Lace Up, Grab Your Pack, and Hit the Trail in Virginia! Five Star Trails: Roanoke and the New River Valley showcases 40 hikes in the mountains, valleys, and Piedmont of Western Virginia. The guide includes an array of treks reflecting the area's superlative scenery, from wild waterfalls in the New River Valley to highland wildernesses of the Jefferson National Forest, historic paths along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and waterside strolls beside Smith Mountain Lake. It is authored by the Southeast's most experienced outdoors writer, Johnny Molloy. Hikes in this book range from just under 2 miles to over 10 miles, creating opportunities for hikers of all ages, and will accommodate your desires for hikes of multiple lengths, depending on mood, time, and company. Trail configurations are diverse as well--including out-and-back hikes, loops, and balloon loops. Hike settings vary from developed county parks to the back of beyond. Johnny Molloy is a writer and adventurer based in Johnson City, TN. He has written more than 40 books about the outdoors, including hiking, camping, and paddling guidebooks; comprehensive guidebooks about specific areas; and books about true outdoors adventures throughout the Eastern United States. Johnny writes for various magazines and websites, and he is a columnist and feature writer for his local paper, the Johnson City Press. Angels Rest Scenery: 4 stars Trail Condition: 4 stars Children: 2 stars Difficulty: 3 stars Solitude: 3 stars GPS Trailhead Coordinates: N37° 19.757' W80° 45.063' Distance & Configuration: 5.0-mile out-and-back Hiking Time: 3 hours Outstanding Features: Multiple vistas, challenging climb Elevation: 2,005 feet at trailhead, 3,680 feet at high point Access: No fees or permits required Maps: National Geographic #787, Blacksburg/New River Valley ; USGS Narrows Facilities: None Wheelchair Access: None Info: George Washington National Forest, Eastern Divide Ranger District, 110 Southpark Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060; 540-552-4641, www.fs.usda.gov/gwj In Brief This trek on the Appalachian Trail climbs the northeast shoulder of Pearis Mountain to three vistas. Start near Pearisburg, then trace a series of switchbacks up a thickly wooded ridge. Once on the crest, enter a boulder garden to emerge at Angels Rest and its view of the New River Valley. From there, head south along Pearis Mountain, passing a lesser view before reaching Wilburn Valley Overlook, which presents bucolic Virginia countryside set between long ridges. Route Details This is a classic mountain climb to a view―or three views in this case. You will earn your reward as the hike ascends nearly 1,700 feet from the trailhead. However, bear in mind that the trail is well maintained and well graded and does not have any insanely steep segments, making it doable by your average hiker at a leisurely pace. From Cross Avenue, join the AT southbound as it quests for the crest of Pearis Mountain. Switchback on a steep slope cloaked in hardwoods. The trail curves in and out of drainages cutting down the north slope of Pearis Mountain. Mossy boulders are scattered in the woods. Cross a trickling branch at 0.5 mile, still ascending. Briefly join an old logging road at 0.7 mile. Stay with the white blazes, avoiding the erosive paths created by hikers who shortcut the switchbacks. At 1.1 miles, the path crosses a rocky wet-weather drainage, then passes by an impressive oak on the right at 1.2 miles. Break the 3,000-foot barrier by 1.4 miles. You have climbed 1,000 feet with less than 700 to go. At 1.5 miles, the trail leads you across a rock garden, but at least it is on a level stretch. At 1.7 miles, tunnel into a rhododendron thicket. Upon reaching a cluster of truck-sized boulders at 1.8 miles, you have made the crest of Pearis Mountain. While amid the gray giants, watch for the spur trail leading right to Angels Rest. It leads to an outcrop and a view. The scene is a mix of land and water, civilization and wilderness. Here, you can look down on the New River, as well as the towns of Narrows and Pearisburg. Sturdy Peters Mountain guards the rear. It’s amazing how the New River―a truly big waterway at this point―looks so small from such a perch. Funny thing about the New River, purportedly the second-oldest river on the planet: How did it get that name? While Virginia was still an English colony, a man named Abraham Wood sent two men west to what was then terra incognita. The two explorers―Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam―came upon this large, previously unknown waterway. When drawing a map of the newly explored territory, they wrote “new river” on the map that they had drawn, then promptly forgot about it. Later, Batts and Fallam turned in their map to a cartographer and the “new river” became the “New River,” an accident of history. That is fodder for an AT hiker looking out from Angels Rest. After soaking in the vista, even resting perhaps, backtrack to the AT, and resume your southbound course.