Retire-VA 2021 - 26

of the Mountain Lake Conservancy Trail
System, some with elevations near 4,000
feet, and perhaps the most inviting of which
is the easy, 1.5-mile loop around Mountain
Lake, at whatever level it might be.
LEFT:
All ages can enjoy
Roaring Run Sliding
Rock.

If you want to drive a bit, but remain in the
Valley, try the alluring hike to the waterfall at
Roaring Run in Botetourt County. The hike is
relatively short-about 1.5 miles each way-

neighborhood (Goode Park) and the other

but offers some of the best hiking scenery

along a creek at the edge of town (Tinker

around. If you're really adventurous, you can

Creek Trailhead, of the Roanoke Valley

slide down two sloping rocks into a pool at

Greenway). Good Park is about 2.5 miles and

the bottom. The water is beautiful and quite

Tinker Creek is about two miles.

cold, the waterfall simply gorgeous.

The New River Valley's Huckleberry Trail

Camp Alta Mons/Stiles Falls in Shawsville-

is as customizable for distance as any in

about 15 miles from Roanoke-is one of

the region. The walking and biking trail's

the truly spectacular short hikes in our

core 8.3 miles connect Christiansburg and

mountains, about three moderate miles

Blacksburg, where the primary access points

round-trip. It is one of those special hikes

are, although there are countless others

that is scenic every step of the way, whether

along the route. A recent expansion of the

walking through thick woods or fording

trail, from the Blacksburg end, connects

the stream toward the falls. Campers at

the Huckleberry with the Brush Mountain

Alta Mons (a church camp that has been

trail system in the George Washington

shuttered by the pandemic) occasionally

and Jefferson National Forests, for more

walk to the falls in the stream-all the way

ambitious hikes.

up. The falls can be a challenge because you

Just eight miles west of Blacksburg,
discover the dozen or so interlocking trails

26 / Retire-VA.com / RETIRE-VA 2021

have to climb to get there and the water is
cold. But it is a wonderfully satisfying hike. 
Retire-VA 2021

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