Mountain Lake’s 4,000-foot elevation makes for cool summer cycling and a scenic spring or fall experience. Its 20 miles of trails--from single track for experienced riders to smooth trails for beginners and children--are open to the public year-round. Trail maps are available at the Mountain Lake Outfitters.Bike rentals available at the Mountain Lake Outfitters at the entrance to Mountain Lake Lodge...
This short trail hike leaves the Big Walker Lookout parking lot and leads to a large rock outcrop. Monster Rock is an outstanding vista of the Stony Fork watershed which includes beautiful Wythe and Bland County farmscapes and historic Garden Mountain to the north. It is a nice side trip of the Big Walker Mountain Scenic Byway. The trail starts at an elevation of 3466' and rises over 200' in less than 0.5 miles to Monster...
Mayo River Rail Trail is in downtown Stuart, VA, just off Commerce Street following the path of the Danville and Western Railway ("Dick and Willie"). This 1.8 mile trail is good for walking and bicycling. It has an asphalt smooth level surface. The trail also follows the Mayo River with an additional spur leading to the Landmark Assisted Living Center.Parking lots on both ends of the trail, with handicap accessibility parking. It is great for families...
Come see nature at its best as you ride from Hemlock Cove up to Buzzards Roost, adjacent to the Big Survey Wildlife Management Area. Our 4.5 miles ride takes approx 90 minutes and you will make stops for photo opps and learning about the history and natural history of this amazing area. Travel the old wagon road from Austinville to Wytheville and see where they made charcoal during the civil war. Learn about Horse Heaven...
Kimberling Creek Wilderness contains 5,542 acres. Elevations range from 2,282 feet at its lowest point on Kimberling Creek to 3,200 feet on Hogback Mountain. Vegetation is comprised of mixed hardwoods with white pine and yellow pine scattered throughout. The understory consists mostly of dogwood, sourwood, red maple, mountain laurel and rhododendron. Wildlife is found throughout the area and consists mostly of deer, turkey and grouse along with nongame species. There are no native trout streams...
Enjoy a walk through the crossroads of the Saltville Valley. From the Ice Age to the present, the Saltville Valley and its salt deposits have seen a parade of history. Ice Age animals, Native Americans, early settlers, soldiers of the North and the South, and later, industrialists all followed roads seeking mineral deposits left by a shallow inland sea.The historical area on this trail, commonly called the well fields, is the site of paleontological...
Grassy Hill is a prominent landmark on the west side of the Town of Rocky Mount. The site is characterized by rocky slopes forested with hardwood species and scattered patches of Virginia pine. Shallow, basic, heavy-clay soils predominate and outcrops of magnesium-rich bedrock are common. These unusual soil and rock substrates provide habitat for rare woodland communities. Several rare plants grow in small grassy openings near the hill's summit. As suggested by its name, there...
Carroll County offers 30 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway with easy access at Fancy Gap from I-77. Travelers to the parkway may wish to travel south from Fancy Gap to Milepost 202.9 to view the spectacular scenery of the Carolina Piedmont featuring a view of the Mt. Airy Granite quarry. From an elevation of 3,015 ft, much can be seen on a clear day. This is the highest rated parkway view...
Virginia's New River offers excellent opportunities for the avid canoeing fan. Nearly seven miles of the New River passes through northwest Carroll County. The scenery of the river is spectacular and flows alongside the New River Trail State Park.According to the Galax-Grayson-Carroll Visitor's Guide, this stretch of river starts with: "Launch at the public landing in the Fries Town park/New River Trail State Park (from Main Street, pass the fire hall on your right and...
Gatewood Park Campground and Reservoir is 400 scenic acres nestled in the heart of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain Region of Southwest Virginia. Surrounded by the Jefferson National Forest and located near the Town of Pulaski, Gatewood is accessible from Interstates 81 and 77 and offers exciting recreational opportunities for the entire family.Camping; Join us for camping or glamping at Gatewood Park, we have 35 campsites with full hookups for RV's, Campers and Tents, 16 of...
