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Kurt’s Hikes

CURRENT Kurt’s Hikes

Most Popular Hiking Day of the Year?

I suppose if you head out to perhaps the most popular trail section around Roanoke on a perfect fall day, you ought to expect to have to get lucky to find a parking place where Va.

Drafting The Greatest Day Hiker Of Them All

Maybe it was the perfect day for hiking. Maybe it was that, especially on hikes that involve a fairly long drive, Gail worries about leaving her (still-recovering) dog home alone. Maybe it's just what it is.

Walking with a Colorado 14er

We were pleased to show this hike to Dan Dennison of Roanoke's WDBJ7 TV station, who carried a seriously heavy camera and tripod up and down the eight-mile trek, gathering footage for a coming Trail Story feature.

Weekday-Visitor Geezer Troublemaker Sighted at Virginia State Park

"Access to False Cape State Park is only by foot, bicycle or boat," says the ranger at the entrance of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, echoing the words of the state park brochure.

Medium Walk, Large View, Small Time

Part of the beauty of this hike is that, if you live in Roanoke and have a rushed weekend to squeeze a hike into, you can be to its trailhead in 20 minutes.

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Part of the crowd on McAfee Knob on a pretty Sunday.

Most Popular Hiking Day of the Year?

I suppose if you head out to perhaps the most popular trail section around Roanoke on a perfect fall day, you ought to expect to have to get lucky to find a parking place where Va.
Six miles in to a seven-miler, The Day Hiker pauses, daisy-fresh, atop Cold Mountain.

Drafting The Greatest Day Hiker Of Them All

Maybe it was the perfect day for hiking. Maybe it was that, especially on hikes that involve a fairly long drive, Gail worries about leaving her (still-recovering) dog home alone. Maybe it's just what it is.
Channel 7's Dan Dennison shoots the Cascades.

Walking with a Colorado 14er

We were pleased to show this hike to Dan Dennison of Roanoke's WDBJ7 TV station, who carried a seriously heavy camera and tripod up and down the eight-mile trek, gathering footage for a coming Trail Story feature.
Fiddler crab poses, albeit a little unhappily) for us on the boardwalk from the beach back into Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, wherein he (that right claw is coming right along, young fella), was pretty much the only wildlife we saw.

Weekday-Visitor Geezer Troublemaker Sighted at Virginia State Park

"Access to False Cape State Park is only by foot, bicycle or boat," says the ranger at the entrance of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, echoing the words of the state park brochure.
Gail looks out over Carvins Cove from the Appalachian Trail.

Medium Walk, Large View, Small Time

Part of the beauty of this hike is that, if you live in Roanoke and have a rushed weekend to squeeze a hike into, you can be to its trailhead in 20 minutes.
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Smith Mountain Lake Virginia is a hidden gem within the Blue Ridge Mountains. This beautiful area features boating, sailing, hiking, shopping, fishing, and much more.
From The Editor

Sarah Smiles: The Lake Effect

Growing up, many of my weekends were spent at my late step-grandmother’s house on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

June 26, 2026

CALENDAR OF EVENTS