more stats
1.6 miles
Distance
596 ft
Climb
-25 ft
Descent
00:20:42
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
00:20:42
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 [+]
    • 95 in E-Biking
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #6578 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #13139 in E-Biking
    • #84601 in Trail Running
    • #52271 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.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 2 rides
  • 21 miles average
6 Months
  • 71 rides
  • 12 miles avg distance
All
  • 480 rides
  • Last: Sep 2, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
February
March
April
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Status:
on Aug 19, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.34 (20 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
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  • < 50%
  • bi-directional trail
  • no data
Trail Last Used
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  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
  • < 6 months
  • > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
Contribute Details
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  • Description
  • Photos
  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
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Max Vehicle Width
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Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where users jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
BC Backroad Status

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Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to the-trough trailhead (37.358030, -79.991270)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        13 more »
        mtb
        126 |
        Jun 8, 2022 @ 8:57am
        Jun 8, 2022
        mtb
        188 |
        Oct 1, 2020 @ 5:06am
        Oct 1, 2020
        mtb
        145 |
        Oct 1, 2020 @ 5:06am
        Oct 1, 2020
        mtb
        122 |
        Sep 19, 2020 @ 6:40pm
        Sep 19, 2020

        Videos

        4 more »
        Leaf Peeping In Virginia
        mtb
        10:05 | 131 | Mar 25, 2024 , Roanoke
        Trough DH
        mtb
        2:16 | 287 | Jul 24, 2020 , Roanoke
        Run down Trough (Roanoke VA)
        mtb
        0:49 | 497 | Apr 12, 2017 , Roanoke
        Run down Trough (Roanoke VA)
        mtb
        0:49 | | Mar 31, 2017 , Roanoke

        Technical Trail Features (TTF)

        Routes with this trail

        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. and can be swapped...
        116
        Riding the Cove
        ★ 5.0 • 27 miles • 4,560 ft • 13 •
        Riding the Cove. all the good stuff
        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


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        Nearby Trails

        Carvin's Cove

        Frequently Asked Questions About The Trough

        ▼ 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 20 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 3,609 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 4,035 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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