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General Hike Information

We will be offering multiple hike options on Wednesday, June 3rd at varying degrees of difficulty. Hikes will be selected during registration. Please note that once your hike is assigned, you will NOT be able to change hikes. Note that capacity will be limited for all hikes, so hike options will become unavailable as individual capacities are met. Buses will be provided for transportation to and from the hike locations. We will depart after the morning session on Wednesday  (~11:30 AM) and return before the evening lawn party (6:00 PM). 

Hike Options

  1. Cascades Falls Trail - Capacity of 86 (30 min. drive from Virginia Tech, 4.0 mi round-trip trail, 718 ft elevation gain) in Pembroke, VA follows a scenic, rocky path along Little Stony Creek, crossing footbridges and passing numerous small waterfalls and swimming holes along the way. The main attraction is Cascades Waterfall — a 69-ft waterfall. There are two main routes to the falls: the Lower Trail, which hugs the creek and offers close-up views of the water, and the Upper Trail, which provides a smoother, higher path through the forest — perfect for the return hike. The entire loop takes about 2–3 hours at a leisurely pace.

  2. McAfee’s Knob - Capacity of 52 (40 min drive from Virginia Tech, 7.9 mi round-trip hike, 1,807 ft elevation gain) in Catawba, Virginia is one of the most iconic outdoor experiences on the Appalachian Trail. The moderately challenging trail ends with panoramic, 270-degree views from the famous rocky ledge that juts dramatically over the Catawba Valley—one of the most photographed spots on the entire Appalachian Trail. The out and back trail takes approximately 4-5 hours at a steady pace. Note that this hike will have the most limited capacity and those that choose this hike may arrive late to the informal conference Lawn Party on the evening of the hike.

  3. Pandapas Pond Day Use Area - Capacity of 75 (10 min drive from Virginia Tech, extensive trail network with over 24 miles of trails to choose from) in Blacksburg, VA offers a network of trails to choose from including a 1 mi loop around stream fed pond, and a boardwalk through the wetlands. Great opportunities for birding and spotting other wildlife. There are also numerous picnic areas to stop and take a break or have lunch. 

  4. Mountain Lake - Capacity of 200 (30 min drive from Virginia Tech, trail network with a range of loop and out-and-back options) in Pembroke, VA offers a range of hiking options as well as an outdoor bar and restaurant at the lodge where the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed (with self-guided and guided tours of key movie scene sites available). The Bald Knob loop (1.6 mi) offers stunning panoramic views of the mountains which can be extended to Bear Cliffs (3.5 mi) with an out and back. Other options include a hike through the now dry lake bed of Mountain Lake.

  5. Self Guided Campus Hike - No capacity limit.  Virginia Tech is nestled between the scenic Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains and offers a range of options to explore including the campus farm, a series of ponds that offer great wildlife opportunities (even the occasional otter), and an arboretum. Pre-planned routes will be provided this spring to explore on your own or in a coordinated group. 

  6. No Hike / Self-Organized Activities (e.g., floating the New River, mountain biking, etc.) - No capacity limit

Blacksburg has many exciting outdoor activities if you wish to enjoy the region but prefer to design your own adventure.  Note that many of these will require that you have your own transportation.  A few examples include:

  • Tubing on the scenic New River: About 20 minutes from campus, you can spend the afternoon floating on inner tubes on one of the oldest rivers in the world.  This relaxing float ends in an optional run of McCoy Falls (Class II rapids), for those seeking a little adrenaline jolt.  Tube and shuttle rental details will be provided on the EEID website this spring.  The same location has kayaking, canoeing, and paddle board opportunities.
  • Mountain Biking: Blacksburg is known for its world class mountain biking trails.  Numerous options are available within 20 minutes of campus and will be provided on the EEID website this spring.  
  • Fishing: Whether you prefer to chase smallmouth bass on the New River or trout in smaller streams nearby, Blacksburg offers many angling options within 30 mins of campus.  Nearby access points and guide services will be posted on the EEID website this spring.
  • Designing your own hike: The group hikes organized by the conference only scratch the surface of tremendous trekking opportunities around Blacksburg.  If you wish to design your own hike to locations such as Dragons Tooth on the Appalachian Trail or Mill Creek Nature Park—there is no shortage of great options.  A selection of popular hikes will be described on the EEID website this spring.