Tag: Dragons Tooth

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Take a Hike Break at Beliveau Farm and Winery

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes
 
Last summer, I spent a great few days hiking the Triple Crown section of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.
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The Triple Crown trail loop is 35 miles of the best hiking in the Roanoke Valley  and arguably some of the best overlooks in the entire state of Virginia.

Most of my time was spent hiking, but since I did two of the three Triple Crown hikes in the same day, I also had time to take a break from hiking and see some other things in the area.

Overlook at McAfee Knob on the Triple Crown section of the App Trail.
Overlook at McAfee Knob on the Triple Crown section of the App Trail.

At that time, many venues were completely shut down or really restricted due to COVID regulations, but Beliveau Farm and Winery was open (though with safety measures) and I was still able to have a great visit!

Beliveau Farm is located in the Catawba Valley of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, just 12mi from downtown Blacksburg and 20mi from Salem.

They were also only a 30 minute scenic drive from my lodgings near the McAfee Knob trailhead.

The Farm’s hiking trails, scenic views and plenty of picnic areas made the drive well worth while – and the wine was pretty good, too 🙂

Continue reading Take a Hike Break at Beliveau Farm and Winery

Hike Virginia’s Triple Crown – an Appalachian Trail Section

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 22 minutes

The Appalachian Trail (AT) runs through or very near areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

Portions of the AT are open, along with many other Virginia and NC State Parks and trails in the Eastern part of the State.  That said, Parks and the AT on the Western side of the State have been damaged and may be inaccessible. 

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest area Park, Trail and road repairs before you travel. 

Mists rise from the mountains after a summer rain.
Smoky Mountains get their name from the mist that settles in the valleys.

As soon as I heard about the Triple Crown hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains,  I knew I had to do it!

View of the Dragon's Tooth at the hike summit.
View of the Dragon’s Tooth at the hike summit.

It’s an epic hike within easy driving distance from my home in North Carolina, do-able as a solo hiker  – with reasonable precautions – even in the heat of summer.

Most importantly the summer of 2020, the Triple Crown trails and trailhead parking were just re-opened for use.

Effective June 13:  The National Park Service has reopened the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, including the Triple Crown section of Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs. 

The Triple Crown hike is actually a group of three hikes – Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs – that can be done individually or tackled as an overnight backpacking hike all together.

The Triple Crown trail loop is 35 miles of the best hiking in the Roanoke Valley  and arguably some of the best overlooks in the entire state of Virginia.

If you decide to explore this portion of the Appalachian Trail, you’ll be rewarded with incredible overlooks, unique rock formations, shelters for rustic camping, and challenging, bucket-list-worthy trails 🙂 Continue reading Hike Virginia’s Triple Crown – an Appalachian Trail Section