As originally broadcast June 26, 2024, on Blue Ridge PBS …
You will not find a more photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail than McAfee Knob near Roanoke, Virginia. Each year nearly 50,000 people from around the world trek to the overlook for the scenic, sought after shot.
As perilous as McAfee Knob appears to be, what’s really dangerous is 3.5 miles down the trail where hikers have to park their cars and then cross busy highway Virginia 311 to reach the trailhead.
Thankfully, there’s a passionate group of citizens from federal, state and local governments – and nonprofits – whose years-long work is now coming to fruition to solve this potentially fatal problem, which involves closing the McAfee Knob trailhead parking area for most of 2024.
In this episode we’re buzzing about their partnership, while our friends at LeadPoint Digital create a dazzling “Not McAfee Knob Hikes” campaign to alleviate congestion at the region’s most visited site and give some “buzz” to other fantastic trails.