Roundtop Trail

Roundtop Trail is a 7.4-mile, one-way hike from Wear Cove Gap Road to the Little River crossing near Townsend Y. It climbs to Joint Ridge around mile 2.4, then descends through the woods to the river. Allow about four hours on foot, plus time to sort out a shuttle. The mapped distance follows the named trail once; it is not the return walk.

A two-car shuttle is the practical way to walk it one way. There is no dedicated Roundtop lot at the Wear Cove Gap start, and the nearby roadside pull-off is tiny. Leave your other car at a pullout by Townsend Y on Little River Gorge Road. The route reaches it through an unbridged ford of Little River. High water after heavy rain can make that crossing unsafe or impossible, so check conditions and turn back before entering the river if it is not safe. Without a shuttle, retrace the route for close to 15 miles.

The trail has a natural dirt surface and stays wooded for much of the way. The climb gains about 800 feet to Joint Ridge; the longer descent is narrow and steep in places. Small openings near the ridge give views toward Cove Mountain and Thunderhead Mountain, though trees break them up. Spring and summer bring wildflowers along the way. For a shorter outing, turn around at Joint Ridge for about 4.8 miles round trip and skip the river crossing and second car. Pets are not allowed on this trail, and each vehicle parked more than 15 minutes needs a park parking tag.