Smith Mountain Lake State Park

Beaver Den Trail

The Beaver Den Trail is a .5 mile, easy trail that is accessible from both the Tobacco Run Trail and the Chestnut Ridge Trail. This fairly wide trail features moderate changes in elevation during its short run through the woods. Part of the trail emerges from the woods and briefly follows the road before it reenters the woods so watch for the appropriate blazes.

Blaze Color: Orange

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Beechwood Trail

The Beechwood Trail is a 0.9 mile, moderate difficulty trail that passes around the campgrounds and is accessible from the Buck Run Trail. Use of this trail is restricted to campers only. Those using this somewhat hilly trail should note that it is blazed in two different colors, green and brown, potentially making it somewhat difficult to find ones way. This trail also passes by an old cedar cabin.

Blaze Color: Brown

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Buck Run Trail

The Buck Run Trail is a 1.7 mile, moderate difficulty trail that is accessible from the Beechwood, Chestnut Ridge, Turkey Foot, and Striper Cove Trails. It passes through the woods with some moderate changes in elevation, passing a trail head parking lot and crossing the main park road before ending at the Striper Cove Trail.

Blaze Color: White

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Chestnut Ridge Trail

The Chestnut Ridge Trail is a 1.7 mile, moderate difficulty trail, that is accessible from the Beaver Dam and Buck Run trails as well as from the trail head parking near the Turtle Island Trail. This trail consists of two loops that follow the peninsula, offering views of the lake from either side and several benches to rest on. The trail features diverse plants and wildlife. Animals such as white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and numerous varieties of songbirds may be found along with occasional views of Osprey. Plant life includes rhododendron, running cedar, several varieties of dogwood, Southern lady fern, many types of moss, white pine and a host of shrubs and perennials. This trail also passes an old cedar cabin that dates to before the lake was built.

Blaze Color: Red

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Lakeview Trail

The Lakeview Trail is a .3 mile easy trail that forms a loop near the visitor center. After passing through a wooded area the trail reveals panoramic views of the lake and surrounding hills, which in the Fall, are ablaze with color. Near the trail are large expanses of lawn and shade trees where you can spend a lazy afternoon just watching the ever-changing activity on the lake. A highlight of this trail is the Osprey nesting platform at the tip of the peninsula and the bird study area. At times the nest may be viewed from the Osprey Cam located in the Visitor Center.

Blaze Color: Yellow

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Opossum Trot Trail

The Opossum Trot Trail is a .5 mile, easy trail that is accessible from both the Turtle Island Trail and the Tobacco Run Trail. It passes through the woods with some changes in elevation, offering views of the lake and eventually emerging at the park road.

Blaze Color: Blue

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Osprey Point Trail

The Osprey Point Trail is a .5 mile, moderate difficulty trail accessible from the Striper Cove and Walton Creek Trails. This trail begins near the picnic area and takes users uphill near the edge of the lake, passing by an old stone wall and crossing it in places. The trail ends near the end of the point. Due to the greater number of rocks on this trail it may prove difficult for those on bikes.

Blaze Color: Forest Green

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Striper Cove Trail

The Striper Cove Trail is a 3.1 mile, moderate difficulty trail that is accessible from the Turtle Island, Buck Run, Osprey Point, and Walton Creek Trails. It passes through the woods, going near the picnic shelter, boat launch area and fishing tournament HQ, then winds back and forth following several small peninsulas until it reaches the Turtle Island Trail. Users should look out for some steep areas on this trail.

Blaze Color: Gold

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Tobacco Run Trail

The Tobacco Run Trail is a .5 mile easy trail that is accessible from both the park amphitheater and visitor center. It passes by an old tobacco storage barn with information about this once important element of the local economy. This trail extends out to a point on the lake, offering a nice view and a bench to rest on. Visitors may access the Opossum Trot and Beaver Den trails from the Tobacco Run Trail.

