Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Location
Roanoke County
Endpoints
VA Route 311 to Kessler Mill Road
Mileage
1.7
Roughness Index
2
Surface
Crushed stone
Opened in 1999, the Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail in Salem (just outside of Roan-
oke) is associated with Southern Virginia's impressive Civil War history. The northern
trailhead at Hanging Rock was the site of the 1864 “Hunter's Raid” battle in which
General John McCausland's Confederate forces won a substantial victory against
the retreating Union army under the command of General David Hunter. The site is
marked by a monument along VA Route 311.
The Hanging Rock trailhead is a good place to start your trip. Parking is plentiful,
and you can hit the convenience store and gas station next door to stock up on provi-
sions. On the trail, you can absorb the Roanoke Valley's beautiful wooded scenery, as
the corridor winds along Mason Creek and Kessler Mill Road.
After passing under Interstate 81, you will soon enter the township of Salem. The
trails curves through a residential area, and houses flank the trail until you reach the
southern trailhead at Timberview Road. If time permits on your return to the northern
trailhead, take a quick jaunt on the short hiking trail at the Hanging Rock trailhead. It
meanders along Peter's Creek right up to Interstate 81.
