Two years ago today my dad and I hiked to the most photographed point on the Appalachian Trail, McAfee Knob. We had seen pictures and heard about McAfee but didn't want to make a three hour drive to start the trail since the trail head starts near Roanoke Virginia. We decided a couple months later we would make a pit stop on our way to Virginia Beach and make the hike. This is by far one of my favorite hikes we've ever done, one of the most exhausting, but one of the most rewarding as well. We were a little under prepared for the hike not knowing it was 8.3 miles round trip. Not to mention the 4.4 miles to the point was pretty steep a lot of the time. We only packed two water bottles since we thought it was just going to be an hour or so to the point. Do your research before hiking! It ended up taking us about 3 hours to reach the peak and by that time we were out of water and exhausted, but it was totally worth it. We ended up picking a perfect day to hike the trail since the air was clear and there was hardly any haze blocking our view. Not only is this the most photographed point on the App Trail but it is also a very popular camp site for those making the 2,000 plus hike from Georgia to Maine. We ran into some hikers along the way who had been hiking for a few months and had their camps set up near the peak of the trail. The views from the top were spectacular and there was plenty of room on the boulders to relax, hang out, and eat (Pack a picnic! You'll be hungry and will need more energy!) The trail is well maintained and would be nearly impossible to get lost. It was also super easy to find- Take I-81 to exit 141. Follow signs to VA-311. and the parking lot is located about 5.5 miles down 311.
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