New shuttle helps hikers get to McAfee Knob trailhead
From: Outreach and International Affairs
A new shuttle service has launched to help hikers looking for one of the best views on the Appalachian Trail reach the trailhead more easily.
Roanoke County began its McAfee Knob Trailhead Shuttle Service on Sept. 2. The shuttle offers safe and convenient transportation to the trailhead on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with occasional Mondays for Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays. It will run through Nov. 27 this year. Service will resume March 3, 2023, and continue through Nov. 26, 2023.
The shuttle departs every half-hour from the Interstate 81 park-and-ride lot at Exit 140 in Salem. It will drop passengers off near the trailhead parking lot along state Route 311, about 15 minutes away.
Reservations may be made online at McAfeeShuttle.com. Tickets are $5 one way, plus booking fees. The shuttle has 20 seats and has ADA accessibility for two wheelchairs.
The McAfee Knob overlook is one of the most photographed spots on the Appalachian Trail. Because of its popularity, this iconic rock outcropping now attracts about 50,000 hikers each year. That popularity has made parking increasingly difficult, especially on pretty autumn weekends.
A trailhead at the Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center that opened in 2021 also helps ease that load.
The Catawba Greenway, a 2.9-mile looped trail, winds its way through the 377-acre Virginia Tech property before connecting to the Appalachian Trail. The trailhead includes a 25-space parking lot and provides an alternate route for hikers headed to McAfee Knob.
If you have more questions about hiking to McAfee Knob, trail etiquette, or other great hikes in the area, reach out to Venture Out for more information at ventureout@vt.edu or 540-231-4982.
