Name: Rocky Row
Rating: 4.2

“A steep 3.7 mile climb on the AT from the James River Footbridge to the Rocky Row.”

— Donovan Fitzgerald

GPX File

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Open all year, but can be closed during the winter due to snow storms.

Overview

A steep 3.7 mile accent on the AT from the James River footbridge to the incredible views of the Rocky Row.

Description

This is a section of the AT that begins in a parking lot off of Hwy 130/501 at the James River Footbridge. You cross the highway, and the trail is marked in red paint about 20 feet up the access road and is marked with white vertical dashes the rest of the way.

The trail follows the Rocky Row Run Creek with a couple of wood bridge crossings. After a while, the trail heads up a few switchbacks to cross the 812. The trail continues up at a moderate rate, with one dip down to a creek crossing, until you reach a fork where a right leads you to a shelter and a left continues on the AT.

After the shelter fork, the trail begins to increase its ascent, and the switchbacks get more aggressive. At the top of the climb, you'll reach a fork in the trail whereas a left will take you back down the Little Rocky Row Trail to another parking location on Hwy 501, and when you go right you'll be rewarded with awesome views along the entire Rocky Row Ridge. Pick a good spot to relax and enjoy the view before heading back down the way that you came.