Hay Rock Trailhead - Daleville, VA
Hay Rock Trailhead Dog-Friendly Hiking in Daleville, Virginia
Hay Rock Trailhead offers dog owners in Daleville, Virginia a scenic and rewarding hiking experience. This pet-friendly trail, stretching about 8 miles round trip, winds through lush pine forests and along ridges with breathtaking views of Carvins Cove and McAfee Knob. The hike is moderately challenging, featuring smooth switchbacks in the first half and some rocky terrain near the top, making it ideal for active hikers and their canine companions who love adventure and the outdoors.
Parking is available at the trailhead, which doubles as a Park and Ride lot, providing convenient access for both locals and visitors. While there aren’t dedicated dog park amenities like fenced areas or water fountains, Hay Rock Trailhead stands out for its beautiful natural setting, exercise opportunities, and stunning panoramic vistas. If you are looking for dog-friendly hiking trails near Roanoke and Daleville, Hay Rock is a fantastic choice for enjoying nature with your pup.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there are approximately 8 miles of hiking trails, including scenic views and moderate to challenging terrain.
- Where is the best place to park? Parking is available at the trailhead, which shares space with the I-81 Park and Ride lot, offering approximately 30-40 parking spaces.
- Is the trail suitable for people of varying mobility levels? The trail has well-maintained portions but also includes rocky and steep sections, so moderate mobility and some hiking experience are recommended.
- Are there views along the trail? Yes, the trail features several outstanding scenic views, including those overlooking Carvins Cove and McAfee Knob.
Reviews
I love this part of the AT. Once you get to the top and head for Hay Rock, there are some difficult places. Once you get past Hay Rock the terrain changes. Beautiful views of Carvins Cove.
My only dislike is the trail leading to the actual AT. It’s disgusting. Litter everywhere around the construction site for what I think are apartments. It makes me sad to see nature treated that way.
Left Richmond at 6 am for a hiking weekend. Hay Rock is a lesser-known 8 mile hike in the Roanoke area with stunning views of Carvins Cove and McAfee Knob.
We did it in 3:30 including exploring time.
This is a great hike. Beautiful views! Round trip was 8.2 miles and moderate terrain. Recommend if you love to hike and love beautiful scenery.♥️
Parking lot is the same as the Park and Ride for I81. If you hike all the way to Hay Rock, it is a steep hike for the first half when you reach the electrical transformer, then levels out for the second half as you walk along the ridge. Hay Rock itself I found a bit underwhelming. It is difficult to know that you are even there. It is an excellent view to climb up to the top of the rock, but there are also several other very nice views along the way to Hay Rock. Great hike. Great workout. We were a group of decently fit 20-somethings and it took us about 4.5 hours with 30 min at the top.
Great hike for mid-March! Went up with my wife, another couple, and my mother, who has had a knee replacement. Very accessible hike as long as you can step up and down approximatley 2 feet to maybe 3 feet at most. The trail is fairly well maintained minus a few new trees down, mostly moved back from the trail, from recent storms.
A good portion of the trail up to Hay Rock is fairly smooth switchbacks and even has a nice layer of pine needles which, though slippery at times, adds a nice cushion to the walk. The top ridgeline is fairly rocky for about a mile prior to Hay Rock but as long as you have normal mobility or a sturdy arm to grab it shouldn’t cause any issues and breaks up the trail a bit adding some variety. Would recommend for a nice half day hike to get some exercise and enjoy nature.
Views 8/10
Difficulty: 5/10
Length: 8 miles round trip.
Time: 4.5 hours with a lunch break and slower pace out.
Parking: approx 30-40 spaces at the trail head.