Blaze Color: Blue

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Turkey Foot Trail

The Turkey Foot Trail is a short, easy one-third mile trail that runs from the Buck Run Trail to the main park road right across from the main office. Trail head parking is not far from either end of this wide connector trail.

Blaze Color: Orange

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Turtle Island Trail

The Turtle Island Trail is a 1.3 mile, moderate difficulty trail that is accessible from the Opossum Trot Trail, Striper Cove Trail and from a small trail head parking lot. This interpretive loop trail passes through pine forest with some moderate changes in elevation. The trail crosses a bridge to the aptly named Turtle Island, a small island that was once the top of a hill before the lake was formed. The interpretive signs on the trail describe the surrounding ecosystem as well as the abundant flora and fauna found within the park. A small bird blind for wildlife observation is located nearby. This trail has several terraced steps that may prove difficult for those trying to go uphill on bicycles.

Blaze Color: Green

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Walton Creek Trail

The Walton Creek Trail is a 1.3 mile, moderate difficulty trail that runs from the park office to the picnic area where one may access Striper Cove or Osprey Point Trail. Like many other trails in the park this one features moderate changes in elevation as it follows the lake shore. Visitors on this trail will pass by the park's canoe and kayak fleet used for guided programs, not far from the site of the Old Moody Meeting House.

Blaze Color: Burgundy

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White Tail Path Trail

The White Tail Path Trail is a .1 mile, easy trail that runs from the Walton Creek Trail, across the main park road, and takes users to the Striper Cove Trail.

Blaze Color: Gray

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Amphitheater

A large 100+ person amphitheater available for reservation is located near the visitor center. This roofed structure is a converted building that probably dates long before the lake or park were built. The amphitheater has a projection screen, electrical outlets, and overlooks the lake. Nearby is a dock with a few boat slips, allowing boats to access the facility. A second, smaller campfire amphitheater is located near the campground and is used mainly for park programming.

• Season/Hours: All Year/N/A
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 04.7916 -79° 36.8566

Camping Area

The park offers a large campground with water/electric sites as well as several secluded, wooded, primitive sites. The campground has a bathhouse with vending machines, a large sink for dishes, as well as ice that can be purchased within the campground. Contact the camp host to buy ice. Near the campground is the parks campfire amphitheater. This open air amphitheater accommodates about 80 people and consists of several benches surrounding a fire ring. This is mainly used for park programming.

• Season/Hours: March 1 through the 1st Monday in December/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.4033 -79° 35.7183

Cabins

The park offers several cabins, most of which are two bedroom frame style cabins. Cabin 7 which is ADA accessible, is the only cabin here to have 3 bedrooms. The cabin area is not far from the lake and there are several boat slips nearby. These are available for cabin guests to have a place to store their boats close to their cabins so that they do not need to take a large motorboat in and out of the water every day. Boat slips are available to cabin guests on a first come, first served basis.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.4033 -79° 35.7183

Picnic Area

The parks picnic area is not far from the swimming area. It consists of several picnic tables and outdoor grills in a wooded area on both sides of the main park road. There is also a picnic shelter here that can be reserved. This primitive shelter holds about 50 people and is in sight of the lake. Restrooms with vending and a playground are not far from the picnic area. Another reservable picnic facility is located near the beach front snack bar. It is a shaded area that seats about 80 that is attached to the rest of the facility and overlooks the beach.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.7516 -79° 36.5650

Picnic Shelter

Picnic areas include drinking water, grills and restroom facilities. A small picnic shelter, able to accommodate up to 50 people, is also available by reservation on a first-come, first-served basis by calling the Reservation Center at 1-800-933-PARK. The picnic area is open year-round. A large playground is in the picnic area. There's a smaller playground at the visitor center. Parking and swimming fees are not included in shelter rental. It can be rented from 8 A.M. to dusk (all day). The park also rents an amphitheater through its office. Shelters may be rented year-round.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Full Day
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.7766 -79° 36.4383

