Mcafee Knob and Dragons Tooth Virginia Appalachian Trail Section Hike
The most famous photo taken on the Appalachian Trail is of Mcafee Knob! In 2023 we section hiked 1,225 miles of the Appalachian Trail, the longest footpath in the world, and spent 13 weeks day hiking, working, and van camping on the Appalachian Trail as we moved up the trail slowly from Georgia to Maine. In this series we cover each section we hiked and in this article we cover the area of the AT inside of and slightly South and North of the famous hiking destinations of Mcafee Knob and Dragons Tooth in Virginia.
If heading NOBO (Northbound) on the Appalachian Trail Dragons tooth is marked as mile 702.1 of the 2023 AT Distance and the US 220 gap to the trail town of Daleville Virginia is at mile 730.3. This 28.2 mile stretch is what we covered in two days and you will gain 6.6k in ascent and about 8.4k in descent!
Mcafee Knob and Dragons Tooth Appalachian Trail Section Hike Need to Know’s:
Mcafee Knob is the most photographed attraction on the Appalachian Trail. The VA-311 parking lot gets crowded so be there early!
Dragons Tooth was one of the hardest miles I did on the entire AT. It reminded me afterwards of hiking in New Hampshire’s White Mountains or climbing up/down Mt Katahdin in Maine.
We stayed at the Dixie Caverns in nearby Salem Virginia but also spent a lot of time exploring the college town of Blacksburg VA. We would have stayed in Blacksburg due to proximity but couldn’t find a campground.
Mcafee Knob also has a fire road that is not the actual AT, so if you are doing purist miles make sure you follow the white blazes and not the crowds on the fire road.
Don’t do anything to put yourself, another hiker, or a rescue worker in danger at the knob or the tooth. Be smart when hiking here!
Selfie from the Knob!
What else happened that was memorable during this section hike?
We walked from sunrise to sunset on the Summer Solstice to raise over $2,500.00 for the Alzheimer’s Association on their Longest Day Fundraiser!
We have done the Mcafee Knob hike before, the super popular viewing point is part of an otherwise non scenic portion of the AT. It comes out of nowhere!
It rained and Dragons Tooth is best avoided in the rain!
Dixie Caverns was the closest campground we could find in this section of the trail. This was one of our tougher spots to locate a campground close to the trail.
We met a thru hiker who was picking up where she left off during the pandemic from 2020!
What gear did I use and like the most on my 2023 AT Section Hike?
Hoka One Kaha’s were my trusted shoes for this day (and for the whole summer on the trail.)
I used my REI 40 Liter Backpack. This worked great since I was coming on and off the trail every day but most thru-hikers or multi-day section hikers were looking at bigger packs than mine.
Darn Tough Vermont and Merino Wool Socks from REI and SmartWool were my go to’s.
Osprey Water Bladder and Lifestraw Collapsible Filter for hydration.
I wore New Balance running shorts mainly and much preferred that to more typical hiking shorts.
Gaiters were a must as was coating our clothes in Permethrin to avoid ticks. (We did not get any ticks remarkably while hiking the AT in 2023.)
The AT Guide by AWOL and AT Conservancy are AMAZING resources for a hike on the AT!
The little animals that line the AT are always around!
This was one of our most fun days we had hiking on the Appalachian Trail even though the miles were WET and HARD.
Our chance to share our journey and get donations for an organization my wife had worked for over a decade at was truly a dream come true. It also enabled us to break off the usual routine of what we did each day since we hiked longer, alternated more, and of course promoted our miles!
Mcafee Knob and Dragons Tooth are two of the most iconic spots on the AT in terms of extraordinary scenery just hanging out along the trail. It was my second time hiking to the knob and I would do it again. The way you just pop out of the woods and it appears is truly special.
This section of trail was also hard enough that the next day it led me to take my first ZERO. We celebrated with hot yoga in Roanoke and that felt great after a damp soggy week in Virginia.
The Appalachian Trail was about a summer and fall of doing something different.
And this day fundraising for a cause that is near and dear to our hearts enabled us to bring our journey to the homes of many of our family and friends who might not quite have understood what this trek was all about.
It was not a sunny summer solstice but it was a great section of the Appalachian Trail that I would hike over and over again if given the chance!
Thanks for reading and happy trails to you! Whether you are planning a thru, section, or day hike…or are a trail town local, trail angel, or just someone wanting to learn more about the longest footpath in the world…I hope the Appalachian Trail gives you what you need! Don’t forget to Leave No Trace and pack your 10 Essentials!
Comment below with questions or your experience on this section.
Our Virginia Trail Towns Podcast Episode can be found HERE or on your podcasts app.
Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R