The view off Butt Mountain Overlook rivals the scene from McAfee Knob on the Appalachian Trail north of Roanoke. On a warm day, a biker may want to pedal directly into Mountain Lake at the end of the trail. Mountain Lake is reached west of Blacksburg on U.S. 460. Turn right on Virginia 700. Cascades Falls is nearby.
Rental bikes are available at the resort in season.
An eight-mile loop trail provides a quality ride in one of Virginia's most scenic spots. The attractions include smooth single tracks, fast descents, spectacular overlooks, mountain meadows, winding dirt roads and trails that grip the edges of steep ridges. And that's just a start. The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area has more than 400 miles of trails that cross high mountain peaks and wind-combed meadows. The featured loop takes the rider over Iron Mountain, a route shared with horseback riders.