Boat Launch

The park's boat launch is located near the fishing pier and tournament headquarters. There is another small dock nearby for car top launching. Boat launching fee required for day-use public; overnight guests launch for free.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.6433 -79° 36.0466

Lake Fishing

The large lake is a popular fishing spot with fish such as the largemouth bass, sunfish, striped bass, white bass, catfish, and crappie. Many fishing tournaments are held within the park, some of which are shown on major television networks. The tournament headquarters building is close to the boat ramp as well as the parks fishing pier. Those wishing to fish must have a valid Virginia freshwater fishing license.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.6433 -79° 36.0466

Fishing Pier

A valid Virginia fishing license is required. Smith Mountain Lake offers fishing with a handicapped accessible fishing pier and a public boat launching ramp with year-round restroom facilities. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries stocks the lake yearly with muskie and striped bass.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.5750 -79° 36.1650

Gift Shop in Park Office

The parks gift shop is located within the park office, located near the park entrance and contact station. Inside are souvenirs as well as a sizable inventory of camping supplies.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.4866 -79° 35.5549

Swimming Area

The parks 500-foot beach opened in the summer of 1989 and is Smith Mountain Lakes only public swimming beach. The beach can accomodate 1,000 people and is guarded during operating hours. This area also contains a snack bar, showers and restrooms, and several tables plus a reservable shaded picnic area overlooking the lake. Vending machines are located here as is a place to purchase wristbands for the beach. In the summer, swimming is free for overnight guests in campsites and cabins, however it cannot be guaranteed should circumstances beyond the park's control require that swimming be closed. We do not give refunds for swimming to overnight guests under any circumstances.

• Season/Hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.6366 -79° 36.5550

Visitor Center

The parks visitor center is located near the amphitheater. Inside are two main rooms. One educating visitors about the fish and wildlife seen in the park and the other discussing the history of the park. In the wildlife room there are several aquariums and terrariums with live animals inside. The history room talks about the construction of the lake. Also discussed is the history of Franklin and Bedford counties and the people who lived there. Restrooms, a pay phone, and vending are located outside as is a small playground.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 04.7566 -79° 36.9633

Swimming Area Snack Bar

The swimming complex offers concessions with food service, various notions and a bathhouse. The park operates the beach and food area Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, Monday through Friday from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. and from 10 A.M.. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Times may change because of poor weather.

• Season/Hours: All Year/See Summary
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 05.6366 -79° 36.5550

Campfire Amphitheater

Near the campground is the park's Campfire Amphitheater. This open air amphitheater accommodates about 80 people and consists of several benches surrounding a fire ring. This amphitheater is mainly used for park programming.

• Season/Hours: All Year/N/A
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 4.967 -79° 35.583

The Moody Meeting House

On April 11, 1790, a congregation of 32 organized here as the "Baptist Church Of Christ On Stanton At The Mouth Of Black Water." William Johnson, John Anthony, and Thomas Douglass were the ministers present and Johnson was chosen pastor.Constructed of logs, the meeting house measured approximately 30 x 13 feet and rested on a stone foundation. The church developed from Baptist congregations in Franklin County dating to 1787. The Strawberry Baptist Association met here on October 2, 1802, and dedicated this commemorative marker on May 20, 1984.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 5.847 -79° 36.399

Tobacco Barns

The Virginia tobacco barn, once found throughout the state, was once an essential ingredient in the process of air-curing tobacco. Tobacco barns once dotted the landscape throughout the eastern United States. Today they are fast disappearing from the American landscape. As unique as each area in which they were erected, there is no one design that can be described as a tobacco barn.Though tobacco barn designs varied greatly there were common elements that were found in many American tobacco barns. Design elements which were common to American tobacco barns include: gabled roofs, frame construction, and some system of ventilation. The venting can appear in different incarnations but commonly hinges or battens would be attached to some of the cladding boards, so that they could be opened.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (540) 297-6066
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:N/A N/A