Mill Mountain Park
Mill Mountain Park is one of the region’s most distinguished parks. A popular attraction for locals and tourists alike,. Mill Mountain is home to the famous Roanoke Star, Roanoke Parks and Recreation’s Discovery Center and non-profit wildlife attraction, the Mill Mountain Zoo. Over 15 miles of trail is enjoyed by hikers, trail runners, and horseback riders, and offers award-winning mountain biking. This regional park spans 568 acres and is often reserved for private events, including parties and weddings. Located beside the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mill Mountain Park is easily accessible by road or trail.
Mill Mountain Park Amenities:
- Historic Roanoke Star and two Mountain Overlooks
- 15+ Miles of Natural Surface Trails and paved Mill Mountain Greenway Access
- Discovery Center
- Mill Mountain Zoo
- Mill Mountain Wildflower Garden
- Outdoor Classroom
- Playground
- 33 x 35 ft Picnic Shelter with 6 Tables and 2 Grills
- Restrooms
THE ROANOKE STAR
On Nov. 23, 1949, the iconic Roanoke Star was lit up for the first time. Since then, Roanoke has earned the nickname as the “Star City.” At 88.5 feet tall and 10,000 lbs., the star is illuminated by 2,000 feet of neon tubing. The Roanoke Star in Mill Mountain Park has been distinguished as being the largest free-standing star in the world and is a symbol of Roanoke’s ambition for progress and innovation.
DISCOVERY CENTER
The Mill Mountain Discovery Center is a busy recreation center, most commonly used for Environmental Education programs. The Discovery Center features a beautiful wildflower garden, as well as interactive educational exhibits. Enjoy special events here like Music on the Mountain and the Disco Mountain Bike Races.
MILL MOUNTAIN WILDFLOWER GARDEN
In 1971, the City of Roanoke asked the Mill Mountain Garden Club to develop a 2.5-acre wildflower garden on Mill Mountain. The volunteer gardeners have contributed more than 50,000 club member hours of work and have cultivated a beautiful garden atop Mill Mountain. In recent years, a water feature has been added as well as a small outdoor amphitheater.
Mill Mountain Trails and Mill Mountain Greenway
Mill Mountain Park is home to over 15 miles of natural surface trail for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. These trails include a variety of difficulty levels, providing activities ranging from short hiking loops to expert level downhill mountain biking. While the majority of Mill Mountain Trails are multi-use (open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding), there are a number of trails with restricted use. Some trails are limited to hikers only, some do not allow horses, and The Hub (downhill mountain biking area) is restricted to bikers only. The Hub trails are also directional, meaning users must travel only in one direction when using them.
The paved Mill Mountain Greenway runs from the top of Mill Mountain to downtown Roanoke and connects the trail system with an extensive greenway network. Mill Mountain Greenway is a mixture of separated and paved, shared-use path and on-road connections.
