Known to many thru-hikers, the Dragons Tooth is considered one of the most recognizable landmarks along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. Straddling the summit of Cove Mount, the trail to this 35-foot rock spire is considered the toughest in the state with over 1,500 ft of elevation gain throughout its 5.70 mile length. Awe inspiring mountain views, dangerous rock scrambles, and sheer ladder climbs all await on this exciting 3.5 hour hike. The Dragons Tooth also happens to be the southern end of Virginias’ Triple Crown Loop which includes nearby McAffee Knob and Tinker Cliffs.
Dragons Tooth Trail | 5.7 Mile Out & Back
Dragons Tooth Trailhead Location | Google Maps
Dragons Tooth Trail via the Gaia App.
Getting There
If you’ve never heard of Virginias Triple Crown well then you’re in for a special treat! Consisting of three of the regions most spectacular overlooks, Dragons Tooth, McAffee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs, within the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests this 38.5 mile loop is a bucket list hike that should be on every serious hikers must do list. Gaining over 6,874 ft in elevation, it crosses over 6 mountain peaks while overlooking the stunning Catawba Mountain Valley. Even if you’re not ready to tackle this monumental 3 day hike, you can still visit each of these iconic landmarks via direct out and back trails that will give you all of the benefits without the blisters. Centered around the city of Roanoke, the Dragons Tooth Trailhead is located near the intersection of Catawba Valley Dr (VA-624) and Newport Rd (VA-624), just past the Catawba Grocery & Gas Station. This is a large trailhead that sees a lot of traffic and is fitted with trash services and vault toilets.
The Dragons Tooth Trailhead has a large parking lot with trash services and vault toilets.
It is a 1.75 mile hike up from the parking lot to the Appalachian Trail Junction at Lost Spectacles Gap.
The entire 2.4 mile hike up to the Dragons Tooth can be split into three unique sections. Hiking up from the trailhead to Lost Spectacles Gap is along a fairly easy and well graded path through the woods.
Dragons Tooth Trail to Lost Spectacles Gap (1.75 miles)
From the trailhead parking lot it is 2.3 miles straight to the top of Dragons Tooth, with 2 major intersections to navigate as it merges onto the heavily trafficked Appalachian Trail. Multiple signs at the start of the trail warn hikers to be physically and mentally prepared to tackle this strenuous journey. Sections of the trail include exposed rock scrambles that may not be appropriate for younger children. Hikers are encouraged to carry ample water and snacks as this roundtrip often takes 4-5 hours to complete. Make sure you have enough time to return to your vehicle before sunset. The Dragons Tooth Trail can be split into three very distinct sections, each with its own set of challenges. First is the gradual ascent from the valley floor which includes several stream crossings as you work your way up to a mountain pass known as Lost Spectacles Gap. It is fairly shaded throughout this section and the trees provide ample protection from the elements. The well-graded trail makes this part a breeze for most people. At this junction, the Dragons Tooth Trail merges with the Appalachian Trail as you make a RIGHT TURN (west) to begin climbing up the side of Cove Mountain.
Lost Spectacles Gap is a mountain pass below Cove Mountain with a large clearing used by Appalachian Trail thru-hikers to overnight camp and three separate trails leading to VA-624.
The well graded trail starts getting steeper once it joins the Appalachian Trail past Lost Spectacles Gap.
From here the trail begins its first of many ascents to the southern slope of Cove Mountain before the scrambling begins.
Lost Spectacles Gap to Cove Mountain Summit (0.70 miles)
This is the most strenuous and challenging part of the Dragons Tooth Trail which follows the Appalachian Trail to the Dragons Tooth Spur Trail. It includes some pretty sketchy scrambles and a ladder climb which are not for the faint of heart. On several instances the trail disappears right in front of you and it takes a few moments to get your bearings. From Lost Spectacles Gap the trail sign marks Dragons Tooth only 0.70 miles away, but most hikers agree that it is a lot closer to 1 mile. As the trail leaves the gap, it begins a much steeper ascent to the exposed southern slope of Cove Mountain. Here, the mostly dirt trail reaches a clearing with your first view of Catawba Valley before reaching a series of carved stone steps marking your first ascent.
