its a 5 out of 5 for difficulty but it is worth it. TONS of awesome views all along it. There is several Peaks(yes peaks) that you can camp out on with 360degree view to wake up to. You park up on Blue ridge parkway. Take the trail about 0.8 miles and you are already sitting on a mountain peak with a campsite right there. If you chose to hike the loop which typically takes 2 days you will find yourself seeing breathtaking views throughout the trail. Follow the AT along as it crosses the Mar Har trail. Stay on the AT until you come to the Mar Har trail a 2nd time. Then take the Mar Har back around to your original starting point.

Rest assured if your pack weight is over 30lbs you will run the risk of injury. The trail is badly worn in many places leaving only jagged rock to tread on rather than flat soil with 3ft step downs and step ups in many places. Extra long hiking poles made all the difference for me on this trail. Saved me twice from loosing my balance and tumbling down the mountain side. Many places to acquire water on this hike so 2-3 liters of water is all that is needed.
Bring your A game or it will kick your butt in some places.
I cant wait to hike this Trail again. Gonna go again in the fall and once again probably early winter before the snow hits.

Here is a link to the trail.
http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/ThreeRidges/

Chimney Rock
http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/...s/DSCN1787.jpg


This is directions from Radford to Three Ridges Trail.
120 mi, 2 hours 22 mins
I-81 N
Radford, VA
1. Head northwest on Berkley St toward 2nd St
2. Take the 3rd right onto 1st St/W Main St
Continue to follow W Main St
3. Continue onto US-11 N
4. Turn left onto W Main St
5. Turn right onto Roanoke St
6. Take the ramp to US-460
7. Keep left at the fork and merge onto US-460
8. Take exit 1A for I-81 N/US-460 E toward Salem/Roanoke
9. Merge onto I-81 N
10. Take exit 195 toward Lee Highway
11. Turn right onto US-11 N/N Lee Hwy
Continue to follow US-11 N
12. Turn right onto VA-56 E/Tye River Turnpike
13. Turn left to stay on VA-56 E/Tye River Turnpike
Continue to follow VA-56 E
14. Turn left toward Blue Ridge Pkwy
15. Turn right onto Blue Ridge Pkwy
This road may be seasonally closed
Destination will be on the right

The AT provides several opportunities very close by.
Rice Fields is just up US 460 in Pearisburg.
Dragon's Tooth is just over the mountain from the Pickle's Gap shelter and makes a nice (if challenging) overnighter.
The AT crosses Rt 42 in Newport and you can do several hikes either way from there.
If you are just looking for a place to hang, Pandapas Pond, just over Brush Mountain from Blacksburg is a nice day-use area, and the Jefferson Nat. Forest is just up the hill, and FR 708 has a few campsites on it (just keep going, you'll eventually get to them).
I live in Radford, so feel free to PM me if you want more detailed directions. The midatlantichikes link that 1camper posted is very good as well.

Safe travels!
PF

Apple Orchard falls is pretty epic (20mi sobo from james river footbridge), then you have the views of the James twisting through the mountains just 5mi nobo from the James river footbridge. Note this is all on the AT

Another option would be Peaksview park at the time, about a 40m-1.5hr climb. I live about 50min from Roanoke so feel free to ask more questions, looks like there are a few of us around here. We should do a Central VA hang soon.

I am back and took the advice of heading for the AT. I ended up at Walnut Flats campground for a day, hit the trail over near Dismal Falls. Plenty of places to hang so much Forest Service land. Then I did some stories about heading around Virginia. Have to say I loved it down there and if I could convince the wife.....

Thanks all.

that sounds fantastic. I was really taken with the area and plan on heading back down asap