McAfee Knob Parking Lot Closure Set for November 30

They’ve been warning us for a while now, and the time has finally come—on November 30, the McAfee Knob parking lot will temporarily close as construction begins for the new pedestrian bridge. This addition to the trailhead is very important and a long time coming. As our trails continue to gain popularity and foot traffic, that means more people crossing Route 311 to access McAfee Knob. Any time you have people and vehicles in the same space, there are going to be safety issues. This pedestrian bridge is important to keeping hikers safe and a long time coming.

Parking Options for Hiking McAfee

So let’s address the elephant in the room—where the heck can I park between now and when the bridge is complete? Well, up until November 26, you can take the McAfee Knob shuttle provided by Roanoke County and Ride Source. You can park at the Salem Park and Ride, and the shuttle will take you up to the trailhead and pick you up after your hike. You can book this in advance, and it costs $5 one way and $10 for round-trip (plus processing fees). Walk-ups are welcome, but we’d suggest securing your spot ahead of time to be safe! As mentioned, the shuttle takes a break November 26, 2023 but will pick back up March 1, 2024.

You can also park at the Catawba Sustainability Center and along some shoulders on Old Catawba Road, but, and we cannot stress this enough, please pay close attention to all parking signage. There are a lot of places you cannot park, and you will be towed.

The Roanoke Appalachian Trail Conservancy also has a great list of parking options for folks looking to hike the Triple Crown and/or McAfee Knob.

Photo courtesy of VDOT

The Pedestrian Bridge Project Details and Timeline

As we mentioned, this is an exciting and necessary project, and we’re glad it’s getting underway. Right now, the project is set to begin November 30 and continue until the end of 2024. Funding for this project came from VDOT, National Parks Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, Roanoke County, and the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission. This concrete and steel bridge will be approximately 90 feet long, eight feet wide, and span 17.5 feet above the roadway. Please visit the VDOT website to see more details about the project as a whole.