McAfee Knob
The most-photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail - a cantilevered ledge over the Catawba Valley
The route
The line through Appalachian Trail, Virginia, United States - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.
Season & conditions
Spring-fall (foliage prime)
Summer heat/humidity, storms; ice in winter
Open year-round; muddy/icy in winter. Confirm.
On the trail
Forest AT trail, boardwalks, to a jutting sandstone ledge
Non-technical forest trail; the photogenic ledge overhangs a drop
White-blazed Appalachian Trail; clear
Suitable for reasonably fit hikers; not wheelchair accessible - confirm specifics
Very popular; a shuttle helps with limited roadside parking
Continue to Tinker Cliffs / the Triple Crown for a bigger day
Getting there & staying
VA-311 AT parking near Catawba; shuttle available
Local shuttle from Roanoke/Catawba eases the parking crunch
Day route - none needed
Day-hike kit, water, sun/rain protection, sturdy footwear; coverage varies
Services in Roanoke; limited or none on the trail
Not required; self-guided
Permits & safety
No permit; free (national forest/AT); parking limited
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
The unfenced overhanging ledge (fatal falls have occurred), heat, storms
Retrace the route to exit; dial local emergency services; carry a means of calling for help where remote
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.