Cave Mountain Lake Family Camp

Cave Mountain Lake Family Camp is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and welcomes visitors to enjoy the rustic and peaceful getaway. Easy access from the interstate and close proximity to historic Lexington and the Natural Bridge State Park make Cave Mountain Lake an ideal destination. The 7-acre lake offers opportunities for swimming in a designated area which includes a sand beach, and there are several piers around the lake for better fishing access. Fishing for youth only (ages 15 and under) is open from April 1 through June 15, then fishing is open to anglers of all ages with a valid Virginia fishing license, trout stamp and National Forest stamp for the remainder of the season. A number of opportunities for photography, birding and wildlife viewing are available along the trails and water's edge. Hiking trails surround the area, offering everything from a short walk around the lake to an all-day hike along the nearby ridges. The Panther Knob Trail starts beside the group picnic shelter and skirts the edge of the lake to the dam. The Wildcat Trail starts above campsites #41-42, climbs the mountain, then loops back to the campground above the volunteer host site in the upper camping loop. Visitors may also enjoy a day hike or backpacking trip on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, in the James River Face Wilderness, or in the Thunder Ridge Wilderness. Cave Mountain Lake offers 41 campsites. Amenities at each campsite include a picnic table, lantern post and campfire ring with grill, and each site can accommodate up to 8 people; #41-42 is considered a double campsite with space to accommodate up to 12. Flush toilets and water spigots are located throughout the campground, and there is a bathhouse with warm water showers located across the road from campsite #20. Cave Mountain Lake covers seven acres and was built in the late 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, using existing buttresses of natural rock to form a 35-foot dam. A grassy field extends from the lake's sandy beach to forested hills that paint a scenic backdrop. Lexington, just 20 minutes away, is home to several historic sites including the Stonewall Jackson House, George C. Marshall Museum and the Virginia Military Institute Museum, and it is a charming town with horse drawn carriage rides through the streets. Ice and other sundries can be found at small stores along State Route 759 on the drive to Cave Mountain Lake, and Natural Bridge State Park is a short 8-mile drive away, offering views of the 215-foot tall Natural Bridge and limestone gorge, 6 miles of hiking trails, a Monacan Indian Village and the 30-foot cascade of Lace Falls.