Rock Castle Gorge Loop (Rocky Knob)

Rocky Knob Recreation Area, Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park Service (near Woolwine, Parkway mileposts 167-169)

Rock Castle Gorge is a deep valley below Rocky Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Backpacker calls it “one of the few backcountry bulges along the usually narrow Blue Ridge Parkway.” Its name, Backpacker says, comes from “six-sided quartz crystals, which reminded early settlers of castle towers.”

The 10.8-mile loop climbs from Rock Castle Creek to the open ridge of Rocky Knob and back, and the National Park Service runs eight permitted backcountry sites in the gorge.

The hike

Hiking Upward describes the loop clockwise from the lower trailhead at the end of VA 605, where the green-blazed Rock Castle Gorge Trail turns off the fire road and climbs about 1,100 feet in a mile. Backpackers who want camp mid-trip can start at one of the Parkway lots that Recreation.gov lists, such as The Saddle Overlook (MP 168), the Rocky Knob Visitor Center (MP 169), or Rock Castle Gorge Overlook (MP 168.7).

On the ridge, the trail crosses fence stiles into pastures where Hiking Upward reports cattle, passes a tree growing out of rock, and reaches The Saddle Overlook at about mile 3.7. An unblazed path goes over Rocky Knob to a former Appalachian Trail shelter and old chimney at mile 4.0. Backpacker says the shelter is one of the A.T.’s oldest, left on the original route before Parkway construction moved the trail west. The route continues on the Rocky Knob Trail past Rock Castle Gorge Overlook and Twelve O’Clock Knob Overlook, then crosses another meadow and boulder field into the Grassy Knoll area.

From there the trail drops back into the gorge past a second boulder field and an old homestead chimney, joins the fire road along Rock Castle Creek, and crosses four metal bridges. Hiking Upward and Backpacker both mention the Austin House, an early 20th-century home that Hiking Upward says was built in 1916 and is privately owned. Backpacker says the old Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the gorge is now the backcountry campsite. The loop ends back at the VA 605 lot.

Hiking Upward reviewers say the second half is not all downhill, despite the guide’s description. For another overnight in southwest Virginia, see the Mount Rogers loop from Massie Gap.

Tips

Reserve the permit on Recreation.gov. Don’t print it until you’re sure; the NPS says a printed permit can’t be canceled or changed.
Display the permit number on your dashboard, per Recreation.gov.
Carry water for the ridge, and treat anything from the creek.
Give the cattle room in the pastures; Hiking Upward reports a large bull.
Expect no cell service, per Recreation.gov.

Camping

The NPS requires a Recreation.gov backcountry permit for all overnight use. There are eight sites, each with a fire ring or pad and a food storage locker, and each holds up to six people; groups over 18 are not allowed, and permits cover no more than three consecutive nights. Camp only in designated sites. Fires are allowed only in the provided grill, using dead wood on the ground, and may be banned during high fire danger; the NPS encourages stoves. Store food and scented items in the lockers, a bear-resistant container, or a proper hang. Pets must be on a 6-foot leash.

Inside Intel: A scout troop’s Hiking Upward review (April 2017) described a large site on what looked like an old homestead, with room for hammocks, a well-kept portable toilet, and the creek “only feet away.” Another reviewer (2014) noted each spot has a fire ring and bear-proof storage.

Trail facts

Distance: 10.8 miles (NPS on Recreation.gov, Backpacker); 10.7 (Hiking Upward)
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Campsites: 8 designated sites in the gorge
Water: Rock Castle Creek; NPS advises bringing drinking water
Permits: Required (Recreation.gov)
Fires: Provided grills only; stoves encouraged
Bear storage: Lockers at sites
Dogs: Leashed (6 feet)
Trailheads: VA 605 lower lot; Parkway lots at MP 167-169
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Cooking beside Rock Castle Creek:

Fires at the gorge sites are limited to the park's grills and can be banned in dry spells, and the Park Service encourages stoves. See the camp stoves reviewers like.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.