We hiked up to Buzzard's Rock, 2 miles in and 2 miles out. The trail is good with a few places to... read more
We hiked up to Buzzard's Rock, 2 miles in and 2 miles out. The trail is good with a few places to... read more
We reeky enjoyed our visit here!!! It was totally worth the drive and great views. Easy walk to... read more
Read Mountain Preserve is a little-known hike basically behind a very new subdivision off 460/Challenger Ave on the outskirts of Roanoke. It is expanded & maintained regularly by the dedicated Read Mountain Alliance. Currently, the preserve offers several hiking options, including short & moderate length trails for different endurance levels. NOTE: There is a stream at the lower elevations, but no water as you ascend, so bring a full bottle for you (& your dog). MY favorite track (Buzzard's Rock Trail) now eventually loops over the crests of the local mountains for a few miles until decending quickly back to the parking lot. The views are good, except for the developed areas, but you get good elevation and beautiful ridgetop hiking for a decent stretch. The real draw for me is the preserve's relative obscurity, I have never passed more than two clusters of hikers per hour and many times it seemed it was just me & my dog on the trail. Love it.
I'm an avid hiker but I have to say that this hike is just okay. It's not the greatest but it's still pretty awesome that you don't have to leave Roanoke to do it. The views aren't that great, depending on foliage.
Read Mountain is a beautiful forested area right at the edge of a suburban Roanoke suburban development. The only trail currently shown on the maps is the 1.9 mile (one-way) hike which climbs about 1000 feet to Buzzards Rock. It climbs through the forest past 2 steep ravines and some limited views of Roanoke before reaching the rock outcroppings which give you a very nice view to the west of Roanoke. It's excellently marked and you can't get lost. There are signs for two other trails which are not yet shown on the maps.