Hiking out of the tree canopy the dirt path turns into a rock scramble.
Your first view of the Catawba Valley and the Brush Mountain Wilderness just on the other side of that ridge.
At this point the Dragons Tooth Trail narrows down to shoulder width as we reach the south wall of Cove Mountain directly below the summit. Keep an eye out for the trail markers (white spray painted arrows) which will guide you in the correct direction. This is the spot where the trail suddenly disappears at a flat wall of rock with a sheer drop off. Noticing the direction of the spray painted arrows, you’re instructed to reach up and squeeze your feet into a narrow crack in the wall in order to traverse an exposed 20 foot ledge that is less than 2 feet wide. Things can get real dicey here so use extreme caution. Using our hands as anchors to shuffle our feet across, we reach the continuation of the trail and hit another dead end. Looking up, the trail suddenly doubles back on itself to begin a 100 foot rock scramble straight up.
The Dragons Tooth Trail abruptly ends at a sheer rock wall. Looking up, the white arrows direct hikers to climb up a narrow crevice to cross a gap in the trail.
The last stretch of scrambling straight up the southern slope of Cove Mountain includes a ladder climb up this ledge.
Climbing hand over feet, the boulders give way to a tall 4 foot high ledge with a steel rebar ladder. From the ladder, a flat path leads to a second ledge (without a ladder) that you must pull yourself over. After another short scramble, the trail returns back to a dirt path with an even grade the rest of the way up to the Cove Mountain ridge. Once on the ridge, keep an eye out for a small trail junction marking the start of the 0.15 mile Dragons Tooth Spur Trail. This trail pivots south to the very tip of the ridge and the summit of Cove Mountain containing the Dragons Tooth spire. If you miss this LEFT TURN and continue following the trail for more than 50 yards past the last ascent, simply turn around and retrace your steps until you see it.
Your initial view of the Dragons Tooth with the 35-foot spire on the right and a framed view of Catawba Valley straight ahead.
This sheer wall of rock surrounding the summit of Cove Mountain resembles the jagged teeth of a dragons mouth. A large clearing below serves as one of the best spots along the Appalachian Trail for a scenic lunch break.
The Dragons Tooth
Once on the Dragons Tooth Spur Trail, it is an easy 0.15 mile stroll to the southernmost tip of the Cove Mountain Ridge. Upon reaching a wide open clearing in the woods surrounded by a tall rock wall, simply look up and you’ll see the Dragons Tooth towering overhead. Made up of Tuscarora quartzite, the 35-foot rock spire known as “the Tooth” is at the far end of a sheer wall of rock that resembles a row of jagged teeth. Hikers can ascend to the top of the tooth by scrambling up the boulder pile at the base of the spire. Those that would rather stay closer to the ground can explore one of the many side trails that exit out onto expansive overlooks of Catawba Valley & the Blue Ridge Mountains to the south. Cove Mountain itself is recognized by the Wilderness Society as a special conservation area due to its unique Ruffed Grouse habitat, assortment of rare plant communities, and as a headwaters to natural trout streams.
Thousands of hikers tackle one of the toughest trails in Virginia just to see this massive quartz spire.
To return to the Dragons Tooth Trailhead simply retrace your steps down to Lost Spectacles Gap and take the Left Turn off the Appalachian Trail to reach the parking lot. Up next, we’re driving a few miles south on VA-311 to tackle the 3.9 mile hike to McAffee Knob. Known as the most photographed landmark on the Appalachian Trail, the knob features a 270-degree panoramic view of the Catawba Valley and North Mountain to the west, Tinker Cliffs to the north, and the Roanoke Valley to the east. This is the second stop along Virginias Triple Crown and the one we’re most excited to see. Stay tuned for our upcoming article and as always, see y’all on the trails!
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