Rice Fields Trailhead/ Appalachian Trail Trailhead

"The hike to Rice Rields is one of my favorites. My fitness trackers say that it's a little over five miles round trip if you hike up to the view and the shelter area. At the trailhead, there's room for about 4 to 6 vehicles parallel parked along the gravel road. If you can't find space there, there is room for at least three other cars on the paved road close southbound trail (which heads away from Rice Fields back towards the New River)."

"I would say this would be a fairly hard hiking trail for beginners. I took my friend on this trail (she doesn’t hike much), and she couldn’t make it to the top. Although, it’s a great trail for intermediate hikers. It’s a very clean trail that can get rocky at times."

"Great hike only about 35 mins from Blacksburg. Sparse parking, maybe enough for 6 to 8 cars across the two small side pull off / shoulder spaces I saw. Hike was easy to moderate difficulty and only took us about 50 mins to an hour to get up. Same maybe slightly faster back down. Great view at the top looking out onto West Virginia. Very windy at the top at least on our day so prob best to bring a jacket or layers even if you don't feel you need it when you start the hike. The field is great with the AT going right through it. There's also an AT shelter right by the field. Worth checking out for all the insane things people write in the log book and on the shelter itself haha. Happy hiking."

"Nice hike up. We went in winter, and it’s a very heavily wooded area until you reach the top. It’s a really nice shelter on the AT when you get there, and you could also do a hike on the AT after you reach it, or camp and do more hiking the next day. Plenty to explore and a nice overlook. Would just say the hike itself is a little underwhelming until the top. But I was also carrying a fussy baby on my back so I may be biased, ha."

"Nice hike to Rice Field. I wasn't even aware that the Appalachian Trail had been relocated in this area a few years ago until the night before my hike when I was looking at the map. It's only about half as far now, around 2.6 miles one way. Parking is limited, only enough room for 5 or 6 cars near the start and room for maybe 4 more on the main road a couple tenths of a mile farther away."