Doesn't this look like a cool spot to hike to?
It's called Tinker Cliffs and, along with McAfee Knob, is one of the most photographed spots on the AT. I'm thinking about hiking it this weekend. This out and back is a total of 7.7 miles.
If you're adventurous, you can also add on a trip to McAfee Knob, making 18 miles round trip from the Andy Layne trail head. The only negative is that the trail has a rock stairway, and I hate stairways. They say it's a great workout and never crowded. We'll see. Weekends are not the best time to hike in Virginia, but my weekdays won't work due to my teaching schedule.