Punchbowl Mountain to James River-11 miles-Strenuous

One of my favorite fall hikes, this hike will require a shuttle as it is a point to point. We’ll need some volunteers who are willing to shuttle people back to and from our starting point. Also note that you may not have very good cell coverage in this area, so set your GPS before you start.

We’ll meet at the James River footbridge (check where to meet) and arrange a shuttle to our start point at Punchbowl Mountain off the Blue Ridge Parkway. We’ll embark on our hike with a steep ascent on the AT, taking a left at the AT junction for the Punchbowl shelter to ascend Bluff Mountain, then descend, past intersections with several other trails along Big Rocky Row to Fuller Rocks, where we’ll break for lunch -with a view. Continuing on the AT, we’ll sharply descend after Little Rocky Row, until we gradually flatten out, coming to a road, which we’ll cross to continue on the AT, into a gorge trail that runs along Rocky Row Run, where we’ll eventually cross a couple of bridges to reach our end destination -the James River Footbridge, where we can walk and take in a bit of view before shuttling anyone back to their car at Punchbowl Mountain.

If you’ve never done this hike, please note that this entire hike keeps us on the AT, so you’ll always be looking for white blazes as you hike.

https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7028278/punchbowl-mountain-to-james-river

Notes about Strenuous Hikes: While I encourage people to hike at a pace that is comfortable for them, strenuous hikes do require us to pick up the pace a bit to ensure we’re off the trail well before dark. I’m not talking about jogging here, but an average pace of between 2-2.5 mph is a good baseline. Be sure of your abilities before signing up for this. If you aren’t used to hiking in the mountains, I would start with something shorter and build up your stamina. If you would like suggestions on where to start, I am happy to suggest a few hikes that might work; just message me.

What to Bring: Weather-appropriate clothing (layers will likely be necessary), hiking boots/shoes, a pack with plenty of water (minimum 2 liters), lunch, and snacks, trekking poles

Difficulty: Strenuous, approximately 10 miles with about 2100 ft elevation gain, with 2 rock scrambles

Hike Type: Loop, with detours

Where to Meet: Check the Where to Find Us section on this page for map pin and address

Weather: Severe weather will prompt me to postpone my next available weekend day. I’ll update in the comments if necessary.

Dog Policy: Dogs are welcome. Please keep them on a leash. Not only is it law, but wildlife don’t appreciate being terrorized by dogs (no matter how cute and friendly they may be) and other hikers may not be comfortable with unleashed dogs. Also keep the terrain in mind, as it will be more difficult to navigate with a furry friend.

RSVP: If you find that you're not going to be able to attend the hike, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible to allow anyone who might be on the waitlist the chance to attend. Please be courteous to those on the waitlist and allow them ample time to make plans for this if you find you can't go. Be aware that dropping at the last minute does not give waitlisted folks enough time to prepare.