PSA: The ranger at the Mount Rogers desk said to walk the loop backwards and it saved my knees

Amy Craig · 2026-10-18T00:50:03.107539+00:00

Stopped at the Grayson Highlands ranger station two summers ago and the guy behind the desk asked which way I planned to hike the loop. I said clockwise like the guidebook shows, and he said do it backwards so the big climb hits you at mile 4 instead of mile 11. I tried it and finished with legs that still worked, plus I hit the bald at sunrise with zero people around. Now I flip almost every loop on the map before I commit. Anyone else got a route where going against the arrows is the better call?

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PSA: The ranger at the Mount Rogers desk said to walk the loop backwards and it saved my knees | Backpacking Routes - Free To Speak