more stats
1.6 miles
Distance
596 ft
Climb
-25 ft
Descent
00:22:14
Avg time
572 ft
Altitude change
1,362 ft
Altitude min
1,934 ft
Altitude max
1,362 ft
Altitude start
1,932 ft
Altitude end
6.9%
Grade
-10.4%
Grade max
28%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
525 ft
Distance down
420 ft
Distance flat
00:22:14
Avg time

The Trough Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Carvin's Cove
    Roanoke, Virginia
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 100 in E-Biking
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 80 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #32265 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #4905 in E-Biking
    • #107087 in Trail Running
    • #124692 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #197 in Mountain Biking · Virginia [+]
    • #19 in E-Biking
    • #926 in Trail Running
    • #1,210 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Land Owner
    Roanoke City

The easy way to the top from the East side of the ridge and the East parking area. Also a good time going down with many option jumps but it is a quick down.

Tags
Jumps

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 6 rides
  • 5 miles average
6 Months
  • 74 rides
  • 11 miles avg distance
All
  • 504 rides
  • Last: Oct 25, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
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Status:
on Aug 19, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.34 (20 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (4,096)
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      Directions to the-trough trailhead (37.358030, -79.991270)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      13 more »
      mtb
      137 |
      Jun 8, 2022 @ 8:57am
      Jun 8, 2022
      mtb
      203 |
      Oct 1, 2020 @ 5:06am
      Oct 1, 2020
      mtb
      156 |
      Oct 1, 2020 @ 5:06am
      Oct 1, 2020
      mtb
      135 |
      Sep 19, 2020 @ 6:40pm
      Sep 19, 2020
      Ridgeline 2

      Videos

      4 more »
      Leaf Peeping In Virginia
      mtb
      10:05 | 153 | Mar 25, 2024 , Roanoke
      Trough DH
      mtb
      2:16 | 302 | Jul 24, 2020 , Roanoke
      Run down Trough (Roanoke VA)
      mtb
      0:49 | 498 | Apr 12, 2017 , Roanoke
      Run down Trough (Roanoke VA)
      mtb
      0:49 | | Mar 31, 2017 , Roanoke

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Routes with this trail

      117
      Riding the Cove
      ★ 5.0 • 27 miles • 4,560 ft • 13 •
      Riding the Cove. all the good stuff
      39
      Carvin's Cove Over and Back Featured
      ★ 3.0 • 12 miles • 2,092 ft • 5 • Loop •
      This is an over-and-back at Carvins Cove starting from the Bennett Springs parking lot. Buck and Hi-Dee-Ho...
      29
      The Trough, Gauntlet, House Pen Route
      6 miles • 1,076 ft • 3 •

      Trail Events

      (2) past events on this trail
      4.5 ★★★★★
      20 Ratings
      5 ★ 60%
      4 ★ 25%
      3 ★ 15%
      2 ★
      1 ★

      5 Reviews & Comments

      Spitnchrome Spitnchrome
      Any reviews of the trail pre-2026 reference the original route. Roanoke Mountain Bike Alliance did an extensive reroute beginning in the Fall of 2025 and completed over the Summer in 2026, which makes for a much easier (albeit longer) climb and much more friendly downhill. The old route remains open.
      EllenWpNvaN
      Not to bad a climb. Mostly easy single track, with a few really hard punchy up’s. Very short climb, even going slow it’s like 20 minutes
      UzhM8
      Quicker but steeper than the FS road on the ridge. Good if you want to descend Royalty or Buck from the Timberview Parking lot.

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      Nearby Trails

      Carvin's Cove

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is The Trough located?
      The Trough is located in Carvin's Cove, Roanoke, Virginia, United States. It is part of the Carvin's Cove trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 37.35803, -79.99127.
      ▼ How hard is The Trough?
      The Trough is rated as Blue difficulty. The average grade is 6.9%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for The Trough?
      The Trough has 596 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 25 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,362 ft to 1,934 ft.
      ▼ How long is The Trough?
      The Trough is 1.6 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on The Trough?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on The Trough. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access The Trough? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to The Trough are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride The Trough?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 22 minutes to ride The Trough. The trail is 1.6 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is The Trough?
      The Trough is a very popular trail. There have been 3,664 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 4,096 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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