Blue Ridge Parkway, NC · VA
Short moderate out-and-back from Stewart Knob Overlook with wooded miles and a Blue Ridge view
Overview
Stewart Knob Trail is a short out-and-back that begins at Stewart Knob Overlook (Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 110.6). The stored route follows the footpath for about 1.0 mile one way, so plan on roughly 2.1 miles for the full walk. It is a good choice when you want a moderate woodland hike paired with a broad Blue Ridge and Roanoke Valley overlook.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike itMap & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Stewart Knob's Quick Woodland Walk“Ahead is Stewart Knob Overlook, which is an ideal spot if you're looking for a quick leg-stretcher. While it's not a major viewpoint, it has a very short, easy woodland walking path that starts right here.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…We knew we wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. The narration was impeccably timed. The facts and info provided were meaningful. Without it, the trip would not have been near as awesome.”
Trail guide
From the overlook, the trail leaves the Parkway and follows a continuous dirt path through mixed hardwood forest. The mapped corridor is easy to follow but includes natural, uneven tread, roots, and occasional rocks. The overlook supplies the main open panorama; the trail itself is primarily a quiet, wooded walk. Follow the path to its eastern turnaround and return on the same corridor.
This is more substantial than the old half-mile listing suggests, but it remains a short outing rather than a full-day hike. Allow about 45–60 minutes for the 2.1-mile round trip, more if you linger at the overlook. The National Park Service lists the trail as moderate, and the uneven surface can feel more demanding than the distance alone implies.
Wildlife
1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyRoanoke River Trail0.6 mi · 45 min · 3.1 mi awayA short, hilly river-and-dam walk with a wooded loop beneath the Parkway bridge.
ModerateChestnut Ridge Loop Trail5.4 mi · 2.5 hr · 6.4 mi awayShady hardwood loop with easy grades and great birding near Roanoke
EasyRoanoke Mountain Woodland Trail0.4 mi · 15 min · 6.9 mi awayA tiny summit loop with rocky footing and broad Roanoke views.
Scenic pullout · 3.1 mi awayRoanoke River OverlookQuick river-and-dam views with a short, choose-your-effort trail
Visitor center · 4.2 mi awayExplore Park Visitor Center and Park StoreOrientation hub with exhibits, film, and a great park store
Campground · 4.2 mi awayExplore Park CampgroundGlamping-to-primitive campground with trails, river access, and brewpub
Picnic area · 6.3 mi awayRoanoke Mountain Picnic AreaShady picnic hub with grills and quick access to Roanoke views
Scenic pullout · 6.9 mi awayRoanoke Mountain OverlookSummit views over Roanoke via a quiet, one-way mountain loopParkwolf’s Blue Ridge Parkway ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
