Explore Park - Roanoke, VA

Mountain Biking at Explore Park

Explore Park in Roanoke County features one of the best mountain biking trail systems in the Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains and it also offers a variety of options for overnight lodging.

Explore Park has over 14 miles of trails, including 9 miles of purpose built bike trails, that wind through hundreds of acres of deciduous forest and along the Roanoke River.

The trails range from easy to moderately difficult and contain the region’s first of its kind, stacked loop system, designed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association in 1997.

Don't miss your opportunity to ride the new Voyager Trail - a 0.25 double black diamond jump trail that was designed and built by the Blue Ridge Off-Road Cyclists, the local IMBA chapter in the region. 

Blue Ridge Bike Center at Explore Park

Since taking over the park in 2013, Roanoke County has been working on an Adventure Plan, which includes the creation of the Blue Ridge Bike Center, which opened in June 2021.

The Blue Ridge Bike Center is a great place for individuals and families to get familiar with mountain biking, providing the opportunity to practice trail techniques and improve your mountain biking skills. The elements at the bike center are designed for beginner and intermediate skill development, featuring various dirt berms, log rumble strips, rock rollers, and rock gardens.

Explore Park is located off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 115 and it can also be easily accessed from Roanoke via Rutrough Road. Another part of the Adventure Plan is the extension of the Roanoke River Greenway an additional 5 miles for a direct connection to the park, making it possible to access Explore Park from Downtown Roanoke while skipping the car ride altogether!

Before You Ride: Familiarize yourself with the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics for Mountain Biking - a set of guidelines to help you enjoy the trails responsibly and minimize your impact on the natural environment.

Explore Park also offers options for standup paddleboarding, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and camping sites & cabins for overnight lodging. Book an overnight stay at Explore Park >

Treetop Quest operates an aerial adventure course in the park, featuring zip-lines and other exciting aerial obstacles. There’s also an 18-hole disc golf course at the nearby Mayflower Hills Park.

You can also utilize Roanoke Mountain Adventures for gear rental services and guided trips.

Twin Creeks Brewpub is located within the park in the Historic Brugh Tavern and is a great option for post-ride food & drinks, and there are also many local options in the Town of Vinton, which is less than 15 minutes away.

Explore Park Trail Map & Resources

Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism has created an excellent downloadable PDF map of the trails at Explore Park that can serve as a great resource for biking. 

The map offers information about each trail and plots other key points of interest in the park, as well as restroom facilities and parking lots.

Please note the designations of which trails are multi-use.

Additional Resources

• Explore Park Website
• Cabins & Camping at Explore Park
• Explore Park Trail Info (MTB Project)

Explore Park - Hours, Parking, Location

Explore Park is open daily. There are no set hours (general rule-of-thumb is dawn to dusk) and admission is free.

The park features five parking lots, with three (Lots A, B, & C) being located near the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center. The other parking lot most convenient for mountain biking is Lot E - the Rutrough Point Lot that also offers boat access.

Explore Park Address: 56 Roanoke River Parkway, Roanoke, VA 24014

Explore Park - Nearby Food & Drink Options

All of the following restaurants are located in the nearby town of Vinton: 

• Macado’s - a local, family-favorite known for great sandwiches, wings, burgers, and quesadillas 
• FarmBurguesa (pictured above) - a popular farm-to-table burger restaurant featuring a variety of unique burger creations, including toppings that highlight the Colombian heritage of the restaurant’s owners
• New York Pizza - regularly voted one of the best spots for pizza in the region and also well-known for great subs & calzones
• Dogwood Restaurant - a local gem for breakfast, burgers, and comfort food favorites & classic “meat and three” specials
• La Casa del Burrito - featuring authentic Mexican food, including a variety of tacos, burritos, and tortas