Dragon's Tooth Trail — Attraction in Salem

Looking at the pictures, you might expect to see a monolith, a single pillar of stone. In fact, the Dragon's Tooth is a range of several stone slabs sticking up from the ground. I count three teeth.

It's not a long hike. You'll go 1.5 miles on the Dragon's Tooth Trail, and then 1 mile on the Appalachian Trail. I hiked pretty quickly and covered the entire distance in less than an hour each direction.

If you want a rockier, more solitary path, take the yellow-blazed Boy Scout trail that starts after the second footbridge, 0.2 miles from the parking lot. That path will get you to the Appalachian Trail faster but not as close to the Dragon's Tooth.

The final segment of the Appalachian Trail includes several stone staircases, climbing up diagonal crevices in rock faces, and metal ladders sunk into the face of a cliff.

The trailhead parking lot was half full at 8 a.m. on a Saturday in mid-July and full at 10:15 a.m. The trail was still pretty quiet and didn't feel full. I saw two pieces of trash.

There are lots of campsites all along the hike. There were several tents pitched at the campsite where the Dragon's Tooth Trail meets the Appalachian Trail. Besides that location, I saw...

Just a spectacular hike & one of my top 5 ever (& I lived in South America for almost 3 years). If you're in decent hiking shape - it'll still push ya just a little bit, but very doable with an AMAZING payoff at the summit. If you aren't or don't like rock scrambling - this could be a bit much. On our way up there were several folks who turned around & couldn't make it all the way. If hiking with dog(s) ya can't easily lift (ours is about 85 lbs) there are 2 spots where it'll get very sketchy. Our 10 yr old pup made it fine, but had to be helped and he follows instructions well. Our 8 y.o. daughter did great, but is in really good shape (but still was pushed to her limit, too. Bottom line - should be on your bucket list no matter where...

Dragon's Tooth Trail in Roanoke, Virginia, is an adventure you won't want to miss! I hiked it recently, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish.

The trail is a bit challenging, but the scenery makes it totally worth it. As you hike through the lush forest, you're surrounded by beautiful trees and the sounds of nature.

The rock formations along the way are fascinating, and they give the trail a unique character. The highlight, of course, is reaching Dragon's Tooth. The massive rock formation juts out dramatically from the mountain, and the views from up there are simply breathtaking.

Climbing up the rocks to reach the summit is a bit of a scramble, but the sense of accomplishment and the panoramic views make it...