West End Circuit Trail

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

Length:  44.2 mile
Rating: Moderate/Difficult

From wild ponies to majestic mountain top views, this hike traverses some of the most beautiful scenery in the Mt Rogers NRA. Hiking on some of the longest and most popular trails, including the extensive Appalachian Trail, the hiker will experience both the High Country and the rushing waters along the Virginia Creeper Trail, an old railroad converted Rails-to-Trails.

• 0.0 AT parking lot on 603, take AT south.
• 3.2 Turn right onto Pine Mtn Trail.
• 5.2 Turn right onto AT in Rhododendron Gap.
• 20.1 Intersect Virginia Creeper - AT and Creeper share trail.
• 20.8 AT veers right, remain on VA Creeper.
• 24.9 Turn right onto blue blazed trail, then left onto AT through Whitetop Laurel Gorge.
• 27.1 Turn right onto Feathercamp Trail.
• 29.3 Turn right onto Iron Mtn Trail
• 35.5 Turn right onto VA 600 at Skulls Gap.
• 36.2 Turn left back onto Iron Mtn Trail.
• 38.0 Turn right onto FS 84.
• 38.8 Turn right back onto Iron Mtn Trail.
• 40.3 Turn right onto FS 828, then left back onto Iron Mtn Trail.
• 41.9 Turn right onto AT, follow to parking lot.

  Directions:

  From I-81, take Exit 45, Route 16 south. In Troutdale, turn right onto VA 603. The parking lot is four miles west of Troutdale on the south side of 603.