Continued from previous page.

WOLF CREEK GREENWAY

I walk on this dirt and crushed rock hike-bike path a couple times a week because it's only ten miles from our house. Although it is only 2.2 miles long I can extend the distance from 4.4. miles out and back to 7 miles by continuing on dirt single-track to Stewart's Knob on the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

Jim rides his bike on the Wolf Creek Greenway.  (4-24-12)

Dogwoods in bloom at Stonebridge Park on the greenway (4-13-12)

Neither of us rides our bikes here very often because it's so short but it's great for hiking.

The path extends from Hardy Road through Goode and Stonebridge Parks, then past horse farms to the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

Cody and I enjoy seeing the horses, ponies, and goats when they are sociable and come over to the fence by the greenway:

Looking for a snack (I just feed them grass from this side of the fence)   (4-2-12)

Above and below: two ponies and two goats at one of the farms  (4-2-12)

Future plans call for the metro greenway system to connect with Wolf Creek. I'm betting we won't have a house in the area by the time they do that, though.

STEWART'S KNOB TRAIL

The Wolf Creek Greenway connects to this single-track dirt trail where it ends at the Blue Ridge Parkway. The hilly, shady trail parallels the parkway for about two miles.

    

I like the trail to Stewart's Knob because it's similar to the Appalachian Trail but is ten miles closer to our house than the AT.

EXPLORE PARK

The road to Explore Park is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway east of Roanoke. It has been one of our favorite hiking/running venues since we first moved to Roanoke in 2004. There is a nice network of hiking/biking trails totaling twelve miles or more. It's very hilly but quite scenic.

I've shown lots of photos from this park over the past eight years so I'm including just a couple this time.

It already looks like summer and it's only April.  (4-25-12)

Neither Jim nor I have the skills to ride our bikes on most of the trails at Explore because they are narrow, very hilly, and fairly rough with rocks and roots. Jim used to love running and hiking out there but he can't do either of those any more.

Sandy trail along the Roanoke River at Explore Park  (4-25-12)

Cody and I hiked the trails several times this visit. On weekdays we had the place to ourselves.

CHESTNUT RIDGE TRAIL

Chestnut Ridge is a large park on the Blue Ridge Parkway that is managed by the National Park Service. It is adjacent to Mill Mountain Park, which is managed by the city of Roanoke.

Mountain laurel  (4-10-12)

(4-8-12)

Jim and I have always liked running/hiking the six-mile long, single track loop around Chestnut Ridge. The trail undulates through beautiful forested land and is relatively smooth.

We could probably ride this loop on our bikes if cycling was allowed, but it's not. Equestrians may use the trail.

 

Cody and I hiked at Chestnut Ridge several times this spring on weekdays when few other people were using the trail.

MILL MOUNTAIN TRAIL

There are several trails on Mill Mountain.

Two go from the base to the top. The one we've used the most, Monument Trail, loops around the mountain, traversing the flank of the mountain about halfway between the valley and the summit.

 

 

It is rockier than the trail at Chestnut Ridge but has some interesting features, like the old toll booth that's been restored recently on the road up to the star at the top of the mountain:

and the old car that someone abandoned along a former dirt roadway many years ago:

"Car Trail" (above) and old car (below)

Cody and I got out on this trail only once this visit. I believe cyclists can ride the loop trail but we didn't see any bikes that day. It's too rough and narrow for Jim and me to ride it on our bikes.

We enjoyed our hikes and bike rides in the Roanoke area. Now we're ready to explore some new trails in Canada and Alaska!

Next entry:  prepping the truck and camper for our summer trip; Jim's been busy with all sorts of projects

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, and Cody the ultra Lab

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© 2012 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil