From the Parkway, the trail begins the ascent of Punchbowl Mountain reaching the side trail to the Punchbowl Shelter in 0.4 miles, crosses the summit at 1.0 mile and climbs to the summit of Bluff Mountain (3,372 ft) at 2.0 miles. A monument for Little Ottie Cline is located here. He was a five year old boy who wandered away from his school (7 miles away) and died on the summit during the winter of 1891. For the next 5.0 miles the trail travels along the ridge of Bluff Mountain, Big Rocky Row and Little Rocky Row. Fullers Rocks (2,472 ft) at 7.1 miles provide outstanding views of the James River Gorge. The AT descends steeply (1,630 ft) to Hercules Road, passing the side trail to Johns Hollow Shelter at 9.2 miles. In the last 1.7 miles of this section, the trail continues to U.S. 501, crosses the James River and ends at a trailhead parking area on the south side of the river. The NBATC and the USFS are currently working on a major project to build a new foot bridge across the James River near its intersection with U.S. 501!