Wilburn Valley | Hitchhiker's Guide to the Outdoors

Angel’s Rest

The best way to experience the changing color of the fall season is to take advantage of one of the many trails surrounding Blacksburg. On October 8^th, 2009, I decided to hike Angel’s Rest with my friends, Andrea and Ed. Usually, when I go on a hike, I do not read a lot about the hike besides directions and distance. So, I expected this 4.6 mile round trip to be fairly easy and quick. But I was completely wrong!!

The trail, covered with fall dry leaves, never leveled off. It was steady incline of 1,600 ft for 1.5 miles before we reached the sprawl of the two ancient rockslides. I was sweating and I could feel my calves straining. You pass through thick oak, laurel and rhododendron. I cannot imagine how beautiful this trail would look when nature is blooming at its full extent. On a side note, the Rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal. We were accompanied by bees buzzing as we reached the rock boulder. From the boulder, a few hundred feet to the right on a blue-blazed trail, you could see a little opening. It offered views of the New River Valley, Pearisburg & Peters Mountain on the left, Butt Mountain at center right, and Bald Knob at the far left.

The Angels Rest Trail did end here, it continued around the edge of Pearis Mountain to a rock ledge overlooking Wilburn Valley and the mountains to the east which offered another spectacular view. Overall, I would rate this hike as strenuous but the view from the top is totally worth it. Click here for more photos…