626 for 2.1 miles to the park entrance on the right. Turn right onto SR 122 and follow it east 7.5 miles to Rt. The left-hand side runs down through woods and out to the amphitheater and discovery center as well as camping areas and cabins.įrom the previous site on the Southwest Piedmont Loop of the VBWT:įrom Smith Mountain Lake Community Park, return north via Rt. The state bought the rest of the park's land over the next six years. Construction of the dam was completed in 1966, and in 1967 Appalachian Power donated the first parcel of park's land for the proposed park. The right-hand side follows northwest towards parking, piers, ramps, boat rentals, and beach access. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, this picture-perfect lake is more than just a pretty face. According to users from, the best place to hike in Smith Mountain Lake State Park is Turtle Island Trail which has a 4.5 star rating from 275. Smith Mountain Lake itself was created in 1960 when Appalachian Power built a dam on the Roanoke River in Smith Mountain Gap. From this point, the road splits and leads to different areas around the lake. The park visitor center is to the right just after turning onto Rd 888. Physical Address: 1235 Rd 888, Huddleston, VA 24104 Butterflies to look for include swallowtails, common buckeye, silver-spotted skipper, and several smaller skippers. The gardens around the visitor center have been successfully planted to attract butterflies. The lake is also worth careful investigation since it supports nesting osprey as well as interesting water birds that could turn up anytime of year. Leesville Lake is the smaller and lower lake of the Smith Mountain hydro-electric pump storage project. Wild turkey can often be seen crossing the roads in the park, especially early in the morning. Birds found in the area include red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, northern flicker, eastern wood-pewee, eastern phoebe, eastern kingbird, eastern bluebird, chipping and song sparrows, and eastern meadowlark. Equipped with an excellent visitor’s center, the park offers outdoor enthusiasts a swimming beach, boat landing, and a variety of nature trails. The picturesque Smith Mountain Lake State Park sits on the north shore of the lake, providing one of the few public access points to the lake. The Appalachian Power Company dammed the river for hydrological power production and the reservoir reached full pond in 1966. Located in Hardy, VA, Copper Cove Golf Club offers world-class golfing, summer pool memberships and room rentals for meetings, parties, receptions and more. Smith Mountain Lake lies southeast of Roanoke along the Smith River. This information is typically posted on a site's own website. Gills Creek Marina and Lodge ( 89-129 per night ) A small, charming waterfront lodge located at a marina. You can rent rooms, or even an entire cabin for your family. Important Notices COVID-19 & the VBWT Before heading out to visit a site on the Virginia Bird & Wildlife Trail, be sure to check if that site has any COVID-19 policies or closures in place. Halesford Harbour Inn ( 64-170 per night) A waterfront Inn, located conveniently near Bridgewater Plaza and Marina, and Hales Ford Bridge.
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