fees, RV limits, trails & mountain biking

Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping

USDA Forest Service campground in George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, near Natural Bridge Station, Virginia.

Not publishednightly fee (check Recreation.gov)
65overnight sites
Reservablebooking
Not statedseason (agency text)
40 ftmax RV/trailer length
30named USFS/NPS trails within 5 mi (77.3 mi)
30.1 mibike trails within 5 mi
1,800 ftelevation (agency text)

How it compares

  • With 65 sites it is the #11 largest of 43 Virginia campgrounds that publish a site count.
  • There are 14 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles.
  • 82% of Virginia campgrounds that publish a length limit accept a rig this long (40 ft).
  • Electric sites go up to 50 amp service (31 electric sites).
  • 100% of sites with a shade rating are listed as shaded or partly shaded.
  • Pets allowed on 65 of 65 sites; campfires allowed on 65 (subject to seasonal fire bans).
  • Straight-line distance: Charlottesville ~30 mi, Lynchburg ~36 mi, Harrisonburg ~37 mi.

Site mix

Electric31

Amenities & rules

Food storage lockersGrillsLantern postsPicnic tablesShowersTent padsWater spigotPets allowedTentsRVs/trailers

Trails within 5 miles

TrailClosest pointMapped miles within 5 miSource
Blue Loop Water Tank0.2 mi0.9USFS
Sherando Lakeside0.2 mi1.2USFS
Sherando Cliff0.3 mi0.8USFS
Sherando Dam0.4 mi0.3USFS
Torry Ridge0.5 mi6.9USFS
White Rock Gap0.5 mi2.5USFS
White Rock Gap Trail0.5 mi2.5NPS
Mills Creek0.8 mi6.6USFS
Blue Loop Parking0.9 mi0.9USFS
Mills Creek Dam1.5 mi0.7USFS
Appalachian Trail1.8 mi12.0USFS
Appalachian National Scenic Trail1.8 mi13.1NPS

+ 18 more named trails.

Mountain biking nearby

30.1 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles (0.8 mi on unnamed paths). Difficulty mix: Unrated: 30.1 mi

TrailClosest pointMiles within 5 miDifficulty (as tagged)KidsSource
Blue Loop Water Tank Trail0.2 mi0.8UnratedOSM
Lakeside Trail0.2 mi1.1UnratedOSM
Sherando Lakeside0.2 mi1.2UnratedUSFS
Cliff Trail0.3 mi0.7UnratedOSM
Sherando Cliff0.3 mi0.8UnratedUSFS
Dam Trail0.4 mi0.3UnratedOSM
Sherando Dam0.4 mi0.3UnratedUSFS
White Rock Gap Trail0.5 mi2.5UnratedOSM
Torry Ridge Trail0.5 mi7.0UnratedOSM
Mills Creek Trail0.8 mi6.7UnratedOSM
Blue Loop Parking Trail0.9 mi0.9UnratedOSM
Mills Creek Dam Trail1.4 mi1.2UnratedOSM

+ 3 more.

Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.

Activities listed

Accessible SwimmingAuto TouringBikingBoatingCampingCanoeingClimbingDay Use AreaFire Lookouts/cabins OvernightFishingHikingHorse CampingHorseback RidingHuntingInterpretive ProgramsKayakingOff Highway VehiclePhotographyPicnickingRecreational VehiclesStar GazingSwimmingVisitor CenterWildlife Viewing

Nearest campgrounds

CampgroundMilesStateFee/nightSitesHookupsMax RVPetsBookingTrails ≤5 mi
Sherando Lake Group Camp
George Washington & Jefferson National Forest
1.8VA—5 — —— Reserve28 (62.1 mi)
Maupin Field
Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club
2.6VA—— — —— ?21 (70.6 mi)
Pine Spring Camp
OpenStreetMap listing
4.1VA—— — —— ?27 (54.4 mi)
Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley
Sun Outdoors
5.5VA—— — —— ?6 (14.0 mi)
Crabtree Falls Campgound
OpenStreetMap listing
5.5VA—— — —— ?26 (72.3 mi)
Stoney Creek Resort & Campground
Stoney Creek Resort Campground
7.8VA—— S— yes— ?6 (12.8 mi)

Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby.

From the managing agency

Overview Sherando Lake Recreation Area's Family Campground provides an ideal camping destination. It is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is known locally as the jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where visitors enjoy hiking, picnicking in the shade, fishing in the lakes, or swimming and relaxing on the sandy beach. Recreation The 25 acre Lower Lake offers opportunities for swimming in a designated area with a sand beach, accessible ramp to the water's edge, and a beach bathhouse with changing and shower facilities. Fishing and boating are also available outside the designated swimming area of the lake. Fishing is in stocked trout waters during the spring and fall seasons. Visitors wi… read the full description on Recreation.gov