Appalachian Trail
More than any other state, Virginia holds just over one-forth of the nation's popular Appalachian Trail at 550 miles of the path's 2,174 mile span. Stretching from its most northern point on Mount Katahdin, Maine, to its southern tip on Springer Mountain, differentiating factors. It is an uncommon attraction, for which many have a common affinity. For backpackers, the Appalachian Trail is one-third of the "Triple Crown," referring to the three longest hiking trails traversing the length of the United States in a north/south direction. The other two are the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail.
In Smyth County, the Appalachian Trail traverses the eastern park of the county near Groseclose and comes by the Town of Marion near the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (NRA) visitor's center. The trail is marked by paint blazes and in its entirety usually takes a "through hiker" five to seven months to complete. The Appalachian Trail takes you through some of the oldest mountain on earth, the Appalachian Mountains, and is one of the oldest and longest continuous, designated and marked mountain footpaths in the world.
This section of the AT offers views of mountain meadows and rhododendron, wild ponies and wild berries, jagged rock and panoramic vistas unlike anywhere else in the state or along the rest of the trail. Hiking up on the roof of Virginia, the Appalachian Trail passes near the top of the state's highest peak, Mount Rogers. The Appalachian Trail is what the Blue Ridge Highlands is all about. Visit www.appalachiantrail.org