Hike to the Keffer Oak on the Appalachian Trail
Newport, Virginia
Details
Distance
2.6 miles
Elevation Gain
600 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Elyse Clark
Visit this 300-year-old (60' tall) white oak tree, the second largest on the entire Appalachian Trail.
You can park your car at the small gravel lot where VA-42 and Rt. 629 intersect. Starting from the Appalachian Trail crossing at VA-42, head north on the AT, which winds through some grass meadows. After about 0.8 miles into the hike you will cross Rt. 630 (Northside Road) on a bridge over Sinking Creek. The trail continues to the right side of the creek.
From here it is a short 0.5 miles to the Keffer Oak. You won't miss this tree. It is 300 years old, with a circumference of 18-20 feet. There is a cleared area here with some logs to sit on and rest under the tree.
Once finished, walk the 1.3 miles back to your car by retracing your steps south on the AT.
*Note: For a shorter hike, park at the Rt. 630 bridge where the AT crosses Sinking Creek and head 0.5 miles north on the AT to see the Keffer Oak.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Hike to the Keffer Oak on the Appalachian Trail Reviews
Did this short hike with the whole family. It’s pretty amazing and huge! It was a fun hike and a neat piece of the trail to see.
4.0
Did this trail as a run and really enjoyed it. Big, open meadows made for a relaxing run with expansive views. The tree was fun to finally see, as I'd heard it about it over the years but never saw in person.
5.0
Once we figured out which direction to go on the AT the hike was fairly nice. A long gentle field uphill followed by a shorter but steeper down before we got to the "shortcut" point (which is on rt 629 not 630). The uphill to the tree is a lot steeper than expected for a beginner hike but it isn't far to the tree which is pretty impressive after all
4.0
I love this short hike! The huge oak is surrounded by a blackberry field. There's also some logs to sit on under the oak, making it a perfect place for a picnic!
4.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Hike to Kelly's Knob via the Appalachian Trail
Take a Stroll around Pandapas Pond
Photograph Sinking Creek Falls
Fish Sinking Creek at Clover Hollow Queens Truss Bridge
Hike the War Spur Loop
Bald Knob Trail
Community
Mobile Apps
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy