Outdoors

Sites on this loop are located near the southern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenery is breathtaking, and each of these sites offers an unusual glimpse into the beauty of the Blue Ridge. Please be aware that while the Parkway may be closed during winter months, during the rest of the year, this area will overwhelm you with

This county park is landmarked by a crystal-clear waterfall. For a pleasant walk, the park offers hiking trails, or try a leisurely afternoon of

Featuring the longest, highest, and fastest zip line in the state of Virginia, your zip trip will be an adventure you'll never forget. With nearly a mile of lines through five sections, flying over valleys and through the tree tops, this heart pounding excursion will leave you wanting to go again and again! There is some hiking involved, so proper footwear is

The Wytheville Trout Hatchery near Max Meadows (I-81/I-77, exit 80) was acquired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the 1983. Rainbow, brook, and brown trout are all hatched and reared here. It, too, is a popular tourist attraction for travelers moving along I-81 and I-77, which intersect in the area. The trout from Wytheville are stocked in the

A "Rails to Trails" project, the New River Trail State Park winds through Grayson, Carroll, Wythe and Pulaski counties in southwestern Virginia and parallels the scenic and historic New River for 39 miles. Hiking, biking, horseback riding and boating enthusiast welcome! There are many different access points along the trail, with the southern end beginning in Galax going 57 miles to the

Southwestern Virginia includes some of the most spectacular sections of this famous Maine-to-Georgia footpath, with wilderness high summits, mature timber and vivid floral displays in June and

A 200,000 acre mountain recreation wonderland within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The highest point in the state of Virginia as its centerpiece, Mount Rogers. The Mount Rogers Recreation Area includes facilities for hiking, camping and fishing. The old rail bed trail called the Virginia Creeper runs along the Whitetop Laurel Creek from Abingdon, VA to West Jefferson,

Spend the day tubing the Middle Fork of the Holston River through beautiful Marion Virginia. You can book a single run, which last about 2 hours, or an all day trip. Single Run: We provide tubes, life jackets, and transportation to/from the drop off and pick up spots. All Day: We provide tubes, life jackets, and transportation to/from the drop off and

Holston Hills Community Golf Course is an 18 hole championship course built in 1946. The layout features a variety of holes that offer scenic views that will test all of your golfing skills. The Holston River meanders throughout the course and comes into play on several holes. The bunkering is modest but strategic and our well manicured greens will test

Excellent hunting is available at Primland, whether it be quail, pheasant, chukar, whitetail deer or wild turkey. Primland specializes in upland style pheasant, chukar and quail hunting. These hunts are fully guided, offering the less experienced as well as the most experienced an enjoyable day of hunting with one of the property's highly trained dogs. We also offer semi-guided whitetail

The best and most accurate word for me to describe the attraction to tree climbing is “magic”. We understood the true meaning of the word as children when most of us started climbing, but as we supposedly grew up our gaze went from the tree tops to the desk tops. If you cannot remember the meaning of childhood

Overlooking the New River, Shot Tower was built more than 200 years ago to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers. Lead from the nearby Austinville Mines was melted in a kettle atop the 75-foot tower and poured through a sieve, falling through the tower and an additional 75-foot shaft beneath the tower into a kettle of water.

This 172 acre natural area is on the north side of a mountain range near Fred Clifton Park in Patrick County, VA. Although a private preserve, it is open to the public by permission as a day use facility for hiking a loop trail from the top of the ridge to a waterfall at the base of the mountain. Evidence of a

This cross-country Bicentennial bike route travels through the scenic countryside and historic towns of Southwest Virginia, mostly on secondary roads. Some of the terrain is

A 191,000-acre mountain recreation wonderland within the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. The area offers: hundreds of miles of hiking including a hike to the highest peak in Virginia, Mount Rogers at 5,729 feet, self-auto tours, including Whitetop Mountain with the highest road in Virginia; 7 campgrounds; 4 horse camps; 3 cabins and biking, horse back riding and cross-country ski trails;

Enjoy a variety of scenic curves and interesting changes in the terrain as you follow either of the two sections of this byway. The first section begins at Troutdale, VA. You will drive west for 13.2 miles over Virginia Route 603 to Konnarock. VA. You will traverse the heart of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Highway 603 is a two-lane

Skull Gap has 7 picnic units with tables, grills and parking

Long a family favorite and known for its beautiful woodlands and placid 108-acre lake in the heart of the mountains, Hungry Mother has a sandy beach with bathhouse, boats and boat launch, universally accessible fishing pier, campgrounds, cabins, a fantastic restaurant, gift shops, a visitor center, a six-bedroom lodge that sleeps 15, and hiking and biking trails. Hungry Mother is also home

Located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail is a 68-mile trail between Elk Garden and VA Rt. 94. It features mountainous terrain, valley views and valley crossings. The trail includes parking and primitive camping for those who trailer

Hunting: deer, bear, turkey, grouse, gray and fox squirrel, rabbit, and wood duck hunters usually enjoy success on these ponds, particularly during the first season that opens each fall. Fishing: Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area offers anglers the opportunity to fish roaring mountain streams or placid, picturesque, 300 acre Laurel Bed Lake. A daily fee is charged for fishing some