<P> Just beyond White Rocks Mountain, the trail passes through Hampton, Tennessee, before turning north again . At Watauga Lake at the TVA Watauga Dam, the trail turns northeast, crossing Iron Mountain before turning briefly to the northwest at the Carter County - Johnson County line . After passing over Cross Mountain, the trail again turns northeast and ascends Holston Mountain en route to Virginia . </P> <P> Counties crossed: Washington County → Smyth County → Grayson County → Wythe County → Bland County → Tazewell County → Giles County Briefly joins the West Virginia border here → Craig County → Montgomery County → Roanoke County → Botetourt County → Bedford County → Rockbridge County → Amherst County → Nelson County → Augusta County → Albemarle County → Rockingham County → Greene County → Page County → Rappahannock County → Warren County → Fauquier County → Clarke County → (rejoins the West Virginia Border here) Loudoun County </P> <P> Virginia has the most mileage of the trail of any state with 550.3 miles (885.6 km) of the trail (one - fourth of the entire trail), including more than 20 miles (32 km) along the West Virginia border . With the climate, and the timing of northbound thru - hikers, this section is wet and challenging because of the spring thaw and heavy spring rainfall . </P> <P> Substantial portions of the trail closely parallel Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and, further south, the Blue Ridge Parkway . The Appalachian Trail Conservancy considers to be excellent for beginning hikers a well - maintained 104 miles (167 km) section of the trail that the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed in Shenandoah National Park and whose climbs rarely exceed 1,000 feet (300 m). </P>

How long is the virginia section of the appalachian trail